martha63

Obesity & Me

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

Battled over weight for about 25 years. Too many diets and too much yoyo dieting and caused my metabolisum to slow down to practically nothing.

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

Not looking good , not being able to cross my legs because my legs are too fat. Not sleeping good because of apnea and reflux.

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

I have to admit even after only loseing 20 lbs. my knees are better. But other than that there in nothing to enjoy I have ruined my life and it will never be the same. It is a miserable life I have now, hardly worth living except I have to live because I wouldn't want to hurt my family any more than I have already.

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

At least two or three years ago news releases etc. Then about a year ago seeing a couple of relatives who had the surgery and thought it was the greatest thing ever.

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

The doctor I went to has an incredible machine like system in his office. And a man who knows his stuff about insurance companies and what they want. But everyone should still contact their insurance companies and ask what their agreed pricing is and if the doctor and hospital are in your network. ASK LOTS OF QUESTIONS. Find out how many other people will be involved in your surgery and if they are in your network. I'm getting bills from people I never heard of and do not have any idea what they do or did. Every bill just says hospital incidentals.

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

BRIEF

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I wanted to look good and I had decided that I wouldn't be able to get on the floor and play with my grand children, should I have any. My knees are in really bad shape and I couldn't walk for a long time or do some things. stairs were a real problem.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I was going to get the lap band and the surgeon said what would I get if insurance paid and I thought the gastric bypass. He thought that was the best choice . He indicated too many problems were beginning to crop up with the lap band. Oh how I wish I had had that and then it would be much easier to reverse.

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 dying during the surgery. But talked myself into not worrying about it because I had a good surgeon and I had had every test and passed them.

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 husband was for it all along which surprised me. My two sons and their wives had a fit. They were extremely upset about me going through such a drastic change to my anatomy for weight loss. Since the surgery they have been supportive. Of course they know nothing of my deep depression and Thoughts I may have ruined my life. It would upset them and I don't want to do that. I protect my children at all costs. I really wanted to back out two weeks before my surgery but didn't because I thought everyone would say well you have failed again. You have never kept weight off after the jillion diets you have been on and now you have failed again. How stupid was that kind of logic.

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

I'm retired

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

I brought my CPAP machine and a tooth brush, you don't really need anything else. I wore clothes to the hospital that were loose since I knew I wouldn't want anything tight around my waist for going home clothes.

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

NO

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 continued to do research up to a week before my surgery. I changed my mind every other day. I wasn't going to do it , I was going to do it. Back and forth for 6 weeks. My husband would say if you don't you are going to be kicking yourself from now on. And I thought yes you're probably right. But the BIG problem is once you do it there is no turning back. YOur fate is sealed and it is not a good fate.

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

Okay so I have only been home 4 weeks tomorrow. The first week I was convinced I would die but it would be from thirst. I couldn't stand some of the protein drinks way too sweet. God I almost puked everytime I smell one of those things. However I did get some medi fast product and I like those. I also found Unjury protein powder, no flavor and I can tolerate it. If you just taste the powder, to me, it tastes like non fat dry milk. It is still hard to get enough water. No drinking 30 min. before or after eating so you cut out alot of time to get your 64 ounces in. Anything I try to eat besides cottage cheese or a protein smoothie sticks in my throat and hurts like heck until it goes down. Even my anti depressant which is tiny, tiny hurts.

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

In my area.

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 eat mostly cottage cheese and I use mandarin oranges with it that all goes down fine. Canned chicken and tuna , the chicken goes down pretty good the tuna I gave up on. But the meat always, the first two or three bits hurts as it goes down and I have to wait about 10 minutes before I can continue. I was eating a bit of fresh tomato with the chicken but I don't do that anymore too uncomfortable.

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

Depends on how much protein I can get in but it is much better since last week. Before that if I hadn't had enough protein I could barely walk to the mail box and walk back and collapse in a chair.

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

I take Bariactric Advantage multi vit, b-12 and Iron. Caltrate calcium chewables. But it is getting to where I can't tolerate those, too sweet, and makes me nauseous after eating those. However the label says very small amount of sugar.

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 have just had feelings of nausea none of the other stuff. But I'm only 4 weeks. I probably have many of these delightful surprises to come. Oh joy

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

Realizing I have made a mistake and ruined my life.

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

My doctor has a PsyMed group and I have been meeting with a therapist at that office. It is good to have that outlet. Because I don't have anyone else I can talk to. His office also has a support group through the hospital where the surgery was performed. A nutritionist runs the program and she seems to be very well edcucated in weight loss surgery. All the people in the group had their surgery on the same day . So we are all on the same page, so to speak.

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

I had laproscopic and I had lap for a gall bladder surgery several years ago so I knew what to expect.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

NO
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