Weight Loss Survey Responses

The following are Caroline H.'s responses to the Weight Loss Survey:

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

up and down, highs and lows.. I was never in control of my stomach. it always ruled my life.. the naturally thin think that obese people just eat too much or do not diet.. They do not realise that we spend most of our lives on a diet.. When we loose weight we must live the diet and all other aspects of our lives get put on hold in the quest to be thin. We must starve and constantly be thinking about the diet. Our familys suffer, because we are on a diet.. Life sucks. When we are heavy we are in pain, and we pee our pants.. our joints ache and we have trouble breathing. we can not stand or walk for long peroids. Being fat was so hard.. we are looked down on by those who can be normal..

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

besides the increased heart rate, 90 + and the breathing problems, the higher blood pressure, the incontance, the joint and back pain, the aches, the not fitting in chairs, the cloathing that was big as a house.. what more do you want to know.. the allergies that got worse, the sinus problems. the snoreing, the sinus headaches. lack of energy, not being able to keep up when walking.. well the worse is the look on your mates face when he trys to tell you that you are still pretty.. that is the worse.

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

I have known about it for years, I just decided that I had to get help, I was miserable, the last 50lbs come on me an just a couple of years and showed no signs of stopping... I starting searching on-line and doing tons of reasurach.. then I went on search of a Dr. found one and started on the insurace company.

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

be presistant, keep bugging the ones who are helping you get approvial.. get their e-mail and e-mail them at least once a week or more for updates.. Mine negelected to tell me I needed a psy evaluation.. cost me about 4 months..

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

He met with a group of us, (4) he does about 10 surgerys a week and I never went to his office. I had all my pre op stuff done earlyer.. He explaned and answered questions..He was nice and did an excellant job I had no complacations

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I was miserable

How did you decide which procedure to have?

I wanted the best proceedure, I wanted it to last, so I had open RNY.. My surgeon does a multi row of staples, like 15 or more, and he glues and sews. So it should not ever come apart.. I wanted it to be perminant, so I did not have to go back and have it again later in life... I knew I needed the malabsorbation.. because I could hardly eat anything at all to loose.

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 scared, but I wanted my quality of life back, I wanted to be "normal" the risk was worth it.. The risk for this surgery is no worse than the risk for any major surgery.. The surgery is higher risk because the patents are high risk.. we wait until our health is so bad that it puts us at high risk for any surgery.. I wanted to get my surgery before I lost my health.. So I went for it.. and I would do it again in a second if I had too. But I hope I never have too.

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 scared.. My husband was all supportive until I got my approvial, and then he dicided it was too dangerous and he did not want me to have it. When I confronted him about why he waited until then he said that he thought I was just spinning my wheels and would never get approved.. I did not let him stop me, and he was there when I woke up, he even took a day or two off work to be there for me, and was at my side whenever he could be, In fact I saw more of him that week then normal, because he was working in the city where I was having the surgery. and he stayed there durring the week..He brought me sugar free candy and was so sweet. After I got home he would say "you did it too your self" anytime I said I hurt.. I still wanted to slap him, but just a couple of weeks ago he told me he was proud of me.. I almost fell over.. LOL. My sister and Mother were there in the hospital too, and while neither of them thought I should do it, they both supported me.. Your family is going to be scared, but you must remember that you are doing it for them too. I was eating my self to death, and was going to have a shorter life. Now I can outwalk my husband.. and it feels great.. go for it..

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

I employ my self and I was very nice to my self about taking off.. In fact I did not have any riding lessons until I could ride again which was 8 weeks.. Man was it a long 8 weeks..