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

I don't actually remember how I learned of it, but I think it may have been a commercial on t.v. at the local bariatric institute. My initial thought was that this could be the solution to my battle with my weight.

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

It wasn't actually too difficult. I went through my husband's insurance, which was Wellmark BCBS at the time. I had to go to a surgeon for an appointment, and they required that I fill out information about my past experiences with different weight loss programs. After gathering all of the required information, the surgeon's office sent the information into my insurance company. The insurance company also required a consultation with a psychiatrist as well. After all this was done, it probably took about a month or so to get approval.

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

Since that was about 3 years ago, I actually don't remember. However, I would suggest that in the weeks leading up to your appointment, write your questions down in a notebook and take those with you to ask your doctor so that you won't forget. Do this with subsequent appointments both pre and post op.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I was tired of being who I had become, and decided that the risks (even the risk of death, even though small) outweighed living the way I was.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

The bariatric center that I went to (Trinity, Moline, Il) had only one option at the time, which was the Roux-N-Y, and it was not a laparoscopic, but an open surgery.

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 largest complication from this surgery is that of blood clots forming, at least that's what I was told. I was told that blood clots are more common in obese people, so after the surgery, I got out of bed and walked, no matter how painful it might have been, because that is the best defense against the blood clots (from all that I was told anyway). I was scared of dying, as I had a 14-year old daughter at the time, and didn't want her to live the rest of her life without me. But, like I said, I had to do something, because my health was at risk. As for what I would tell others, you have to do what you feel is best for you and your own situation. Even thought the mortality rate from this surgery has decreased significantly in the past several years, you still have to go into this surgery being prepared for the worst.

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 husband was very, very supportive. He went to an informational meeting with me before-hand at Trinity, and was supportive in my decision. The majority of my family was very supportive of my decision, except for my mother. From her point of view, she was afraid of losing me, I was her baby, and her only daughter, she would rather have me living and morbidly obese than not to have me at all. For her, it was the fear of living without me. As for after the surgery, everyone was just wonderful, and there for me when and if I needed them.

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

No reactions really from work, just the standard concern, and the "good lucks" and "hope everything goes well". I was out of work for 6 weeks since I had the open Roux-n-y surgery.

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

One of the things I remember most about my surgery was the muscle spasms or contractions. Since I had the open surgery, I had about an 8" incision in my abdomen. For about the first 24 hours after the surgery, I had these very painful spasms, wow! The pain meds helped a little, but in the scheme of things, that's a small price to pay for the outcome. Also, this is kind of a funny story, after the catheter came out, and I could use the toilet on my own (I think the day after surgery it came out), as you can imagine, I had a large incision in my abdomen, and I was also very large. So, I couldn't wipe myself after going the bathroom (#1 or #2). Therefore, when I went to the bathroom, when I was done, I would have to pull the cord, and one of the aides would have to come in and wipe for me. Well, the FIRST time I used the bathroom, and pulled the cord, this very good looking young man came into the bathroom and asked if he could help me. I just looked at him and said, "Uh, I don't think so - could you send a woman in?". Needless to say, by the next day, I was letting the male aides do the job as well, as I really was in no position to be picky!

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

About 5 months after the surgery I developed an incisional hernia, which occurs in about 30% of the patients that have the open surgery. Since I was planning on having plastic surgery once I lost all of my weight, the surgeon suggested that I have the hernia repaired at the same time as I had the beltlipectomy, as it would save me money, since I wouldn't be having to pay for the facilities, anesthesia, etc, twice (insurance would cover the hernia, the plastic surgery was on my dime).

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 very nervous, as you might expect, but I was also anxious, because I was finally on my way to the beginning of a solution.

