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

I have a friend that I work with that had stomach stapling 23 years ago. I was sitting at work and saw her coming through and thought to myself, if that's what it does for you I don't want it. See her stomach stretched causing her to gain a tremendous amount of wt back. I started looking into other procedures and found out about the stapling with mini bypass and thought that would be the one for me. I didn't realize how BIG this problem was until I started surfing the net and came across this site. Boy is it informative.

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

I didn't even know my surgeon had sent my letter into the insurance until I received my approval letter from them in the mail with my surgery date. They processed the approval in only 2 days.

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

Be informed, be prepared to answer lots of questions. Don't go into the office thinking this is a quick fix because it's not. It is a lifelong commitment to yourself. The surgeon only gives us the tools, it's up to us to use them wisely to acheive our goal.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

AFter I saw a vacation picture with my baby son. We went to florida and I looked like a whale that had come up on the beach and held my child. I was totally embarrassed. I thought I was Ok, but I WAS WRONG!!!!AFter nearly 20 years of being overweight, I decided to hang up my pro-dieting shoes and change/alter my life forever for the good.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I talked with the surgeon about several types of procedures and he said that I would do tremendously well with the lap RNY procedure. I was scared to re-route my intestines, but it made sense. If the stomach, god forbids, stretches, that's it, but with the rny, I have a little better chance of losing and keeping it off. It makes you re-learn how to eat and what to eat. It forces you to make the RIGHT decisions.

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 would be lying if I said I wasn't scared of dying from any cause. My worst fear is of drowning in a car accident. I have had 2 abdominal laps with a c-section, tubal ligation, and giving natural birth to my daughter. I am very resilient and always bounce back because I know I have to live for myself, my children, my husband, my daddy and my brothers, of whom I am not ready to leave. I don't think I will be ready EVER to leave anyone, but If I do, I'd rather it be under normal circumstances, natural cause, not being overweight and having a massive heart attack, and having to be buried looking like an elephant.

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

My supervisors so far have been verbally supportive, now that its getting down to the nitty gritty, the story has somewhat changed. They are trying to convince me that this is elective surgery and I can't be off during the holidays. Well, won't they get a surprise????

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

THE HOSPITAL STAY SUCKED BIGTIME. IF MY HUBBY WASN'T THERE, I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF. IT TOOK 5 HOURS TO GET ME A HOT PACK FOR MY BACK. THE NURSES COMPLAINED OF BEING SHORT STAFFED. IT TOOK FOREVER TO GET PAIN MEDS. THEN THEY ACTED LIKE IT WAS COMING OUT OF THEIR PERSONAL STASH. MY IV INFILTRATED, THEY KEPT PUTTING MEDS IN IT BURNING MY ARM UP NICE AND PROPER. I WAS THERE FROM FRIDAY 4:30AM UNTIL 3PM SUNDAY. CHAPSTICK IS VERY IMPORTANT, HOUSESHOES, HOUSECOAT WERE THE THREE TOP THINGS ON MY LIST. WASNT INTERESTED IN ANYTHING ELSE AT THAT POINT.

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

I ONLY RAN A SLIGHT TEMPERATURE, NO TYLENOL WAS OFFERED THOUGH. OMG, THE BACK PAIN WAS HORRIBLE. IT FELT LIKE I WAS GIVING BIRTH THROUGH MY LOWER BACK. I HAVE DEGENERATIVE DISC DISEASE ALREADY, AND THOSE NICE BEDS WERE NOT PLEASANT. I ASKED FOR A HOT PACK FRIDAY, IT TOOK (5) HOURS TO GET IT. CAN YOU BELIEVE IT???5 FREAKIN HOURS. THEY SAID THEY WERE SHORTHANDED, ONLY HAD 8 PEOPLE TO TAKE CARE OF, I SAID YA'LL AUGHT TO TRY TAKING CARE OF 43 PATIENTS LIKE I HAVE TO. THEY WALKED OUT AFTER THEY SEEN THAT I WASN'T GOING TO SYMPATHIZE WITH THEM.

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 WAS ONLY NERVOUS ABOUT THE FACT THAT MY JOB WAS GIVING ME A HARD TIME ABOUT THE SURGERY. YOU KNOW NURSES AREN'T SUPPOSED TO BE SICK OR TAKE OFF OF WORK. I WAS NERVOUS ABOUT WAKING UP AND BEING TOLD THAT I HAD TO HAVE OPEN INSTEAD OF LAP TOO. BUT ALL WAS WELL. I JUST REMINDED MYSELF, THAT PEOPLE WHO BARK ABOUT SURGERY ARE IGNORANT TO IT AND DON'T OR WON'T TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHY IT HAS TO BE DONE. ONLY GOD CAN HELP THEM, HE KNOWS I GET TOO ANGRY.

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

12/2/02 I'm on my 3rd week home from the hospital. I had very little pain from the procedure/lap sites BUT the gas pain was from hell, I say the truth!!!!!!! I called and got some phazyme and within 4 days, I could tell the difference. I was able to lay on my left side for 2 hours last night before getting up. I used to sleep primarily on the left side so I've had some adjusting to do. I have absolutely no side effects from the surgery. NO dumping, nausea/vomiting/reflux/diarrhea. I'm doing rather well. I absolutely hate to puke so I'm blessed not having to now. I can tolerate anything. I just taste it first.

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

I HAD TO DRIVE APPROX. 4 HOURS TO GET TO THE HOSPITAL TO HAVE SURGERY. THEY WOULDN'T LET ME HAVE ANY PAIN MEDS TO TAKE BEFORE I LEFT EITHER. WASN'T THAT NICE OF THEM? IT WAS A WHOLE 30 MINUTES TOO EARLY TO HAVE ANYTHING. THEY DID BRING ME TYLENOL CAPLETS THOUGH. SWEET OF THEM. THEY ARE AWFUL CHEWED UP I'M TELLIN YA.

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

Very slow going the first week home. Had the babies to take care of night, so my hubby helped out a lot during the day. *(he works at night) Did light house cleaning, loading the dish washer, sweeping, just light things. The more I did,the more resillient I became. So moving around DOES help.

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

POKEMON CHILDREN'S CHEWABLES

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

The truth, NOT HAVING IT DONE YEARS AGO, BEFORE THE WEIGHT COST ME MY KNEES AND BACK. The gas pain in the back and pouch area was awful though.