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

I found out about it from off of late night t.v. one night. The commercial said perminate weight loss call to find out. I did and that is how I found out. My initial impression of it was shallow. I didn't do a lot of resurch. I just made a phone call the center checked to see if insurance would pay and it did for a part of it. I would have had to pay 3,500.00 out of pocket and that is why I stopped the first time. This time I have a much better opinion of it. I am very concered about my health and how it will be after the surgery. I have found that if I keep with my doctor and follow his orders then I should do ok. I know that this responsibility lies on me not the surgery. Had I done this the first time I found out about bariatric surgery I would not have felt that way. I know much more now and I think I am ready to go through with the process

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

I have a very good insurance company so it was not hard at all for my approval. In fact several of the people I work with have the same insurance and we were all approved quite quickly. It is Health Net of California. We all are with the Med Clinic which is tied in with the bariatric center. I only had to get a recomendation from my pcp to see the Bariatic doctor and it has gone quite rapidly. If you have anyother type of insurance I would not know what to say but, Good Luck!

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

The first visit was very good. I think if a person has done their homework on this surgery, the first visit will go very well. My doctor was impressed that I had done resurch. Lots of people come in and think that this is the answer to ALL their problems. It's not. It is NOT a "quick fix" either. If a person goes into their doctor knowing this then it will make the whole experiance so much better. Also ASK QUESTIONS!!! It is important that you ask your doctor some personal questions about himself. Why does he/she feel this procedure is so successfull? How does he/she feel about it? Do not hesitate to be bold. If you have never been bold in your life, or don't feel as if you can, this is the time for you to acctually do it. Fake it for this one time and really dig deep and take control of the situation. This is your life you are dealing with. This surgery has fatal "side effects" so yes, be bold!! ASK QUESTIONS!! They acctually like that.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

This site, and the many success stories. Also the fact that I found a doctor that was local and in my insurance coverage. I would not have done this if I had to fly by plane anywhere. I would not be able to do this on my own. I have to have support from the doctors office, knowing that if something were to go wrong, I would have a doctor to the hospital within 20 min of reguardless where they lived.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

There is only one procedure done at the hospital I am going to. I did not get to make a choise. Had I been lower in my bmi and not had prior abdomital surgery, Then I could have had a choise of open or lap rny.

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?

THINK POSITIVE!!!!!! I have such a fear of leaving my daughter here on earth without me. I don't know what I would do if I did not belive in God. Without that faith, I don't think I would decide to do this.

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?

I am lucky. My whole family and all of my friends are so so so so supportive. Had I gone thru with it the first time I learned about it I don't think it would have been as good. I don't think they would have supported me as much. But now they know about the surgery and I let them know I was going to do this with or wihtout their approval.

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

My supervisor at work was elated for me. She is so supportive and I have someone from work following the website so they can look on here and get an update on my surgery day. I am so very blessed and lucky they are all behind me.

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

The hospital stay was ok. Bring Lots of pillows, and BABY WIPES. Those are so important. You don't get a shower and that pain medicine that they give you to knock you out...you smell bad!! Bring some non slip slippers. Bring pictures of your family. Toothbrush. Anything to make you more comfortable. My stay was ok. I had mine at Univeristy California Davis Medical Center (for short UCDMC). It is a learning hospital, so I had lots and lots and lots of pre-med students come in and study. Quite interesting. I hated my nurses. Except the one volenteer, a big guy. Helped me so much. Loved him. I got sick off the morphine, so I had to deal with the pain. No big deal, didn't hurt that much. I had Open RNY. I stayed for 3 days. I really worked at getting out of bed. Walking and getting that first bm out of the way. I knew once I had a bm I could go home. It worked. They let me go. I was so so so so so so so so so so so so happy. Did I mention I was happy? hahaha.

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

I pray to the lord every night, and I thank him for no complications. I have had a very good experiance. I feel that if you go into this with a positive attitude, you will have a wonderful and positive outcome. Karma I guess. The only instance of "dumping" I had was when I ate a hotdog at a "community picnic". At the picnic there were cops, and firemen, and ambulance workers all around. When I went to dump I felt like I was going to pass out. I luckly didn't. Just think, all that fuss over a bowel movement. But for the record, I have been lucky. I haven't had ANY complications.

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 great in the weeks following my surgery. I was so happy that it was done and over with. Really, I was so scared. I was not confident in myself. I didn't think this surgery was going to work for me. I didn't think I would get as far as I would. Everytime I thought that I would quicky I MEAN QUICKLY go read a success story here on Obesity Help. I know now, that this surgery does work. It was my tool that worked for me. I am using this tool, and I am succeeding. I hope you all do too.