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

I was very sore, and it really took several months, for me anyway, to get used to eating in a totally new manner. In those first 5 months or so, I threw up a lot, because I would either eat too fast, too much, not chew my food up well enough, etc. It was also hard for me to get out an exercise, go for walks, etc, but I did it. It really helped to have my husband and my mom as my main support. My husband was able to stay home with me for the first few days, but when he went back to work, my mother stayed with me during the day. They were great. I still had to have help when I went to the bathroom, and also had to be bathed as well. They also went on walks with me. It is very, very important to have people around to help you both physically and emotionally.

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

55 miles. Did not affect my aftercare, but it did affect the ability for me to attend the support group meetings.

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 was not restricted of my diet, except for the 2 days before surgery, when I was on a liquid-only diet. I also had to drink the stuff that "cleans you out", and let me tell you, the taste of that stuff stuck with me for a year and a half! Every time I would think of it, my mouth would water, and I would almost gag. After surgery, it was very small amounts of food. My surgeon stresses protein, protein, protein! After that, vegetables and fruits. He also stresses milk, which I'm not a big drinker of. But initially it was soft foods, like eggs, cottage cheese, fish, etc, just soft foods that are more easy to digest. they don't want you eating many carbs, as they will fill you up and really have no dietary value; meats, vegetables and fruits have more of a supplemental value since our bodies do not absorb the vitamins and minerals as they did before the surgery. Refined sugars are also pretty much off the list, at least initially. I have had plenty of times in which I at too much sugar, and it's definitely not a good feeling.

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

Low, as I was sore, and, I wasn't used to exercise and doing much of anything anyway.

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

On a daily basis, I take a multi-vitamin, a B-12 pill, an iron pill, a calcium pill, and a vitamin C pill.

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?

Definitely the vomiting as I had a hard time getting used to the new eating habits. I also had quite a bit of hair loss, at least for the first 6 months. Nothing horrible, no bald spots or anything, but I don't have thick hair to begin with, and I noticed that I was losing more hair in my brush than I normally did before surgery. As for the eating habits, I had to cope as best as possible until I learned to chew my food more, or not eat too much, or not eat too fast. It was just all a learning experience.

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

I know the surgery was a very painful ordeal, but I still have to say that the stuff I had to drink the 2 days prior to my surgery really sticks in my mind as one of the worst experiences. The pain from the incision was pretty bad too, but after a week or too it wasn't too bad. You just have to remember that it's only temporary, and within a few weeks, you'll hardly remember how much pain or discomfort you were in. I do remember after the surgery thinking "why did I do this?", because I was in quite a bit of pain the first 2 days. I do remember that when I would try to relate the pain of the surgery to people, i didn't relate it as pain, rather, to me, I described it as "great discomfort". I think it's all in what you have prepared yourself for mentally. Before this surgery, I had never had surgery before, of any sort, and am very petrified of even needles. So, I think I was thinking the very worst, and was prepared for some very extreme pain.

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

I do not attend the support group at Trinity. the main reason is that I live an hour away, and the group meets one Monday night per month, from 7-9 pm. My work is about half-way between my home and the support group, but I got off of work about 4:30. So, I would have to go home first (1/2 hour drive), then an hour after I was home, I'd have to leave and drive an hour to the support group, then I would have the hour drive home, and I'm one that's usually in bed by 9 pm anyway. It's just never been convenient for me to go to the support groups. I do have my own support group at home, my biggest one, which is my husband.

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

It was quite a bit larger and uglier before I had my plastic surgery (beltlipectomy). The general surgeon wasn't as concerned with the size of the scar, but when I had the plastic surgery, the plastic surgeon used different methods of suturing that would minimize the size, thickness and density of the scar.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

A year and a half after my surgery, I had lost about 140 lbs, and had reached my goal weight, but I had a lot of excess skin and fat around my middle (stomach, hips, buttocks). So at that point, I scheduled a beltlipectomy with a plastic surgeon. Since the excess skin was not causing any medical problems, insurance would not cover this surgery, so I had to pay this out of my own pocket, and pay it all before the surgery. Believe me, it was money very well spent! I would spend that money all over again, because I feel so much better about myself!

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes.