mddpope

Obesity & Me

Describe your behavioral and emotional battle with weight control before learning about bariatric surgery.

I have had a lifetime battle as many have with weight gain and weight loss. Fad diets and quick weight loss schemes and several hundred dollars spent on diet books and gimmicks of all kinds. Books, Tapes CD"s, diet Cook books of every shape and size . And of course diet pills from the very reliable specialized weight loss Dr. to drop several pounds very quickly changing me into a new woman. The only problem being none of these things were healthy. They were all bandaids, and they never taught me how to eat right and to eat when I was supposed to eat. I ate for emotional reasons as well. I ate out of boredom, frustration, anger, stress, worry, money problems. you name it I ate becuase of it. However, if you knew me personally most know me as an "in control" individual who is very strong and can pretty much handle what's put in front of her, accept a plate of food. Diabetes runs rampant in my family. My brother is also heavy and 9 years older than myself', and is very very sick from it. He is 70 Do the math. I tell you this because I just had weight loss surgery 3 months ago and it has CHANGED my life in ways you cannot imagine. I wish I could travel the country and speak to those who are frightened to have the surgery, as I was, and to speak to those who are going to have the surgery to tell them you ARE doing the ABSOLUTE most LIFE-SAVING, LIFE ALTERING thing you could possibly do for yourself. The rewards just keep on coming. And you can have the surgery at my age, later in life. Has it been easy NO. But what in lfe is. I truly believe if I had not done this I would not be here today. I have had two serious back surgeries with wire cages at 4 levels in my spine. My spine is so loaded with arthritis I couldn't walk 5 ft. I had asthma because I was a smoker as well It will be 3 years March 20 I have not smoked thanks to CHANTIX. You can"t have this operation and smoke so throw the cigerettes out ladies and gentlemen.It won't fly with the DOCS! I had Brain Surgery and was left with some eye problems and residual headaches, I have headaches everyday. numbness and tingling inmy hands and feet. The end result was I couldn't walk anymore and on a scale from one to ten my pain level was at a steady 9. I couldn't work anymore and I stopped socializing. I had to have a couple more minor surgeries after that but depression set in and of course then comes the weight gain. That was the perfect excuse to just lay down and give up and quit on everything. I felt sorry for myself so I ate and ate and I ate until I weighed 320 pounds. I literally could not breathe and could not walk anywhere because the pain in my back and legs was so ad. I ultimately ended up on a c-pap machine and oxygen along with steroids and 2 inhalers I had to use daily. I ended up at a pain clinic getting very painful injections in my spine on a regular basis and of course those wonderful narcotics that make you feel like a zombie from outer space. Nice life Huh? Something had to change and change FAST! I was eating myself to death. So I did my research and my homework for the surgery. Both are very very important. The work before surgery is so important The nutrition visits, the journaling you do before you go to visit the nutritionist (food diaries) ETC. The psychiatrist you go to see.and any testing they put you through is all imparitive to your successful outcome as meaningless as it might seem to you it all serves its purpose trust me. It works together all of it.All for your benefit. So don't take any shortcuts, Oh, and the seminars that you have to attend prior to starting your journey with the weight loss procedure you are going to have, they don't all have to cost you money. I had one of the top surgeons in the country from Rochester, NY do my surgery. His weight loss seminar cost me ZERO DOLLARS! So do your homework. I don't think it's necessary to have to be charged for something like that when you are going to ultimately pay for it anyway.This doctor and the whole organization I went to was TOP-NOTCH. My DR didn't feel it necessary to charge. So what's up with all the others???? I was sick all the time and on antibiotucs all the time. My life was horrible and I looked horrible My family loves me but I know they were embarrassed to go out with me so I just didn't go. I am now 3 months out of surgery and down115 pounds. Noone knows who I am because I cut my hair shorter and I am down 5 sizes in clothes and going on 6. I look and act completely different My whole outlook on life has changed. I am walking about a mile and a half a day now outside I walked with a cane before. I no longer am on C-PAP or oxygen I only have to use my inhalers once in a while. I am coming off the pain meds now and exercising on a total gym daily something that was unheard of a year ago even 6 months ago. My blood pressure is now normal I am off Vesicare and no longer have bladder control issues, another cause of weight gain. That stopped 1 wk out of surgery.I am out socializing and meeting and being with people, something I missed and loved to do. If I have helped just one person by giving them the courage to proceed to do what I believe is life saving and life changing then my story has done it's job. Are ther sacrifices yes there are. Was it worth it , absolutely, OVER AND OVER again.Did I have to make life changes, Yes I did but that is what was needed to pull me out of the failed rut of the diet roller coaster that so many of us are fooled by. This is a life style change and a healthy one to live by because the nutrionists make sure you know how and what to eat before you go into surgery. It was almost 10 months before I got clearance for my surgery. but don't panic everyone is different. and there are different insurance regulations for each insurance company and person. so what took 10 months for me might only take 6 months for someone else. Make an informed choice for a Doctor. Do your Homework, talk to people who have had it done. ASK questions It matters. IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE FOREVER!!!!!! GOOD LUCK to all .