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

The first few weeks home, don't expect a whole lot. Make sure when you send someone to get you a movie, you ask specifically. Otherwise you will end up watching some stupid movie you would NEVER have picked out. That is about what you should expect.....oh yeah, and not to eat for a while. trying to drink a tea spoon of water was the weirdest experiance in my life. I would do it all over again. Lets see what else. Take it easy, tell the family to make due for a month. It is a TINY sacrifice they give to you, so you can be there for them for the rest of THEIR lives.

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

I was lucky. I had it done right here at home. That is why it took me 7 years to have this surgery. I would not travel. I couldn't see myself traveling after surgery. Didn't make sense to me. I was just lucky I guess.

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.

In detail. First time I got to eat something, it was a teaspoon of broth. After the 2nd teaspoon, I thougth my stomach was going to explode. What a weird feeling. I ate broth, jello, Oh but the sugar free ice-cream....mmmmmmm. One popsicle every 30 minutes. HEAVEN. At 2 weeks, I wanted FOOD!!! So I ate it. I had Pizza for the very first time in almost a month. I ate very slow. It took me about an hour to finish a small peice of pizza. It was the best tasting King Authur Supreme from Round Table Pizza I had ever tasted. From that day on, I started to experiment on what I could and couldn't eat. I found the ONLY thing I couldn't eat was hotdogs. Dump city. Yucky. I keept the same eating habbits for quite some time. I couldn't eat very much for about 4 months. I took very small portions (wasted a whole lot of food), and I ate very slow. After about 4 months, I found I could eat more. Not much but I could finish 3/4ths of a 1/2 of a sandwich. In one setting that is. Usually took me about 30 minutes to eat 1/2 a sandwich. I am at 7 months now, and I can still only eat about 1/2 of a sandwich. I still take my time in eating. I don't shovel anything in. My meal still takes me 2 hours to finish. I usually eat 1 meal a day. I take a plate of food, like any regular person eats in one meal, and I chew on it all day long. I get full so fast, usually after like 3 bites, so I take my time. I feel like I eat all the time. But I am only eating 1 meal. I still get my nutrition by taking vitamins, and getting my vitamin B-12 shot once a month. OH YEAH...START YOUR B-12 SHOTS EARLY!!! I have very minimal hair loss. My doctor was so impressed about how much I had lost (he never had faith in me) and that I had all my hair. I still think it is from getting those shots started early. I still cannot tollerate a hotdog (I had to try just once, I know we never learn do we).

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

My activity levels days and even into about 2 months after surgery were pretty minimal. I keept a low profile, and took it easy. I had one minor complication I forgot about. I had some sores open up on my scar line. Antibiotics took care of it. After about 4 months my activity levels seems to increase. I started my vitamin B-12 shots at one month past my surgery date with my pcp. I really belive in this system. I do think it really helped with me, and my activity level. I have taken on a lot since my surgery and I could never have done it without the surgery. Now at 7 months post op, I really don't feel any different. I am still as active as I have ever been. I have a full plate of responsibilites and I am able to do it all because of this surgery. Without this surgery I would be out of work on disablity right now.

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

This is something I should do more of, but the only vitamins I take is the vitamin B-12 shots I get from the doctor. Had I taken a multivitamin I don't think I would have lost ANY hair at all. That is the only thing I would change if I did this again. I don't take any dietary supplements. I am learning how to eat healthier so I can go to the gym and work out properly.

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 really didn't have a lot of side effects I am happy to report. I have had some hair loss, but so minimal that nobody even noticed. I got my hair cut really short to deal with it. I don't have any dumping. I had one instance with a hotdog, and have not eaten another one since then. I have had no nausia. I have had a bout of vomiting after eating a lot and then drinking something. I usually end up getting rid of the liquid. Other than that, I cannot vomit very well anymore. I don't burp. My gas level is only up when I eat beans and drink sodas. So I stay away from both for the most part.

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

I really cannot find anything really bad about this surgery. The pain was not as bad. The begining of life was so worth all the pain. I think the worst part of the sugery process was the week before the surgery. I was loosing my mind, waiting and wanting it so bad. Dealing with the emotional rollercoaster. That was the worst part for me. Everything since then has been a peice of cake.

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

I do not get to participate in a support group. They meet in the evenings and I work nights. I use my regular pcp (primary care physician) for all my aftercare. He has been really supportive.

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

My scar is weird. It is wide at the top and it is really thin at the bottom. Looks like an intern did the top and my doctor did the bottom. That's ok because the intern was sooooo darned cute. I did get an infection on my scar durring the first 2 months and you can see where that was. It's ok though. I am going to have plastic surgery to have a tummy tuck and various things so that will be taken care of then. Yes it is exactly what I had expected. I had to have emergency gallbladder surgery durring my pregnancy 10 years prior.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I have not had too many platues untill now. I have not lost a pound in over a month. I am almost 2 years out, so it took a while before the platues were quite significant.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Amazingly different. I don't get looked over anymore. People look me in the eye now. Kindof frustrating