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

I was at my Primary Care Doctors office because of my back. It was the sixth straight month I was on pain pills because I was having major back pains. My doctor and I talked about weight lose surgery. I wasn't afraid of it, I welcomed it. It meant there would be a chance to be normal.

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

If you are having the surgery, talk to you primary doctor about it. There are steps that they need to document before you see a bariatric doctor. Have documentation from your doctor of all the different diets you've tried. If you've tried pills, make sure you document which ones, your weight lose amount each time. I went through over 15 years of trying to loose weight with diets and pills. Once the paperwork was sent to the insurance, I got an approval within a month.

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

Meeting Dr. Bergamaschi and his nurse, Tibby, was very intersting. They let my brother into the meeting, since my brother was going to be taking care of me after the surgery. It's important for the person that will be taking care of you be able to ask questions also. Dr. Bergamaschi and Tibby answered the questions with as much detail as I wanted.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

being on pain pills for six straight months for my back.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I read about the different procedures on the net, as well as asking Dr. Bergamaschi. I decided on Roux-en-Y because it gave me the least amount of time being off from work, I couldn't afford to be off work too long.

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 didn't have any fears about having the surgery. I read everything I could about the procedure, I asked any questions I had. I would say don't go into having this surgery without asking questions. That would be the most fearful thing about it, not being informed.

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?

My fmaily and friends thought it was the best thing I could have done at the time. They have been extremely supportive of me the entire time. I can't eat things with too much sugar, salt or dairy. They make sure there is something I can eat if I go to their house.

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

My supervisor was more scared for me than I was. They let me work the day before my surgery so I wouldn't be leaving alot of things undone for my co-workers to do while I was gone. I was out of work for a week, the first time. When I went back in the second time, I was out of work for 3 weeks. My supervisor asked anyone if they wanted to donate anything to me. She even let me cash in my vacation from the year after my surgery, so I wouldn't loose any pay.

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

The staff in 6C were great. They made sure I walked every day. They would let me know if anything was needed of me, helped me with using the restroom, etc... I didn't like some of the staff in 11C. They were pushy and mean. I had to complain a few times before Tibby got me moved to 6C. The first time I was in the hospital, I was only in there for 4 days. The second time I was in there, I was in for 3 weeks.

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

The complication I had was difficult to find and solve. The intestine suture was closing as it was healing. It wouldn't let anything pass, causing me great pain. Dr. Bergamaschi had tests done on me to find out what the problem was. It took 2 weeks to find out and a second surgery to correct. He did the surgery on a saturday.

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 extremely happy I had my date. I didn't feel anxiety or anything, except happy and elated.

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

Become friends with broth soups and baby food again. I hated the taste of baby food. The broth wasn't any better, Chicken and vegetable were the only two that I could tolerate. Beef broth didn't agree with me. Popsicles and sugar-free crystal light became my friends also. Learn how to get out of bed using your feet. I learned that if I put my foot under the railing and rolled onto my right side, it was easier to get out of bed. Keep walking, no matter how much it hurts. Take it slow when you walk also, don't push yourself. Learn your limits.

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

Allegheny General Hospital is only about 10 miles from my home. My brother drove me home and anywhere I needed to go after my surgery until I got the staples out.

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.

Since I'm 18mths post-op, I've found I still can't eat things with too much sugar, salt or milk. If I eat stringy meat, I get sick to the point I have to throw up and it hurts to breath. Sugar, salt and milk run right through me and give me bad diarehha and cramps. I get pale and sweaty as well. It's not a feeling I would wish on anyone. I can't eat ham, white bread, ice cream, milk, chinese food, roast beef, macaroni and cheese, scalloped potatoes, fruits with peels and certain cereals. It depends on the day as to what i can eat thought. One day I will be able to eat an apple, the next day, it won't agree with me. My sugar intake, however has increased. The first months after my surgery, anything with more than 3grams of sugar would make me sick. Now if it has more than 11grams of sugar.

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

I walk more, use my treadmill and stationary bike. I'm able to run up the stairs at work faster without getting winded. I walk a faster pace.

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

I take Centrum Chewable Vitamins only.

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?

If I would eat something that didn't agree with me, my body would let me know within an hour. I few times I had dumping. Most often I have vomiting. They both are accompanied with cramps worse than a menstral cycle. They still persist to this day, if I eat something wrong. I'm still learning what I can and can't eat.

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

having the surgery done right before the holidays and not being able to celebrate them.

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

The only support program I have are my friends and family, as well as Dr. Bergamaschi and Tibby. I can call Tibby whenever, since she gave me her pager number. But I'm not one to abuse that number.

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

The only scar that is visible now is from the second surgery. It's vertical going upward from my belly button. Since that is where Dr. Bergamaschi had to go in to re-do the inside connecting point.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I am at a weight lose plateau of 159lbs lost. This is the only plateau I've had since surgery. I rapidly lost my weight and my clothes sizes.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Nope. I don't notice anyone treating me any differently. Then again, I haven't been to my High School 20yr Reunion yet, which is in 2006.