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

I had heard about weight loss surgery many years before I actually agreed to have it. I heard nothing but horror stories. Women dying on the table. Complication after Complication.

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

I don't have very much to offer on this topic, I had Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Massachusetts. I was approved in a week. I was one of the lucky patients who didn't have to fight to have the surgery approved.

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

I immediately liked Dr. Thayer. He was very friendly, informative and made me feel at ease. ' The only bit of advice I can give about this meeting. Is Ask Questions.. anything you can think of. I will be honest in saying all I could think about was being "skinny" well first off I am STILL not skinny. Second, I don't want to be skinny. Third, I wish I had asked about the LONG TERM effects. For example, I have found myself at 2 months shy of being 42. I have now been diagnosed with Arthritis. I have it in my knees from years of carrying the extra weight.. I also have it bad in my left shoulder. Here's the problem. Most of the medicines prescribed for arthritis, we, as Bariatric Patients cannot take. most are NSAIDs. So I suffer with severe pain in that shoulder because I cannot take anything for it. I wish I had thought to ask those types of questions beforehand.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

My Primary Care Physician nearly begged me to have the surgery. I was over 300 lbs. My blood pressure was very high.. I walked around literally red-faced due to the High Blood Pressure. I could barely walk. And I was very depressed.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

After discussion with the Surgeon and with my body type and other factors.. We decided on the Open RNY. Proximal

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?

To be quite honest. I wasn't afraid. I was more excited to having a second chance at life. I didn't worry about dying. I had thought, If something goes wrong and I die. Then it is the chance I will have to take because I had NO Life being over 300 lbs. In fact the day of surgery I was so anxious and excited, When the Surgeon came in and said it was a go was I alright.. I said yes lets go lets go! And when they wheeled me in the OR I JUMPED from the gurney to the OR Table I couldn't wait.

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?

At first my mom wasn't very happy about it. I believe she was just worried. My sister and other family members were concerned but supportive.

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

My Boss? She belittled me every chance she got for making the decision to have the surgery. She would say things like. "Your costing people money because you cant keep your mouth closed and diet" Yes, she actually said that to me. She even tried to talk me out of it. When it came time to schedule my surgery. I went to her and the VP of the company to make sure they were aware of EVERYTHING. the length of time I would be out healing and all details. And I said I wanted to sit down with them to make sure that the scheduling of my surgery didn't interfere. We agreed upon July 2005. After I scheduled the date. They came to me and asked me if I would change it til the end of the summer so I could help cover all the vacations. I graciously agreed, even though this was the reason I sat down with them in the first place so I wouldn't have to go back and forth with changing the date of surgery. Six weeks after the surgery, I went back into work, a week before I was due to return. And made a "visit" to make sure all was ok adn to let them see I was perfectly alright And I wanted to be sure of the time and date of the following week I would be coming back to work. The Sunday night before I was to return from Medical leave the VP of the company called me and said not to come into work. I was no longer needed. My position had been "terminated". I knew what had happened...and unfortunately Massachusetts is an AT WILL State. Employer's can let you go for ANY reason with NO explanation.

What was it like attending your first information seminar on weight loss surgery? Were you glad you attended? if so, why?

Very informative...I was able to speak to others who already had the surgery.

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

I was there for 4 - 5 days.. I was there a little longer because we found out I was became lactose intolerant after the Surgery. I suggest bringing a small pillow, one that you can hold across your mid-section when you cough, sneeze or have to try and walk.

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

I became Lactose Intolerant. A week later I developed Kidney stones on both sides. and that was MORE painful than the Surgery.

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

Excited. I was never in fear. It honestly never accured to me to be afraid.

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

My mother was wonderful.. She did everything for me.. She cooked all my meals.. kept after me to drink and eat.. she bathed me for a few days as I could not reach or bend.

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

About 40 to Newton Wellsely Hospital. no problems.

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 had some problems with milk, ice cream. I could only eat popsicles for 2 months.. and in that two months I lost a total of 75 lbs.

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

I walked much more as I gained my wind back.

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

Calcium, Iron, Multi,

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?

vomiting, dumping and hair loss

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

That I didn't do it sooner.

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

It is pretty faded now..

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Oh MUCH different. I am no longer invisible!