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

I first learned of Bariatric surgery in 1985 when I had a vertical banded gastroplasty performed. I lost about 80 pds by haveing it done. I am grateful in that I know without that I would not have had my children. For years I was busy takeing care of three babies. It was a couple of years ago that I began to learn about the vast numbers of people who had to have revision surgery because thier VBG just did now work. After seeing my doctor and several more I began to realize that I needed to do something. I researched the open RNY procedure for one year before haveing my surgery on July 24, 2000. There is so much support now that was not there for me in 1985.

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

I have Trigon Blue Cross Blue Shield Insurance. After seeing my surgeon he submitted a letter explaing my co-morbidities and requesting permission to perform this surgery. I was approved within two weeks. My advice for other people pursueing this surgery is to be completely upfront and honest with your surgeon. Take all documentation and information with you. Anything that helps to prove how being overwieght has been unhealthy for you.

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

My first meeting with my surgeon went well. I went to Dr. John Kellum at the VA Commanwealth University Hosp. in Richmond, VA. I was very pleased with his office staff. I had been researching this surgery for a long time. I felt very knowledgeable. I went very well prepared with all documentation that I felt Dr. Kellums office would need to prepare a request to the insurance Co. I liked Dr. Kellum very much. I did not feel rushed or different. He is an excellent surgeon. I felt very well informed upon leaving and knew he would do his best for me.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I decided to have this surgery as a revision surgery from a vertical banded gastroplasty I had had done in 1985. I knew it was the right thing to do. I learned of vast numbers of people who have had to get revisions and I knew I had to do this for me and my family.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I felt the gastric bypass would be the best procedure for me. My love for sodas and sweets was my biggest downfall and this procedure seemed to be the one most directly aimed at that problem.

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 did have fears of death from the surgery. I have twin daughters who are almost 12 yrs old and one son who is 9 yrs old and of course they were what I thought about the most. I do not think I was extremely fearful however I did go and get my will drawn up and the day before my surgery I went and wrote letters to all my family and explained my reasons for haveing this surgery. It was a very emotional time but something I felt better about doing. It was like I was all ready when these things were done. I am a very organized person and this was something I just felt I had to do to prepare myself and my family for my surgery.

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 was not quiet about my pursuit of this surgery. If family or friends asked me questions about this I answered them as honestly as I could. I think everyone realized this was a revision for me. I had entered this surgery in 1985 and this was just something else I needed to do to make both surgeries as sucessful as possible. My friends were very supportive after my surgery. I imagine they are also curious to see results. Most of them have no weight problems themselves. My family is supportive. They know I have not entered this lightly and that I did my homework learning all I could about this procedure.

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

I did not work outside of my home at the time of my surgery on July 24, 2000.

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

My surgery was difficult. More difficult than the surgeon or I thought it would be like. I was in the hospital for one week. I was taken excellent care of. My surgery was at the VA Commanwealth University Hospital in Richmond, VA. This is a teaching hospital. The residents took excellent care of me also. The nurseing staff was great. I did have an encounter with the department who was in charge of the xray when I went to have the barium xray done. This department was very impersonal and left me lying on a hard table in severe pain for a very long time while they were not even in the room with me. After a while I just yelled and yelled and could hear the attendants in the hallway discussing thier Friday nite party plans. I was so uncomfortable and angry when my yelling bought them back into the room that I demanded to be taken off that table and would not have any further xrays done. This dept. was my only complaint. I was encouraged by my nurses to complain about this dept. as they clearly did not have the patients best intrest as thier priority that day. The hospital I was at is a very large hospital, 750 beds, I felt like I was treated very well for the most part.

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

I did have complications. My surgery was longer than expected. There was alot of scar tissue to clean up. I lost blood in the OR and had to recieve more. After surgery I was on oxygen the whole week in the hospital. After surgery I started throwing up old blood and had to recieve more units. As a result of this my potassium and glucose levels dropped suddenly. The blood lines in my arm would not hold and they had to put a main line in the artery in my neck. The rest of the time I was in the hospital was just efforts in keeping my levels up and I recieved breathing treatments for my lungs as well as continued with the oxygen.

In the weeks after you got your surgery date, how did you feel? How did you cope with any anxiety you might have felt?

