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

I have always thought that if I wanted any type of plastic surgery to help me feel better about myself that I would go for it. I had not considered weight loss surgery as I always thought I could do it without the surgery. Over 40 and after a hysterectomy, I have discovered that I can not. The surgery was a very real option for me.

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

I did not goo through this process as I knew up front that my insurnace would not pay for the surgery.

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

My first visit with my surgeon was just minutes before the surgery occurred. She was wonderful and I immediately gelt at ease. I had asked so many questions before my surgery ocurred and talked to so many different people that had the surgery before me that I basically already knew what I needed to know because I felt completly relaxed and confortable going into my surgery with Dr. Pompa and her staff.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

When my husband called me a "fat ass Cheeto eating bitch", during a heated arguement, I decided that I wanted the surgery because I was tired of the struggle and it made me face the facts that I could not do it alone.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

By talking to lots of people that have had the surgeries. Also my surgery team contacted me and told me that I was a good canidate for the sleeve. After weighing the costs and the avalibility of the refills and such, I learned that even though the cost of the sleeve surgery was more up frount costs than the lap band (which I had decided to go with due to cost) but when I added up the costs of the refills and traveling to get them, I saw that they were within the same price range. I am glad that I chose the sleeve.

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 knew it was right for me and I trusted in God. I was lead to have my procedure and I knew it was right for me. Everything fell into place and I just knew. I also did not listen to a lot of poeple that I knew was scared about everything. I did not want to contaminate my mental well being about the upcoming surgery and it worked for me. Don't let people with a lot of "I know this person that had it done and... stories.. Talk to REAL people that had it done, one on one. What I discovered was that even those that had some problems, still said that they would do it again. That is what made the difference for me. It spoke volumes. My mother raised me with a theory of "when in doubt, leave it out". Well I had no doubts so I knew it was right.

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 thought I was crazy and told me I did not need it. They were terrified for me to go to Meico to get the surgery and spouted out all types of what if's. The same what if's apply if the surgery is done in the US. My husband and two closest friends were supportative and that was plenty for me. I don't need a lot of outside support for my decisions.

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

My boss thought I was crazy and tried to have other employees talk me out of it but he never said anything directly to me about it except to ask some questions to see if I had done my research.

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

I was in the hospital for 3 nights and Dr. Pompa's clinic was small but very adequate. They treated me very well and a doctor was on staff with me all the time. I wished that I had brought slip on shoes shuch as flip flops or sandals that I could have slipped on instead of having to bend over and tie my tennis shoes. I tell everyone to be sure and take slip on shoes that are easy to get on and off. They come in handy at the hospital when you walk each day and when you are at the airport and have to take your shoes off and on.

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

No, I did not have any complications with the surgery. I did have two things that was worrisome to me. I had these terrible muscle spasms across my breast area on day one and two. They were like labor pains but up higher on the waist and breast area. Sometimes they were so tight that I could hardley breath. Luckily they only laste a minute or so and were over but they did seem to come around way to often. Secondly, there was numerous problems with my IV's. They seemed to bust the veins and had to be moved 8-10 times. I can not blame the nurses or the staff but I have never had that problem before and I have had numerous surgeries so I am not sure why this occurred this time.

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 really did not experience a lot of anxiety except when I talked about it with others that disagreed with my decision to have the surgery. I did not talk about it except with my very good friend and my husband. This angered my immediate family members that found out about it after the fact. I learned early on that this was my decision with my husband and we were okay with it so there was no need to have a debate or battle of dicsussions with others that was not directly involved in the event. After all, none of them were paying for it or had to undergo the surgery so it was not their business. I found that keeping the disucssion to a bare minimul with others made my wait time easier.

