JulieCarver

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Obesity & Me

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

I have always been "The Fat Girl", even though, when I look back at old pictures of myself, I was not that overweight. I just was bigger than everyone my age. It's very difficult to be looked at as overweight, because people say why don't you just stop eating so much or get up and exercise. For some of us it isn't that easy. Then that causes you to look at yourself as a failure. In my case, I turned to food as my security blanket of sorts. It sounds strange but it's true for alot of people. Then you feel like even more of a failure because you allowed yourself to eat that bag of chips or whatever. This is the vicious cycle I lived for many, many years. Until I truely did become "The Fat Girl".

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

The worst thing about being overweight for me, was being told..."you have such a pretty FACE." To me, that said it all! Your pretty, but you are to Fat for anyone to be interested in you.

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

OH MY GOSH!!! I can touch my ankles, shave my own legs. It sounds silly, but I don't have to grunt and gasp for air as I bend over to reach my ankles. Its great.

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

I knew I had to do something, I am 42 years old and weigh 500 pounds. I had already been bedridden for 6 years. I started looking on the internet for weight loss "Magic Pills" after realizing that that was not going to happen, I had heard about bariatric surgery and when I asked my physician at the time, she was not a fan of this surgery. So I listened to her...as I look back, I wish I had not listened to her. I feel I would have had this surgery at least 5 years earlier than I did. So, I began looking into the bariatric surgery again and was finding more and more people are having this surgery with great success. Then I began my journey of finding the right doctor to preform the surgery. Don't get me wrong, I was scared of the surgery and what my life would be like afterwards. But my choices where clear...do something or die!!

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

I was lucky, it only took about 8 weeks to get approval. I got all the information together that they requested and that was it.

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

My experience was unusual. I could not fit through the doors with my power wheelchair and I am unable to stand. So my doctor came outside his building with chairs for my family, and we had our first visit on the sidewalk beside his building. He acted like he did this everyday. How wonderful to be treated like your "Normal" and that you matter. The best advise I can give is don't be afraid to ask questions...there are now silly question. This is your life and you have to live with the decisions you make.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

The doctor I chose treated me with respect and was mindful of my physical limitations. He went out of his way to make me feel comfortable and let me know that being obese was not my fault and he knew he could help me.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

The RNY Laproscopic surgery is the least invasive procedure.

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 had such a positive attitude from the beginning, I don't really rember being afraid of dying from surgery. I actually felt like I was more at risk of dying from being obese. My advise would be, If you are thinking about this surgery, then you must be realizing you have to do something to get control of your weight. If you are truely ready to take this step of having surgery, then you have to know that more people die of obesity than from this surgery. Speaking for myself, I felt at pease with my decision and I knew that anything was better than where I was at.

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 pretty much told everyone I was having the surgery, if they supported it Great if not, to bad...deal with it. My mind was made up. I was not surprised when everyone was happy and supportive with my decision.

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 great. I have always felt that you get back what you put out. I did everything they asked of me and they inturn did all they could for me. My situation is alittle different, I was totally bedridden, therefore they actually had to do alot more for me than other patients. It's all in what you make of it.

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

I had no complications. I felt great...a little uncomfortable, but I was more uncomfortable being obese.

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 could not hardly wait for surgery. I knew in my heart that this was what I was supposed to do and what I needed to do. I truely felt no anxiety at all. I was soooo ready!!!

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

Well, for about a week, I was really bloated. This was uncomfortable but tolerable. You have to keep a positive attitude. After this bloated feeling was gone I felt good and I had a new outlook on life. In just 21 days after my surgery, I had already lost 29 pounds.

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

I had to travel about 2 hours away from my home. But I was so determined to have this surgery, I believe I would have gone anywhere. I have been so lucky to find a doctor who was sensitive to my situation. I cannot walk or stand. Along with being obese, I have arthritis and degenerative joint disease. I have to roll into my power wheelchair from my bed, get out to my garage where my mother backs her van in and my husband helps me slide into the back of the van. We have to remove all the seats so I can lye on an air-mattress. My doctor comes out to the van top see 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.

well the first 2 to 3 weeks was clear liquids like tea, broth, suger-free crystal light, diet -jello and 100% fruit juices. Then about 4 to 7 weeks I started adding skim milk, protein shakes, strained cream soups, mashed potatos thinned with skim milk and sugar free pudding. Finally about 8 weeks out I added scrambled eggs, cottage chees, pureed veggies and meats. After I knew that I could tollerate thes foods, I started adding more foods of my choice. I stay away from all fried foods and foods high in calories. There are times when I forget to chew well enough or drink to soon after a meal and I will have the dumping syndrome. It is a learning process. I still feel great, I can see the changes in my body and I would do it all over again in a minute.

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

I was and still am bedridden, however, I have had a physical therapist come to my home to help me with exercise. She showed me alot of exercises that I could do . The movement has been a refreshing change especially now that I am experiencing more weight loss.

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

I take 2 Flintstone vitamins with iron every day and 2 Caltrate 600 plus chewable tablets a day for calcium.

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 have really been lucky, I haven't been sick or had problems sleeping. No hairloss, in fact I had more hairloss before surgery, and since the surgery, I have alot of new hair growing in.

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

My aftercare has been wonderful. I can't make it to the support group meetings because of my physical limitations. But I have great friends and family who keep me going. Plus, everyday that I wake up I feel happier and healthier...how can I feel down when I feel so good!

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

I had the RNY Laproscopic surgery. There are 8 incisions each is smaller that 1/2 an inch. I am about 3 1/2 months post-op and you have to really look to find the scars. I am thrilled.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I have had an experience with this at about 3 months post-op. But I looked at it as only my body adjusting to the changes in my eating and exercising. My thoughts on this subject... This too will pass...and it did!!!

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Not really...I have great friends and family. Maybe this will change as I become more active and thinner than they are. Who knows? All I can say is that I am still the same person inside.
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Before & After
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