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

I first found out about the surgery when I went to my doctor about the numbness in both feet. He said that I had Diabetic Neuropathy and would eventually loose both my feet. I began to cry. He told me I had to get at least a hundred pounds off fast. I cried harder. I told him I had tried everything. He said "Well you haven't tried bariatric surgery." He asked me to do some research on it and come see him again. He gave me the name of a surgeon in Memphis and I went to listen to his two hour lecture. I learned a lot at that lecture. I learned that I was normal. He said in the lecture that 98% of people who are morbidly obiese can loose weight only to gain it back and then some. That was me for sure. He also said that the 2% who keep it off must become obsessed with diet and exercise. I knew that that was not me. I had only been obsessed with eating to that point. My initial impression was "Maybe there IS hope for me, Maybe I can do this."

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

My experience with getting insurance approval was somewhat humiliating to say the least. My doctor submitted pictures of me to the insurance company. Not of my face but of my huge abdomen. I was approved on the first try. My advice to anyone attempting to get insurance approval is to have a surgeon who is familiar with the insurance needs as well as with the surgery. I feel that if your surgeon has been working with insurance companies, he/she will know exactly what to say to them to get the coverage you need.

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

My first visit was somewhat nervewracking. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to have it done for some reason. However, my surgeon put me at ease right away with his wonderful easygoing manner. His office staff were helpful and friendly. I had a list of questions and he went over my list with me. I would recommend the list to anyone going in to have this done. Write down all your questions so you won't forget them and ask your surgeon to go over them with you. I know I'm a little harsh on this but if your surgeon doesn't want to go over your list of questions that are important enough for you to write them down, find another surgeon.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I don't think I finally decided. I don't feel like there were any options there for me. It was either have the surgery or loose my feet. What would you decide in that case? I chose surgery.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

My surgeon recommended the procedure I needed. He described several to me and told me the pros and cons of each. He and I decided together which would be best for me.

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 honestly felt like I was dying anyway. This was a light at the end of the tunnel for me. I didn't fear any complications. I put my faith and trust in my surgeon and just went for it.

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?

Most of my family were supportive. I did hear some negative feedback but mostly after my surgery. I think my children didn't understand all that was involved with the surgery. If I would change anything at all, maybe I could have educated them better before the surgery. They have been very supportive since they have seen me loose the weight and look and feel so much better

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

My employer was supportive to some degree. I told anyone who wanted to sit still long enough to listen what I was going to do. I knew I could not loose that much weight that fast and have people just think that out of the blue I lost a hundred pounds. I knew they would think "Wonder why she didn't do that sooner." So I told the honest truth about what I was doing and why.

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

My hospital stay was seven years ago. For the most part, I remember it being a normal hospital stay. I don't recall having problems except that I needed lots of help. I would suggest to anyone having this surgery that they bring someone along to help out.

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

The only complication I ran into was that the epidural line (for pain control) came out on it's own the day after my surgery. Rather than have it re-inserted, I opted for a self dosing I.V. They gave me morphine and as I recall it held me fairly well.

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 so excited. My family shared my anticipation. I was nervous about having surgery but I saw it as a life saving procedure and very necessary. I was very busy having all the tests prior to the surgery so I didn't have much time to dwell on it. I was working at that time and that kept me busy too. I'm not sure how I coped with the anxiety except that my family was there to listen. That helped.

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

My first few weeks home from the hospital were what I would call normal following major surgery. My first days were the toughest. I nearly passed out in the shower. That felt terrible and I am not sure what that was from. My family carried me to bed and I recovered quickly. I had one other incident that was similar. I did pass out briefly once but recovered very quickly. I don't think most people experience this but for some reason I did. I remember that because I could not eat much, taste became the ultimate criteria for me. If it did not taste GREAT! I wouldn't eat it. I didn't want to waste my stomach room for something that tasted bland. My doctor prescribed baby food for me for the first six weeks. I didn't mind that but tired of it after about four weeks. My daughters made very soft mashed potatoes and put gravy on it for me. Oh, one other thing, I had to eat so slowly, my food got cold before I could finish. My family went out and got me a heated baby food dish. That way, I could enjoy my food hot no matter how long it took me to eat. That was wonderful. I would recommend it.