My surgery was three weeks ago. I am still tired alot. I am getting better each day and know this was the right thing for me to do. I did not have any anxiety as much as for the first few days home I just wondered if I would ever feel right again. I am not the type of person to just lay aroung in front of a TV and I wanted to feel normal again right now. I realized this was not going to happen like I wanted it to. Each day I have gotton alittle better. Every day I feel more like myself again. I have alot of help and family support.

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

I think you should know in the first few weeks home from the hospital that you will be in some pain, uncomfortable and you really need to rely on others to care for you. You need to plan for someone to be with you and help you. Everything from personal hygiene to just haveing someone to answer the door and phone. I was better in a recliner. Each time I got up, I encouraged myself to move a little more. It is also extremely important to take your vitamins and protien supplements. This is vital in helping you heal and giving you energy.

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

The hospital and surgeon is two hours driving time from my home. I was referred to this surgeon. I feel he and his staff are some of the finest and therefore the drive was nonething to me.

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.

So far I am on pureed foods. At my two week after surgery checkup my dietician looked at my food diary and said it looked as if I am doing everything right. I have so far lost 30 pounds since my pre-0p day. I am extremely pleased. I found that I really found it hard to have alot of desire to eat in the first few days home. Also the amounts is something I could not eat all of. I found it more important for my energy level to have that protien supplement first thing in the morning.

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

At first when I got home from the hospital I did not do anything. I just lived in a recliner. Now at three weeks past surgery I have the desire to want to do more, walk more. I have now put the recliner back in the right room and am trying to get back into a more normal routine.

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

I am takeing two childrens chewable vitamins per day, one vitamin B-12 daily, two tums for calcium, and iron tablets daily. I found I really must get in that protien supplement every morning. I am useing Pure Pro Blend 55 from GNC mixes with some orange juice or milk first thing in the morning. I feel better, have more energy and know that the protien is in right off in the day. It is horrible tasting thought and I really hate it but know it is the best thing for me.

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?

So far I have had no serious side effects. Sleeping was the worst I think. The staples and drain tube were painful and uncomfortable. My body hurts, feels like someone beat me up so sleeping is difficult. So far I have had no nausea, dumping etc.

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

i think the worst part of this whole thing is that the hospital stay was longer than I thought it would be. I was sicker than I thought I would be. I have had surgeries before and I thought I was prepared but the complications took me alittle by surprise. However I did see improvement on a daily basis.

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

I do continue to see my surgeon as well as my general doctor. I also have made many numerous friends thru this site that have been very helpful with a difficult struggle.

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

my scar gives me no problems. I really am not bothered my it or how it looks. It took some time to heal and itched like crazy for a long time but has healed very well and has faded alot. I would not be the type to be bothered by it's looks because of wearing certain clothes.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I had my surgery on July 24, 2000. Todays date is May20, 2001. It has been difficult. I have not lost weight very fast. My surgery was difficult and the hospital stay was long with many complications that I never expected would happen to me. After comeing home within three weeks was returned to a different hospital thru the emergency room with blood clots in my lungs and legs. This was a very scarry time and of course resulted in another hospital stay in critical care and six months of treatment. I have lost to date only 55 pds since my surgery. I am very concerned in that I can eat much larger amounts of food than I think I should be able to eat. I can tolerate some sugars but stay as far from them as possible. I have dumped on several occasions and that is not at all pleasant. My doctor has performed a upper GI series and has assured me that the surgery in intack and there is no staple line disrupture. He says I am doing well and that revision patients are indeed slower at weight loss than others. He advised to watch the total caloric intake and to push more excercise and I should be fine. He asked me if I regretted haveing this surgery and I had to answer honestly in that I certainly do not even with all its complications. I do feel so good now compared to what I felt about 10 months ago and I think it was all worth it.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

yes I am noticeing that people are takeing definate notice of my wieght loss. I have lost only 55 pds but it is noticeable now more than ever. I have gotton rid of alot of clothes and gone down a couple of sizes. Haveing people notice and give me compliments sure makes me feel good and gives me encouragement to go on even though I get depressed especially when I come into this site and see so many others who have lost so much more wieght in a shorter amount of time. I am just trying to feel good and be proud of each pound that I struggle to get off.