JAMES V.

Obesity & Me

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

I TRYED EVERY THINGN POSSIBLE TO LOOSE WEIGHT. I WAS AT WITTS END. I WAS WILLING TO TRY ANYTHING TO LOOSE WEIGHT.

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

PEOPLE LOOKING AT ME AND LAUGHING. NOT FITTING IN CHAIRS, SEATS, AT SPORTING EVENTS. HEALTH PROBLEMS FROM THE WEAIGHT. NOT BEING ABLS TO WALK BECAUSE OF THE WEAIGHT.

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

TIE MY SHOES WITHOUT LOOSING MY BREATH. SLEEPING WITH OUT THE SLEEP APNIA MACHINE.

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

A FRIEND TOLD ME ABOUT IT AND GAVE ME SOME LITITURE FOR BTC. I WAS SCEPTABLE, THOUGHT IT WAS EXTREAM TO BE CUT OPEN TO LOOSE WEAIGHT.

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

SUBMITTED THE REQUEST AND WAS APPROVED RIGHT AWAY. I THINK THE MANY WEAIGHT RELATED HEALTH PROBLEMS HAD A LOT TO DO WITH IT.

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

HE WAS COLD AND UNEMOTIONAL. ALMOST LIKE HE WAS READING FROM A BOOK.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

NOTHING ELSE WORKED, IF I DIDN'T DO SOMETHING I WOULD BE DEAD IN A FEW YEARS.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I DID THE ONLY ONE BTC DOES.

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 AFRAID THAT I WAS GOING TO DIE. SO I KEPT READING AND FIINDING OUT MORE ABOUT THE PROCEDURE. WE ARE AFRAID OF WHAT WE DON'T KNOW SO IT HELPED.

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?

THEY WERE SUPPORTIVE OF IT.

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

THE ASSHOLES AT WORK COULDEN'T SAY A WORD THANKS TO THE FMLA ACT. THE FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE ACT ALLOWS YOU TO BE OFF WITH OUT LOOSING YOUR JOB FOR UP TO SIX MONTHS.

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

I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL FOR THREE DAYS. IT WAS COMFORTABLE.

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

THEY HAD TO TAKE MY GAUL BLADDER BECAUSE IT HHAD SCARR TISSUE ON IT.

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

A BIG ADJUSTMENT. ITS LIKE LEARNING TO EAT ALL OVER AGAIN.. BUT THAT A GOOD THING, MAYBE I'LL LEARN THE RIGHT WAY THIS TIME.

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

PAIIN, PAIN, AND MORE PAIN. IT HURTS LIKE HELL.........DON'T LET ANYONE SUGAR COAT IT.

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

ABOUT A THREE HOUR DRIVE.

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.

STILL ON LIQUIDS

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

VERY WEAK. I WAS DIZZY FOR ABOUT FOUR WEEKS AFTER FROM THE ANISTISIA. I COULDENT DO ANYTHING WITH OUT FEELING LIKE I WAS GOING TO PASS OUT.

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

BUGGS BUNNY SUGAR FREE CHEWABLES

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 AM SLILL FEELING LIKE I AM GOING TO PASS OUT. I GET SICK TO MY STOMACH AFTER EVERY MEAL. I HOPE IT PASSES SOON.

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

NOT KNOWING WHAT TO EXPECT

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

I GO TH THE MOKINA ILLINOIS BTC SUPPORT GROUP. THEY ARE A WORM BUNCH OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE MADE MY LIFE BETTER BECAUSE OF THEIR SUPPORT.

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

I STILL HAVE AN OPEN PART AT THE TOP THAT STILL OOSSES. IT LOOKS LIKE ITS GOING TO HEAL NICELY.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

TOO SOON TO SAY...........

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

NO
show more answers

ARE YOU READY TO PAY IT FORWARD & SHARE YOUR JOURNEY? Your journey will help highlight the many ways weight loss surgery improves lives and makes a difference in our families, communities and world. EACH JOURNEY COUNTS as a voice towards greater awareness.

Share Now
×