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

I had heard about a woman in my office who had surgery. I sought her out and peppered her with questions. From the first moment I heard about the procedure, I was fairly certain it was my only hope.

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

I had applied to a hospital in Louisiana, over the internet, thinking I would have to travel there from Florida to have surgery. That provider started the insurance paperwork for me, after a 30 minute telephone interview. I decided to find a local provider, and by the time I had found someone local, my insurance company had approved my initial request. They didn't particularly care who did the procedure, as long as I had it done within 90 days of initial approval. The insurance company was very matter-of-fact and efficiant, and gave me not a moment of push-back.

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

It was strange. I felt like I was in a factory, passing from one station to another, answering questions, handing in forms. When i finally met with the surgeon (on the first day), I had about five minutes with him, got what I felt were stock answers, and it was all over and i was out in the parking lot.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

Desperation. Complete, utter desperation.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Safety was the first determining factor, followed by efficacy, followed by the surgeon's expertise.

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?

My biggest fear was not surviving surgery. I was concerned that, because of my weight and impaired breathing, I was a prime candidate for not making it off the table. I don't know what I cn say to someone who's facing the go/no-go decision. Everyone is different, and every procedure is different. A VERY frank, objective assessment of the risks is essential, and if you're not comfortable with the odds, this maybe isn't a good decision to make right now. I arrived at the conclusion that a 1% mortality rate was within my level of comfort.

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?

This is a real tough one. I've been with my partner for 16 years, and was very up-front with him during the entire pre-op process. I shared all my research with him, took him to suport group meetings, took him to appointments with the physicians. I thought he was on board. That was my mistake. I never specifically asked: "are you ok with this?" Two nights before surgery we went out for dinner, and over a plate of Chinese food, he told me this was THE dumbest idea I'd ever had, he felt I was just lazy, he was certain that if I applied myself a little harder and went to the gym regularly, I wouldn't need surgery. Needless to say, this information was not well received. Post-op, my prtner has been supportive and has been looking after what he perceives as my needs, but since our Chinese dinner, I've been left with the feeling that I'm in this alone and I had better make the most of it, because it's been my decision, and I can't count on anyone for support and help when it gets down to crunch time. It's made me stronger, but it's also hardened my heart a little, which I'm not real happy about.

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

I checked into the hospital at 9:00 AM on Friday morning, sat in a holding area until 1:00 PM, was prepped for surgery at 2:00, had surgery at 3:00, and awoke in the recovery room at 6:30. My next ecollection was in ICU late on Friday night. My stay in the hospital was difficult. The over-night routine of x-rays and respiratory therapy is difficult to adapt to, especially post-op. The ICU team was fantastic, but the floor nursing staff was pretty much gone. I was served high fat, high sugar meals the first day I was in a room out of ICU and was corrected when I advised that I couldn't have such things. There was no one to ask questions of when my stomach and bowels were in an uproar and green liguids were seeping out of me, and personal hygiene was very difficult. The most important thing is to be as well-prepared as possible, assume full responsibility for your own care, and have an advocate you can count on to speak for you and to run interference for you.

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

While in ICU my blood pressure spiked and stayed elevated for 36 hours. The assumption was that I was having a reaction to Heparin. Also, pre-op I was taking 20 mg of Paxil once a day. I advised the surgeon and his staff about this, but I wasn't given any Paxil in the hospital. As a result of Paxil withdrawl, I had several panic attacks. After three days, I took a Paxil tablet on my own, which caused the nursing staff to react angrily. It stopped the panic attacks, so I'm not particularly concerned about the nurses having fits.

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 wasn't anxious pre-op. I was looking forward to getting the procedure started and just making it happen. The build-up had taken six months, and I was just interested in pulling the trigger and getting things done.

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

THe first few weeks post-op were relatively easy. Getting out of the hospital was an enormous boost. The first night I was home I slept through the night and felt MUCH better. The first few weeks at home were filled with walking, testing different foods, and trying to build up my strength. I surely wasn't prepared for the amount of sleeping I did. I was fatigued and exhausted nearly all the time, which was a little frustrating. Once I learned to relax a little and go with the flow, I tolerated the lack of energy better.

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

Five miles

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.

Prior to surgery, I was a big fan of meat and cheese. Now, I find tha I'm unable to tolerate steak and chicken. Oddly enough, I have no problem with processed meats and cheeses. Eating a piece of meal or cheese leaves me feeling like I have gravel in my stomach. As a result, I tend to avoid meat and cheese. From the second month until now, I find that I'm craving soup. I make a huge pot of vegetable beef soup every few days, and have a few bowls a few times a day. For snacking, I'll have some pork rinds or iced tea. I've recently hired a nutritionist to help me get a better diet in place.

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

Pre-op, my activity level was a 4 on a 1-10 scale. Now, it's a 6.

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

I take a chewable pre-natal vitamin every morning, and I've just started taking six amino acid supplements spread out over the day.

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?

Testing the limits of my stomach produced sudden, violent vomiting in the first month after surgery. That hasn't been an issue since the end of the first month.

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

LACK OF ACCURATE, UNBIASED INFORMATION!

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

I've twice attended a local support group for post-op people. The sessions involved a lot of discussions about recipes and where to buy cheaper clothes, but there wasn't much hard information about what's happeneing to my body.

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

It's about 7 inches from my sternum to the center of my abdomen. It's looking like it's going to be a fairly obvious keloid scar, which is fine. I didn't have bypass surgery for cosmetic reasons, and a scar is a fairly insignificant reminded of what I've done.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I'm currently in my second plateau. This one has lasted for approximately two weeks, and it's more than a little frustrating, but I'm determined to apply a little more effort and determination to get back on track.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Actually, no. A few people have commented that I look better, but most people say nothing. The flip side is that I don't feel like people are staring at me nearly as much now.