How did you first find out about bariatric surgery and what were your initial impressions of it?

I thought it was the "easy way out", Until I began investigating it here at OH. I worked with peole who had WLS and were not adhereing to the guide lines (they were throwing up, and dumping). I ONLY knew the RYN patients. I did not know anyone who had had, Lapband. My husband works on hospital equipment and knew some nurses who had had Lapband.

Describe your experience with getting insurance approval for surgery. What advice, if any, do you have for other people in this stage?

NO PROBLEM. My employer is hospital, I just needed to have a high BMI, give a 5 year history of my attempts to lose weight. I was starting to have some high blood pressure, and my sugar levels were elevated (but I was not diabetic).

What was your first visit with your surgeon like? How can people get the most out of this meeting?

Behind every good man there is a gREAT woman! His wife helped me by giving me a scheduale of what appointments I should have done by certain dates. I schedualed all my appointments in the first week, even if it was to be done a month down the scheduale.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

My husband and I have young adult children. This is the time of our life we should be doing more! I didn't like the direction my health was going in. A few high readings in my blood pressure and in my sugar levels (although I was not diabeteic, it would have been a matter of time). I felt I was too young to be having these health concerns and did not want to age with those type of complications and then need my husband to "wipe my ass" at age 70! Pre-surgery: I had had, surgery for hernia, and gall bladder. These are known to be largely obesity related surgeries. Also had a FATTY liver. After lab tests I was always asked if I was a drinker. Now looking back, it was because my liver was enlarged due to my diet, very embaressing.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Lapband was most appealing as it wasn't a re-routing surgery.

What fears did you have about having complications or even dying from from the surgery, and what would you tell other people having the same fears now?

I worry more now, about possibly having a problem further down the line, as I have seen people on OH who have had issues further along their journeys.

How did your family and friends react to your decision? Would you have communicated anything differently if you could now? How supportive were they after your surgery?

I didn't tell my mother, but she is proud of my results. She has always wanted mr to get my weight in control. My husband and children are the people who I discused the surgery with. The common response when I spoke to them about it was, "Mom I know you have tried so hard and so long to do it on your own. I think you can make this work for you." They are very suportive and are sensitive to not eat certain foods around me, if I ask them not to.

How did your employer/supervisor react to your decision? What did you tell him/her? How long were you out of work?

Unfortunately I have a boss who loves to gossip. So when she heard I was having surgery (she didn't know what type of surgery), she began spectulating "out loud" to another employee. Who knew I valued my privacy, the other employee made me aware of the comments she made. So I confronted my boss. Told her that we alllll signed a HIPPA policy, and I had no problem going to administration about it, if I heard any buzzing coming out from her office, as ONLY 2 other people knew what I was having and they are my deepest, closest friends! So they would never betray my confidence.

What was your stay in the hospital like? How long where you there? What things are most important to bring?

just a few hours. I had a good stay.

Did you have any complications from the surgery? If so, how did you deal with them?

Yes, my doctor primed the line. Unfortunately I was one of the ones who had to have the saline removed. I was toooooo tight, couldn't keep liquids down.

In the weeks after you got your surgery date, how did you feel? How did you cope with any anxiety you might have felt?

I immediately felt energized! No more back, and foot pain! I could exercise, bend, lift, squat with out any problem after I lost the first 25 pounds!

Describe your first few weeks home from the hospital. What should people expect from this period?

HEAD HUNGER!!!! Prepare us for it!

How far did you travel to have your surgery? (If far, how did this affect your aftercare?)

Just down the road from my place of employment. 20 minutes from my home.

Please describe in detail what things you could and couldn't eat in the weeks and months following surgery. What foods have been off limits? Please explain how your dietary tolerance changed week-by-week, and then month-by-month since surgery.

I didn't tempt fate! NO SODA, BREAD, RICE, PASTA OR BROCCOLI! I still have not tried any of it! I am "tighter" during my TOM. Or when under stress!

What was your actvity level in the days and weeks after surgery?

I stayed out of work for 3 weeks. As I work with preschoolers, I some times have children who need to be carried, or picked up and removed from my room, if they are having a temper tantrum. So I could not be gaurenteed an assistant, so I played it safe, and waited 3 weeks.

What vitamins and/or dietary supplements have you taken since your surgery?

Just calcium, multivitamin, Vit C.

What side effects (nausea, vomiting, sleep disturbace, dumping, hair loss etc.) were worse for you? For how long after surgery did they persist? How did you cope with them?

Hairloss? 4 months down the line, for about 2 months. But currently I have had NO MORE hairloss! Sleep? My diet and exercise helps me to sleep soundly! Vomitting? Only if I am seriously "stuck". Otherwise, not at all!

What was the worst part about the entire bariatric surgery process?

Just the vomitting the first day, due to the saline it the band. I was able to have my "FIRST OFFICIAL" FILL after 4 weeks without any problem.

What aftercare support group/program do you have? How helpful/important is this?

I use largely, the OH boards. My surgeon does have meetings, I have gone to only a few meetings as I was taking classes and could not atttend the meetings. It seems as if when people are losing well, they drift away from the support group meetings.

What is your scar like? Is this what you expected?

Small, minimal. I thought it would be huge!

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Only when I graze, due to stress. But when I am dedicateded and focussed, no problem! I have had months where I have lost 11 pounds! But that was when I was exercising toward a personal goal! Also, it's important to look at inches! If that scale isn't budging, it's propably your body redistributing your weight.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes! Alot of positive attention! They ask about how I eat and what I eat. I eat very healthy, so we talk about eating nutriotiously. People who do not know that I have had WLS, think I have always been thin. I am treated like an intellegent person. This is the first year that my pre-schoolers haven't asked if I had a baby in my belly! Infact one of my preschoolers saw me dressed in my workout clothes and said, "OOOOO Miss Carmen is dressed sexy!"