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

I was sore the first few days home but after a week, I took my own stitches out. I found that I could not do sit-up exercises but 9 weeks post-op, I am hitting 25 - 30 sit up-s each night. I found it difficult to drink all of the water that they asked me to drink and I have now become addicted to unsweet tea. I found that some foods taste wierd and hardly any of my favorite foods taste as good as they used to. Sweets such as strawberries made me sick that I threw up and at around the 6 week mark, I began to throw up low fat milk that I had been drinking since I came home from the hospital. I now can not drink it as it makes me feel like I need to throw up. Some really wierd changes but nothing so drastic that I am not very pleased with my surgery and its success. I have lost 37 pounds in 9 weeks.

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

I flew with my husband to San Diego, CA. We got on a van and went to Tijuana, MX where my surgery was performed. This was all included in the price of the surgery ($9500.00). Upon returning home, I received follow up calls from Dr. Pompa staff for 4 weeks and I have had no complications. I have had several questions that they easily answered so follow-up has been minimal. I can easily return to Tijuana, if a problem arrises or if I feel I need a check-up at any time. I will probably do this at my 6 month check-up.

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.

I could not tolerate grilled shrimp, strawberries, lettuce or anything breaded. In week 6, I began to throw up milk when I drank it so I no longer drink milk. I do eat cheese and sour cream that does not bother me so go try to figure that one out.. Sweets tend to make me feel sickly so I avoid them. I ate a lot of chicken and star soup in the first 5 weeks of surgery. I still eat it and have it as a stand by food for when I try something new and it does not sit well. When I say it does not sit well, it just means that the food makes me feel overly food or uncomforatble. Sometimes, I had problems burping during my meals that left a terribly uncomforatble lump in my chest. I could not drink liquids with my meals as this made it worse. I no longer order a plate of food at a restaraunt. I nipple off my husbands plate and sometimes I order a side order of a vegatable like a baked potatoe or such. I don't order a drink but take a swig of my husbands drink when I complete my meal. It works out perfect and saves a boat load of money in the process..

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

The first 2-3 weeks after the surgery, I did not have much energy. I started really getting my energy back at around 4 -5 weeks. I went back to work 12 days post-op and when I got home, I felt so tired that I would just kick back on the couch and sip some tea. This has gotten much better. I also did not like the heat and it seemed to drain me even more. As the weather temps cool now, I have much more energy.

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

I could not stand the adult chewable vitimans so I elected to go with the children's chewables. I have the Dollar General brand children chewable as that is what my son has daily. I now have WONDERFUL fingernails that I have dreamed about for years! The draw backs are that my toe nails grow like crazy also and I have to trim them every few days or they destroy my panty hose and hang on the inside of my dress shoes! The hair on my legs grows double time as I have to now shave them dailey where I used to shave them once or twice a week. I have not had any hair loss and I feel great.

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 vomited twice since surgery (9 weeks). Once after eating a strawberry and once after drinking milk. I have felt very nausea after having grilled shrimp once. Then I have nausea just about every time I had something sweet, even one bite of chocolate pudding. Around week 5, I started getting sick feeling when I drank any milk at all so I have stopped drinking it. Lettuce also made me feel sickly feeling. The worst side effect was having the trapped burps in my chest that I found I could get rid of by walking briskly and swinging my arms.

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

THE CHEST MUSCLE SPASMS!! Luckily I was told that this only occurs in about 1 in 10 patients.

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

I have some friends that I have aquired through this and other weight loss sites that I talk to each day. We support each other and it makes this much easier.

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

Small, tiny incisions that are not noticible. It is exactly what I was told they would be.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I had about 1 week that I had only 1 pound of weight loss at week 3-4. I was not drinking enough liquids so when I upped my liquids, the weight loss began to drop again. I only had 1/2 pound of weight loss last week which is the least amount since the surgery. I expect that I have hit a plateau here at the 8-9 week period so I need to increase my liquids and exercise to get past it.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes. but I am not so sure if it is them or if it is my new found attitude about myself. I do notice that more male co-workers tend to want to talk and ahng around me now than when I had become heavier. I am not worried about them and how they treat me though. I just want to enjoy my new self!! My husband LOVES the new me.. That is the most important things to me.