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

I heard about bariatric surgery when I was much younger. I'd heard of super morbidly obese people getting gastric bypass because they felt desperate. I understood their reasoning for it. I never considered myself a candidate because I thought it was only for super morbidly obese people who were really sick or had a lot of problems with walking. It wasn't until much later I realized that people who were obese could have the same health problems (I was a low BMI but had type 2 diabetes so obviously obese people can have the same health problems as SMO folks) and could prevent themselves from being SMO by using weight loss surgery.

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

I paid for my surgery myself and went to Mexico. My husband and I are self-employed and the insurance was paltry at best for self-employed people. No weight loss surgery coverage so I chose the Mexico route for cost-effectiveness.

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

I enjoyed meeting my surgeon and asking questions. I wanted to make sure I knew what size bougie I was getting for my sleeve and that the surgeon was experienced and had done a lot of VSG surgeries. I was assured he had plenty of experience and that made me feel better and I was comfortable with his skills. The aftercare was poor, but I will admit the surgeon was skilled and actually did do a great job on my sleeve surgery. I have a small sleeve that does its job.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

Finding out I had type 2 diabetes made me realize I needed surgery, because I obviously couldn't lose weight successfully on my own or keep it off. I realized it was okay to ask for help and get it. When your health is on the line, asking for help is perfectly fine. I wish people would realize asking for help is SMART, not weak.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I decided to have VSG because 1.) I was scared of a malabsorptive surgery and worried about the costs of vitamins and doctor's visits and worried about severe vitamin deficiencies and complications. I was worried about blockages and kinks, obstructions and infusions, and also the health problems that could come along with it. I didn't want to be skinny and sick. 2.) The rate of weight loss was good and although not as fast as some of the other surgeries--it typically evens out after a couple of years. I didn't mind waiting a little longer to lose all the weight. 3) All of the success stories were inspiring and made it seem real and possible. 4) I was diabetic and knew I needed help in getting my weight under control and felt VSG was going to help considerably.

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 was a little scared that I would have complications. I know that some people do have them. I just had to pray and hope that everything turned out okay. I think it's important to trust your doctor and have faith they can help you with complications if they arise. I did worry about dying too but knew that was rare and again, I just needed to have faith I was going to be okay. The benefits of the surgery outweighed the risks in my mind.

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 didn't tell everyone in my family but I'm sure some of them told the other family members. My parents were more supportive than I thought they'd be. They were actually very nice about it and understanding, which was a surprise to me. I wasn't sure how they'd react. My husband was very opposed to surgery at first but when he saw how badly I wanted it and felt that I needed it--he jumped on board. He has been supportive since my surgery and my family has been supportive and nice about it.

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

Thankfully, I didn't have to worry about this. I am self employed and didn't have to tell a boss.

What was it like attending your first information seminar on weight loss surgery? Were you glad you attended? if so, why?

I never attended a seminar. Perhaps I should have. I simply talked to people on Obesity Help who had been through the surgery and felt their experience was excellent knowledge.

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

My stay in the hospital was okay. I was there for 24 hours and then stayed at a hotel for a couple of days. I didn't experience any pain after surgery at all so i was lucky. All I felt was a bit of discomfort at the incision sites.

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

The only "complication" I've had is acid reflux. I never had acid reflux before surgery so i was a bit surprised to feel bile come into my throat. I was worried at first but I started taking Prilosec and it worked. I no longer feel symptoms of acid reflux if I take a Prilosec daily.

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 excited and nervous and scared. I coped the best I could by talking to everyone on the forums about the surgery and I tried to keep myself preoccupied with activities so it wouldn't occupy my every thought. It helped me to find things to do so I wasn't constantly thinking about the surgery.

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

Well the first few weeks are the hardest. It was hard for me on the liquid diet. I think I had a lot of head hunger where I wanted to eat regular food and couldn't. It was difficult. Once I got on purees, I felt better.

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

I went to Mexico from Texas. I flew to San Diego and got driven to Tijuana. As far as after care, it's true that there really isn't any after care after you leave Mexico as far as face-to-face time obviously. Some Mexico surgeons offer email or phone support though. Many people use their primary care doctor to run blood tests and vitamin level tests after they get back.

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 couldn't eat anything except for protein shakes, water, SF popsicles, and chicken broth for a couple of weeks. After a couple of weeks, I could eat soft foods like soups and mashed potatoes and things like that. I couldn't eat eggs until 2 months post op because they did not sit well in my new stomach. After the 2nd month, eggs went down fine. Since the second month post op, I've been able to eat dense proteins, eggs, and all fine. I didn't try raw veggies until about 5 months post op.

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

I was really tired after my surgery for months and months. Most people are not tired at all. I have had several surgeries in the past and was always very tired for a long time so I feel that this is an individual reaction and not the normal experience. Some people's bodies just take much longer to recover.

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

I take a multivitamin, b12, and calcium supplements.

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?

My hair loss was not bad at all. I had thick hair and it just got a bit thinner so it could have been worse. I only got sick from food a few times by accidentally overeating.

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

The first 2 weeks post op were hard and learning to handle head hunger. It really is hard to turn off cravings. My entire family still likes to eat chips and cookies and I wasn't going to make them change their lifestyles for me since they weren't dealing with obesity. I have had to learn to ignore very tempting food and it's NOT easy.

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

I use Obesity Help for support mainly and some other groups as well. It is helpful because you can relate to these people and they often have advice to offer.

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

My incisions have healed fairly well and are fading every month.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I had a pretty big plateau from 6-8 months where I only lost a few pounds but then I dropped a bunch in my 8th month. I got down to goal pretty quickly after my big loss in the 8th month and lost some more in month 9 and 10.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

I think perhaps people smile at me more but probably only because I smile more now