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

A friend told me she was going to have it done and I should think about it. I was afraid because I had heard so many storys about people who had gotten really sick and even died after having the surgery.

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

I had no trouble with the insurance because I had been having bad back pain for a long time . The thing that made the process easier was that the doctor really knew how to deal with the insurance company and the way they were goiung to respond to the request. I urge people to find a doctor who is knowldgeable about insurance companys requirements for the surgery,and willing to help you though the process by giving you as much information as possibe to prepare you for the appoval prossess.

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

I was in a metting with 3 other people who were considering the procedure. The doctor explained everything very completely and answered any questions we had. To make the most of this meeting I suggest that you write done any questions you have in your head before the appointment and bring it with you, make sure you leave that office with all those questions answered.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

Knowledge, I got as much information as I could find and asked a lot of questions. I was scared but I didn't think anything was ever going to help me loose weight so I had to try this.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

At the time I had my surgery there were only 2 or 3 options and I chose the one the had the safe track record.

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 was very afraid of getting sick or dying. I was nervous and tryed to do everything the doctor told me to do. I researched to death rate and causes of death in patients who had the procedure I was considering. I suggest that anyone considering this do the same. Remembering that the cause of death is not just the surgery but things that happen after the surgery as well. Follow your doctors orders completely and stay in contact with him.

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?

They did not like the idea at all. They kept telling me that it was to risky and I was just fine the way I was. They were afrais for me also. I would not have told them the surgery was to loose weight loss I would have said that I was haveing it because of my overall health. That at my weight my risk of weight related complications was very high. My family was supportive in a concerned sort of way. They were more worried about me being okay.

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

I was not employed at the time.

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

I was heavily drugged for the first 2 days. But the people there were very informative and helpful. I was in the hospital for 6 days. The things I would suggest bringing is a note pad to write down any questions you might think of and any information about your surgury you might want to remember. Also something to read or do in bed if your stay will be more than 1 day.

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

I did not have any complications.

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 very excited and anxious, could not wait. I was able to talk through the anxiety with my boyfriend, he was very understanding and supportive through the entire process.

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

I had a lot of pain the first week becuse the type of surgery I had I had a large incisinon. I have been told that a lot of the procedures they do now there is not the large incisinon so there is less pain and the healing process is alot faster. Eating was something I had to adjust to I did everything the way my doctor told me to. The eating process took getting used to. The doctor told me to use a small plate and as silly as that sounded to me I tryed it and it helped me to make the transion. This is the time when you will find out what foods you can and cannot eat.

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

I was only about 20 minutes from the doctor and the hospital so travel was not an issue.

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 could not eat any fried foods at all they made me vey sick feeling. I also had trouble with dairy products but that only lasted a few months. Chocolate was also something I could not touch at first ( but I had to try), but over time I was able to tolerate almost all foods except ice cream and I still can not eat it.

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

Slow for the first 2 - 3 weeks but it gradually got better

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

I take a multi vitamin daily and a B12 injection monthly.

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?

I didn't really have any bad side effects. I had nausea if I ate something I wasn't able to toleate and I found out quickly what foods would cause that so I would avoid those foods. I also learned to just sample thing I was not sure of to see how they would affect me, this avoided any severe nausea or vomiting. The other thing that I had to learn to do was eat slower. When I would eat to fast my stomach would get to full and that was very painful.

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

The pain after the surgery.

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

At the time I had surgery, 1993, I was not aware of any suppot groups therefore my family and doctor were my support.

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

My scar starts right below my breasts and ends about 3 inches ubove my belly button. I was told exactly how big the scar would be so it was no suprise to me. My doctor did a wonderful job so the scar is not even as wide as a pencil.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Buying new close in a size I had never worn in my life.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes, and it makes me very angry because I am the same person I was. I think that people think that weight defines the person and that is just not true. I feel that to many people look at the outside and stop there.