Amanda-DS

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Obesity & Me

Describe your behavioral and emotional battle with weight control before learning about bariatric surgery.

A lifelong struggle with weight. Times of great loss always followed by a larger gain back

What was (is) the worst thing about being overweight?

I have arthritis and the extra weight is making it progress faster than it should. Also all the minor irritations-seats too small, ugly fashions, ridicule by small(minded) people.

If you have had weight loss surgery already, what things do you most enjoy doing now that you weren't able to do before?

Physical barriers have been removed- I fit in any chair, airplane or car. I can walk for hours at a time and really enjoy nature with hiking, and city walking. I love to buy clothes that are beautiful and fit me well. I am grateful each day when I wake up without pain, I am grateful as I get dressed in beautiful clothes and I am most grateful when I am in the pool exercizing and making my body more healthy.

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

A friend was very successful at it. Seemed awful drastic until health problems I could not fix with losing a few pounds came up. Suddenly this is not drastic this is a way for me to regain my health.

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

I had an cap on my surgery costs, so I had to come up with over $11,000 cash before surgery.

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

My first visit was terrific. Research before you go so you can understand what is being said.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I was ready to take charge of my health and this was the best chance for sustained weight loss.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I would of settled for the RNY at the local hospital. However once I learned about the benefits of the DS-and the statistics that back up greater % of weight loss at 5 years I wanted the best.

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?

Of course the reality is that any of us could die from surgery but the statistics are on our side 98% live through surgery. So I was willing to take the risk.

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

I was there for 5 days. The first too were pain filled and very hard. My chapstick on a string was the best thing I had.

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

None what so ever!!

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 was so excited to have surgery. I did not have the last meal mentality because with the DS I would be able to eat all food in the future.

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

The first few weeks were boring, boring boring. You can not exercise, you are eating tiny tiny little amounts of food. Your tired and emotional. Also as a super morbidly obese woman my clothes were still fitting- it was 2 months before they were noticably loose.

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

Over two hours away. I did immediated post-op care there then had my local primary doctor do my follow-up. What I missed was a support group so with my surgeons blessing we started a small satellite support group. Our surgeon travels up once a year to us and we as a group travel down to him yearly too.

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 choose to concentrate on protein, then vegetables and fruit and limited processed carbs to start with. I had great difficulty with dry meats and rice and still do to this day. Now I eat what I want just much smaller portions.

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

I had a good exercise base before surgery and except for naps the first few weeks I was at my regular activity level very quickly

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

Calcium, multi-vitamins, A&D, and iron as needed

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?

Had no complications at all!! The DS rocks this part/

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

Waiting for insurance approval.

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

Local support group I ran for the first three years after surgery. On-line support here prior to and continuing on.

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

My scar is gone after the plastic surgeries. It was an open surgery and did form keloids- it was what I had expected so it was not an issue.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I had times when I would go for a few weeks with no or relatively little weight loss. However by defination a plateau is 6 weeks with no weight loss or loss of inches. So I never really had one at all. Just the normal fluctuations and flattenings.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

I am different now after surgery so I would expect that people would treat me differently as well. I am no longer in chronic pain and I am much happier and much much more easy going.
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Before & After
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