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

Blue Cross/Blue Shield gave us fits. They didn't agree that I was in danger of dying and that was their only criteria. Being diabetic and on 230 units of insulin along with 2000 mg of metformin a day just wasn't life threatening. High cholestrol and blood pressure added into the pile changed no minds on approval. They finally agreed that sleep apnea, if proved by an overnight test, would sway them toward approval. It finally did just that.

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

Dr Pennings spent a great deal of time asking questions and answering mine as well. He filled me in on all the advantages as well as the risks involved. He sent me home with booklets to read and offered advice on websites to visit as well as the phone number of previous patients who had agreed to speak with anyone interested in the surgery. Any new patient should treat this as a life changing experience and get all the information availible to them. ( Whether through the dr's office, workshops, support group meetings for pre and post op patients.)Go home informed and then spend time researching and thinking of everything but the weight loss. What's involved and what is your own part in all this as well as risks management. And there are plenty of those to consider.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

My quality of life was at a low ebb. I was miserable and knew that something had to change. My husband said that he was watching me go slowly downhill. I couldn't travel with constant dirrahea, insulin and bags of pills only made my low energy level seem more so.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

The only one available to me was the Roue N Y mini gastric bypass. It was done Lapiscopically.

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 thought that my chances of dying were much less with this surgery than living with my health problems that I had. But, my husband played devil's advocate with me daily to make sure that I actually understood my chances. Did I really want to do this? What did I feel about the surgery? How would I handle the lack of food? How would I handle any pain or discomfort?

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 mother was not in favor when I first mentioned it to her. She told me NO, not under any circumstances! We told no family members, including mom, other then my sons. They were very supportive. Friends were there for me before and after the procedure. How much was concern and how much was curiousity I can't say, but they stood by me.

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

My stay was a brief one. I went in on Friday morning and went home the following Sunday. I was the first surgery of this type in Coeur d Alene Idaho. The staff was great even though this was as new to them as to me. Bring the ususal and plan on walking ASAP. I can't say enough about the moving. It made all the difference in the length of my stay.

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

No problems. Did go home with a leaky wound, but after a few days of constant changing of sheets it cleared up.

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 felt wonderful. No anxiety what so ever. Any questions I had were answered by my dr and his staff and I just faithfully followed my program.

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

I had a hard time with the smells of food. My husband tried to eat just top ramen and I yelled at him because it smelled so good. I couldn't have a lot of the liquids allowed because of my diabetes so it left a much smaller choice to chose from. For the first two weeks I had no hunger. After that I was so hungry that it hurt. Since then other patients have told me that they never experienced hunger and I have been hungry every minute of every day since. I deal with this by eating very small amounts every hour or so to keep my pouch from going completely empty. Everyone finds their way with the first few weeks and if you stay in touch with your dr and post of patients in your support group you should do fine.

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

We live 45 miles from my dr and the hospital. It really didn't effect my care in any way.

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 found that the fist few weeks were pretty easy. All liquids and not much of them. After 2 weeks I was dying for a carrot. Not a soft goopy one, but a crunchy one. So I did what my dietian said and Chewed, chewed, chewed!! I ate one baby carrot with a tiny bit of ranch dressing and it was like eating a dessert. Dr had a fit but I did fine. I had trouble with eggs of any kind but egg salad whirled in a food procssor. I spread it on club crackers and let it melt in my mouth. The first meat I could handle in its real form was Shrimp! By that I mean not pureed. I still can't do Beef roast or any meat that is stringly no matter how good I chew it. I can't eat Sweet and Soup Pork. It sticks and won't go down. Ice cream gives me the dumping syndrome if I eat more than a few bites. Food first thing in the morning is a no no for me. Pouch won't open easily without putting lots of liquids into it first. Pills are getting somewhat better but still big ones are a no no. Chewables are better and liquids certainly more so.

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

Not much for the first few weeks then gradually picked up until I felt terrific.

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

I do the chewable K Mart complete vitamins for kids. Two per day. And I chew 3 Cal Trate Chewables each day. I also take Vit B12, B6 and folate acid.

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 can honestly say that the only side effect that has bothered me has been the hair loss. My hair was baby fine but I had enough of it. I lost handfuls about3-4 months post op and it has not come back. I deal with it by wearing hairpieces. I am 3+ years post op and it's obvious that it won't come back now. It's a minor inconvenience that I am willing to cope with.

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

I don't know if you will consider this the worst part, but it was not being able to see myself as others saw me. I still saw a fat me even though my closet was getting emptier of fat clothes. My husband and friends kept telling me how good I looked but it's taken years for me to see that person.

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

I had almost a year before I moved from the area. I can't tell you just how important they are.

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

I have just 4-5 small scars from the laprescopic surgery They are not too noticable now.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Toward the end of the 2nd year the weight loss stopped. I have held onto that weight for over a year. I was told I'd gain up to 10 lbs and I do go up and down 2-3 lbs each month. The whole experience was pretty much as my dr had told me.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Those who know me accept me as I am now that the newness has worn off. My mother keeps asking me if I've gained any weight everytime she talks to me. She lives 1,000 miles away and can't believe that I won't put it back on.