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

I received literature from area hospital, went on line read about surgeon and attended the weight loss meeting. Went home with all the information I collected at the meeting, went on the internet and checked the web pages about weight loss and the surgeon who would do the surgery. I thought Kennedy Health system had a great program, checked with other programs and area hospitals bariatric program and Doctors and settled with Dr. Marc A Neff for my surgery.

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

The office staff at Dr. Neff's office handled all the insurance for me. The advice I can give is to have all paperwork in order, get letters from all your Doctors and the Doctors you will see. Keep a copy of all these records and all the medical records and test performed recently/prior and after the surgery. Have all your ducks lined up before persuing the surgery, check the reputation of your Surgeon and check their cedentials, talk to other Bariatric patients and attend support groups.

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

My Surgeon Dr Neff was very enthuastic about the weight loss I had accomplished, staples came out and he answered all my questions and was there when I needed to talk to him.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

The need to feel better, to stop hurting so much and to make my health better. After researching the different weight loss surgeries and finding the right doctor to do the surgery. I did not have enough confidence in the Physicians or office staff of the other surgeons I contacted. But when I met Dr. Neff, TinaMarie and his staff, I knew they were the ones for me.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Talking with Dr Neff and Tinamarie Juengert and researching the different types of proceedures, I chose the Rouin-Y.

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?

The fear of the anastesia and not coming out of the surgery or dying. That the fears are ok to have you wouldn't be normal if you didn't have some fear. Even if you have the best surgeon anything can go wrong, not one person's surgery is the same and results are different. I had some problems with my surgery but I would have the surgery again in a minute if I had to, you have to have faith in your surgeon and hope all involved in your case are just as good.

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 family was very surprised and hesitant in the choice of the hospital I chose. They attended support group meetings with me and my Mom went to the DR. office and hit him with some important questions. My family is and was very supportive after the surgery and have made my weight loss easier by being there for me.

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

They were very surprised and thought I was nuts. I told her I was having bariatric surgery and she said when next year, NOPE in 2 months. her response was "ARE YOU KIDDING" when I told her the hospital I was going to she nearly fell off her chair and tried to talk me into going over the bridge to other hospitals. I was firm on the surgeon and hospital, she did not support my decision and I told her this is my decision and what is going to happen will happen either at the hospital of my choice or the hospital over the bridge. She told me I was STUBBORN and I am proud of this. I was out of work 9 weeks.

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

I had a 5 day hospital stay. Kennedy Hospital in Stratford has special rooms for the Bariatric patients, they are spacious, clean and the nursing staff is fantastic. Bring a good book, music, comfortable PJ's, your CPAP machine, comfy slippers. Chap stick for your dry lips and the sponges they give you to moisten your lips and mouths are very handy.

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

Yes I had a problem with the intubation, the anesthesiologist did not bring in my ENT to help w/intubation as I had asked. I ended up with pneumonia and a problem w/my voice box and throat. I talked and sounded like a frog for 2 months. I feel this could have been advoided if they would have called in the ENT. I had a previous problem with the intubation earlier in the month and they gave me a more experienced anesthesiologist (HA). But the Surgery went well and I would do it again except to have my ENT in the room to intubate me.

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 good, tired and a little sore. I had my mom with me for a week after surgery and she was a great help. I was slow moving but the progress after the surgery was good and Dr. Neff, Tinamarie Juengert (the bariatric coordinator) was fantastic. Any questions you call them and had an answer right away. I had Tinamarie to turn to when the anxiety hit, Tinamarie has since left Kennedy as their bariatric coordinator and things are not the same.

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

You are very sore and tender, I slept on a recliner for 3 weeks after the Rouin-Y bariatric surgery. Take things at a slow pace and do not overexert yourself. Eat light and eat the meals you are suppose to. I purred chicken and veggies prior to my surgery, froze them in ice cube trays then put them in freezer bags. Pulled them out for my meals and each cube was 1 oz. so I was able to measure my intake of my meals. keep a record of your food intake and this way when you are feeling bad or get sick you can trace this back to manybe what you ate that caused this. Take one day at a time and remember in 6 mo things will change for you and you will be losing weight and feeling better.

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

I traveled less that 10 miles for my surgery. And my doctors office was about a 25 minute ride. In the beginning the 25 minute ride I was a little ansie but as time went by the ride was better.

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 could consume, pudding, jello, water, crystal light then purred chicken, vegtables, broth. then had to go back to the liquid food for a week or two. Had bouts of nausea, got past that, then progressed on to finely chopped foods. Chili off limits any thing with alot of sugar 24g or over you will be praying to the gods to take you, the dumping syndrome is the worst feeling you can have, sweats, runs, puking and feeling of passing out. It is a trial and error on what foods you can eat and tolerate. What bothered you last month may be fine this month, and you may find that something you ate before now is bothering you either nausea, runs, constipation is a big factor and you need your protein and vitamins. W/o protein you will have hair loss. I have a problem with eating vegtables and fruits and my water intake is not great. I can tolerate almost all foods I had eaten before, I stay way away from FRIED FOODS these are a no no. Fish, chicken some steak.

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

I was walking 2- 3 times a day, short walks then 1/2 block then full block then 2 blocks. I just took it very slow in the beginning and increased my walking little by little until I was walking a couple of blocks.

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

Vitamin b, Multi vitamins, protein drinks, protein bars

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?

Nausea I still have occassionally even after 15 months of surgery. Had a few episodes of dumping my fault (like eating a piece of candy high in sugar and that margarita mix drink) a few not realizing what I ate would affect me. Hair loss started about 5-6 months after surgery and again when I stopped or didn't take my protein drinks. Track what I eat and figure out what caused the problem, continue to take protein suppliments. When you have a dumping problem realize what you did to cause it or what caused the problem and pray it will go away soon.

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

The problem with my throat. Eating that piece of candy w/too much sugar and the cravings for chocolate!!!! But I get past the chocolate craving. My need to exercise I am very bad with this part. I would do the surgery and recommend this surgery to anyone who will listen, I do not pressure anyone to have the surgery but I will talk about my experience with the surgery and the GREAT SURGEON Dr. Marc A. Neff. Attend all the support groups you can they help.

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

My family, Tinamarie (bariatric coordinator), Dr. Neff and I attend the Kennedy Health System Bariatric Support Group meetings monthly. I have missed 2 meetings in 15 months and I hate to miss these meetings but sometimes I am scheduled for work. Have a great nutritionist and keep records of what you eat. It is important to have a very good support group and to attend the support group meetings, Dr. appt's and nutritionist appt.

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

I had laproscopic surgery and had 6 scars and 1 scar from the JP tube. You can only see 2 of the 7 scars, the other have faded or you just can't see them. I thought I would have these scars you could see forever but this is not so.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I am now at a plateau now and have been for the past 2 months, I hit a couple other plateau's earlier but they only lasted a week or two. I wish I could just lose about 17 more pounds and then I would be happy at that plateau. I am down from 286 (sz 28) to 168 (sz 14)this sounds good but I wish I could just lose more faster.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes, Some treat me the same and others are surprised at how good I look. I am not getting the looks I use to get in the malls like people staring at you especially if you have a drink in your hand or are munching on a snack or eating. If you are heavy you get a lokk like what are you eating that for, if you are slimmer you don't get the same looks or stares.