What was (is) the worst thing about being overweight?

My depression and low self asteem I lacked the will to socialize and I am a people person and didnt want to leave the house or talk to anyone

If you have had weight loss surgery already, what things do you most enjoy doing now that you weren't able to do before?

I love to dance and I can now exercise and walk I was in severe pain before my surgery I can clean and take care of my house now and do thing s for myself I could not do before Most of all I can be an example for others who are suffering with morbid obesity I wish I could travel and speak so I could help others and take away the fears that so many of us have about the surgery I know I did

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

My girlfriend had it done and it was a frightening experience for her she had it done locally in syracuse NY and ended up in a coma for 3 wks and almost died so consequently I was extremely afraid to have the surgery

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

My expeience was difficult Partially due to Medicare and their guidelines However I have a secondary policy which should have avoided any complications with this I believe that the problem stemmed from the director of the aactual briatric ctr not interpreting my policy correctly and then not bothering to call Even after I called and got clearance she neglected to call my company and it ended up costing me another 3 months of visits to the nutritionists before I could have my surgery I was and still am upset about that

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

My surgeon was brilliant however mirst visit with him was a nightmare.He is an arrogant man and he did not have a very good bed side manner by any means He wasn't very cordial and I left the office in tears I almost cancelled my surgery because of itHe could have had a bad day but it was very upsetting My personal belief is one that it is extremely important that you have a good rapport with your doctor And that you are able to communicate with him easily in case you have any issues I was not able to do that Disappointing.....

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

The Physician and The physician's NP helps you decide

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?

Like I said before it's all in my story it's important to do your homework and talk to people I tried not to read about the bad stuff before too much is not good but I did make myself aware. I was afdaid of too much anesthesia as it has been a problem for me in the past and I was taking pain meds for my back and ogf course DEATH I would tell others to ask questions and to do their homework and go to a reputable place Preferably one that is accredited.

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?

They were very supportive and absolutely amazing from the onset They were worried about my health and the pain I was in

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

I couldn't work

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

It was long but very imnformative and helped to answer alot of technichal questions about surgery as well as take away the fears I had the doctor gave the seminar

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

3 days 2 nights my cPAP machine and or oxygen machine slippers and robe because they get you up to walk right away They were wonderful I was at Highland Hospital in Roshester NY

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

I am just now experiencing some nausea and have to go to the Dr Its new to me and do not know what it is

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 FEEL WONDERFUL from the time I came home gradully got bbetter and better You have got to follow protocol If you deviate that's when you have problems people can't seem to get that through their thick skulls

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

About an hour and a half and it was worth it It was winter too sometimes for just a half hour apt

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.

First few wks just tablesppons of yogurt and maybe oatmel thenI graduated to a quarter cup of crem soups and masded potatoes tuna but that didnt sit well early on everything had to be pureed squash Now about three mo post op i can eat ceareal eggs stek but it has to be sirloin or fillet, hamburger but it has to be 95 % I can't eat chicken or broccoli they don't agree with me at all it comes right back up I just can't eat alot of it

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

It increased gradually your body lets you know what you can and cannot do plus you take so many vitamins and drink protein shakes at first that' all you drink and eat you have so much energy you want to get moving

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

as above vitamin B12 D3 muti vitamin hair and Nail vitamin calciium citrate Iron and protein shakes

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 sleep through the night for the first time in ten years No hair loss so far but alot of people stop taking the vitamins and using the proein shakes and they shouldn't it's important to keep taking them your body needs the nutrition and the vitamins. I still am having nausea and it is really bothering me I am going in to get it checked out.In the very beginning I had some vomiting and even now if I eat too fast or too much and don' chew my food well.

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

The Legwork before was long and tedious and all the testing I had to go throgh because I had so many issues plus I had to have a route canal too before which cost me 800 dollars the dentist did a routine cleaning about 3 weeks before my surgery and did an xray and discoverd I had a small infection under the tooth and the Dr wouldn.t do the surgery until the tooth was either pulled or I had a route canal and went on anibiotics

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

I talk among friends that have had surgery but iam going to look for a support group That is why I am doing this now I think it's so important to share experience strenght and hope with others

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

I have 4 one inch long incisions that are still pretty purple but they are not too bad

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I am experiencing one now approximately 3 mos post op but it is the first one treally I have continued to lose weight steadily

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

absolutely I certainly get noticed more and people are definitely more friendly but for the most part everyone is really happy for me and very very proud of me this isn't easy stuff to go throgh you have to be committed and you have to have a good support system around you and a strong belief in yourself that you are going to succeed and this time it's going to be a life style change forever!
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