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

I had heard about it. My urologist recommended it to me.

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

Just had to wait for approval.

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

He was a little bit of an odd ball, but very nice. He is one of those surgeons who is not real comfortable with people.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I decided that I could lose the weight if I put my mind to it. So I quit working and started daily to work out at the Wellness Center. I started eating right. During this time, I gained four pounds. I love working out and am still going faithfully, but I now weigh seventy pounds less since my WLS. :)

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I went with the open RNY as this was the procedure that my surgeon recommended.

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 had the typical what-ifs that one would have with major surgery. I cleaned my house and got bills, clothes and other things in order.

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 older, obese sister was very fearful, but supportive. My husband supported my decision. (Ithink he was concerned about my having surgery, but he educated himself about WLS too.) My mother thought I was nuts, but was too polite to say so. By the way, she is very pleased and pleasantly surprised.

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

N/A

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

I was admitted at midnight on my surgery day. I was in from Thursday until Tuesday. I was to come home on Monday, but there was concern that I had a blood clot. I was not very impressed with my service at the hospital. I was very sick and the staff were very busy. My sister came up on Friday night and stayed at my bedside until Monday morning. Having someone with you to help out is the most important thing. Also I couldn't have got along without my small electric fan and backscratcher.

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 was fine. Counted the minutes until surgery. I cleaned my house and I made a point of seeing my friends. I worked out and ate right so I would be healthy before surgery.

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

I was a mess! We hired a friend to take care of me and the baby the first week, then my toddler went and stayed with my sister for a week. I had a great deal of back pain and it wasn't until they pulled my two drain tubes at two weeks until I could lie on my back. I was not able to get on my side until the G-tube came out at four weeks. Within a week after that, I was out playing in the sandbox with the baby and back to the Wellness Center. Ten days after surgery, I was really in bad shape. I ran a low grade fever and I couldn't even go to the bathroom without being out of breath. Oh the pain!!

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

About ten minutes.

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 did not eat anything but my protein shakes until two weeks after surgery. My blood sugar (which is normal) dropped to 40 when I was at the doctor so I started eating some banana and it came back up. Now I eat anything I want, nothing bothers me. However, I only eat very good foods, mostly following a high protein, low starch and fat diet. I still have difficulty eating tough meats, as I get full instantly with a few bites.

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

It has pretty much returned to what it was before my last baby at this point. After surgery I became dizzy and lightheaded and SOB even walking across the room. This lasted for days, only gradually improving until the removal of my drain tubes. Then, I was able to do a little more. Once the G-tube came out and my temperature went down, my energy went right through the ceiling.

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

Daily multivitamin. Now I also take vitamin D + Calcium. I also am taking biotin and drink trace mineral drops in my water infrequently.

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 had problems with burping after surgery. I have no other problems including minimal hair loss, no dumping. I have had some vomiting when I have ate too fast.

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

The poor nursing service in the hospital. If it wasn't for my sister coming to the hospital and staying with me, I think I would have died after surgery.

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

I joined the WLS group in the area long before surgery. I became very close to three other individuals during this time and I see them each weekly. They have gaven me clothes, moral support and have been there since. It was absolutely the most essential thing I did in my preparation for surgery. We compare notes and stretch marks. We work out together and eat together. We have all been very successful in our WLS, yet we have each done it our own way. This whole process and change has been very easy for me and I think it is because I did not do this alone, I did it with my friends at my side, cheering me on.

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

Its fine. Looks like a big scar.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I love my plateaus! You lose weight, then you lose inches. I usually lose a bit then stop. For instance lose 7 pounds in a week, then nothing for a week then 2-3 pounds for a week then nothing then lots of weight then nothing, etc. Probably also related to my monthly menstrual cycle too. So far, I am very satisfied.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

No.