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

My surgery was performed in Memphis and I lived there so there was not much to the travel.

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.

At first I was only allowed to eat baby food for six weeks. Then I went to soft foods and then solids. I was, almost immediately, and still am lactose intolerant. Beef was a problem right away. The stringyness of the meat became an instant issue and I could tell that it didn't go down well and didn't digest well. I eat only ground beef. Pork, however, doesn't affect me that way and neither does chicken if I chew it well. Fish doesn't normally go down well for me and I am very selective about eating fish. Tuna can be a problem. Fish fillets are not my favorites now as they were before. Fried and breaded foods (Fried shrimp, Breaded fish, Southern Fried Steak) do not work for me. They don't go down well and occasionally seem to get "hung up". They also use up too much of my stomach room and the breading causes me to feel too full way too quickly. Usually in the second or third bite. I avoid these foods. Soft foods work well. However, Rice causes me to feel too full. Probably due to some swelling of the rice in my stomach. I eat pizza, but usually only part of the crust of the first slice. I eat the entire topping on that slice and the topping off of another but not the crust of that one. Seven years post op and I can still eat about 1/4 of a hamburger. I can eat more if I take lots and lots of time. I can eat mostly anything I want if I take time and chew well. The secret for me was in learning to chew my foods.

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

At first, I was very weak. I regained my strength pretty quickly and as my strength returned, I became more active. At present, I think I am very active. I'm 53 now and own a tamale shop. That keeps me very busy for about 13 hours a day, six days a week. I not only work in the shop, I also deliver lunches to two chemical plants here. That takes a good bit of exercise. I don't think I would have had the stamina for that prior to my surgery.

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

I take the chewables. Sometimes I take Geratol. I have also taken the spray vitamins from "Vitamist" I like them because they are easy to use and I don't have a problem with the taste of them.

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 think I had some of each. I didn't have much of the nausia. The only time I had vomiting was when something got really hung up. Those episodes are few and far between for me now. I may vomit 3 - 4 times a year now. When that happens, it is because I didn't chew well enough or over ate. Hair loss... Yes, I did loose lots of my hair. It grew back better than it had been before. Occasionally I will start to loose hair again. When that happens, I usually add more protien to my diet and that corrects it. I use it as a protien meter and just deal with it. Dumping. Yes I have had some of that. Usually from eating something high in sugar content. However, I can have an episode of dumping from eating something and try it again at another time and it won't bother me. Or if it hasn't bothered me before, I may have an episode of dumping. It is not consistent with me.

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

For me the worst part, if there was a worst part, was having to learn how to eat, how to chew my foods, what foods to eat, what not to eat. I had to give up beef and milk and milk products. But I have said for seven years now "It's a small price to pay!"

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

I attended an aftercare support group one time after my surgery. I am not and never have been an "aftercare, support group person." I did not enjoy it and did not return. Seven years ago, there was only one that I know of. I think aftercare and support groups are important if you need them. I didn't feel like I needed them.

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

My scar is long, extending from just below my bra line to one hands-length down the front of both thighs. I had nine pounds of excess skin removed one year after my surgery. It isn't exactly what I expected. At first it looked terrible. As time goes by it gets lighter and lighter. I am not bothered by it and my husband isn't bothered by it. Again, "Small price to pay" right?

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I don't think I hit any plateaus. I lost weight as my surgeon said I would. I dropped way below my goal weight of 160 within the first two years. I weighed 118 and wore a size 3 pants at that weight. I was way too thin at that point but it was normal for me, I think. I began to gain my weight back and it leveled out at 160 just as he said it would.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Oh yes!!!! People treat me very differently. My weight is not the first thing they notice now.