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

I had a friend who had weight loss surgery and that was how I found out about it. After seeing her dramatic weight loss I thought that bariatric surgery was a Godsend. However, I had mixed feelings about it. I was terrified on the one hand because of the risks associated with it, butr hopeful at the same time because maybe it was the answer to my problem.

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

I really didn't have too much trouble with my Insurance coverage. All of the rules were laid out for me. I had to be more than 100 pounds overweight. I had to have health problems associated with my obesity. I had to go through a Doctor monitored weight loss program. I had to make a list of all of the diets I had been on and tell what the results were. I had to list all of the reasons that I wanted Bariatric surgery. I had to keep a food diary. I had to see a nutritionist who showed me the proper way to eat, such as what kinds of foods and portion control. I also had to have a psychiatric evaluation. After a year and a half of this I also had to show that even in this program I couldn't get the weight off and keep it off. Once I (succesfully??) completed this program I was allowed to have a consultation with a bariatric surgeon.

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 very good. He was very kind, patient and was happy to answer all of my questions. He even provided me with more information about the procedure and what I would go through than I asked for. To get the most out of your first meeting, research, research, research ( about the procedure, what to look forward to after the procedure, pros and cons of the surgery) and make up a list of questions that you want to ask before you go to your appointment.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I knew that if I didn't get the weight off I would definitely die young. I just had so many health problems. I understood that I could also die by having the surgery because it is a major procedure and not to be taken lightly. I felt that I had nothing to lose by doing it. After 2 years of much careful research and a lot of thought I took the plunge and had it done.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

My surgeon gives an orientation which describes all of the different procedures that can be done along with all of the pros and cons of each. He gives a complete history of bariatric surgery. Also I did alot of research. That is how I came to my decision.

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 that there could be complications and that possibly I could even die. I was terribly afraid, but I knew that nothing else had worked for me. I had numerous health problems, including High blood pressure, a damaged heart, damaged kidneys, arthritis, reflux, borderline diabetes, etc. etc. I could die from from many of these health problems so I felt that I had all to gain and nothing to lose if I the surgery was successful.

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?

My family was not supportive. They never understood the things I was going through with my weight problem. They viewed my obesity as lack of self control and felt that I just needed to get a grip. My friends on the other hand were very supportive. They encouraged me, complimented me on my courage to go through with the procedure, and were there for me with a shoulder to cry on when things got a little tough.

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

I told my supervisor that I would be having the surgery and was actually very personal in sharing my feelings of depression and my heallth problems associated with my weight. She was very supportive. She even came to visit me in the hospital. However, I would not reccommend that everyone do this as it can sometimes turn against you. I was just lucky enough to have a boss who really cared. I missed about 2-3 weeks of work.

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

My hospital stay was horrible. They were understaffed and very short on patience. I was there for two days and I couldn't wait to get out of there and come home. I couldn't even get them to come to my room to help me out of bed to go to the bathroom. I struggled to do it on my own. Thank God I didn't go all over myself, because I probably would have been left to lay in it for hours. This does not mean that all hospitals are that way. Its just that particular one that I was in was not good. If you have any medication, bring it. If you use a CPAP for sleep apnea bring that too. Those woere the two things that the hospital didn't provide.

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

A week after I came home I got constipated so bad that I had to go to the emergency room and have it dug out as even an enema didn't help. This was not totally caused by the surgery. Apparently I have a curve in my intestine near the small of my back and things just piled up and got stuck there. When the problem first became apparent I called my surgeon who told me to try an enema and if that didn't work to go to the emergency room. he was so good he called me back twice before I left for the hospital to see how things were progressing and then he even called me again when I got home and also for a few days after. Then he got me into his office the next available time for a check up just to make sure that things were going okay. Three months after surgery I also started vomiting every time I ate no matter what it was. I was referred to a Gastroenterologist. She discovered a stricture and a large ulcer in my esophogus which had probably been there since before the surgery. This was caused by my reflux. I had an endoscopy in which a ballon was inserted into my esophogus to open it up and was prescribed Nexium for the ulcer. I went back for a second endoscopy and I'm still on the nexium fort he reflux. This has taken care of the problem.

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 excited and a little nervous. I just kept telling myself that it would all be worth it. My friends were also supportive and encouraging, so I could talk to them any time I needed to. Also, Obesity Help was absolutely wonderful. This is such a great website. The information and the support of others who have been there is very reassuring and heart warming.

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

I was exhausted all of the time. I threw up alot. This is normal and it passes. After all you have just been through major surgery and have had your insides rerouted. It took me a little while to get used to eating slowly, chewing everything until it was mush and taking much smaller mouthfuls. You also need to make sure you are getting enough protein and water. All of this can be worked out with lots of patience, following your doctor's directions to a tee, and a little trial and error. Alot of the horror stories people hear about someone not being able to hold their food down and becoming malnourished is because they are still trying to eat the same way they did before surgery. Understand that that will change forever, not for the bad but for the good.

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

My estimate is that I traveled about 50 miles away for my surgery. It didn't affect my aftercare at all.

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.

In the beginning I was totally on clear liquids such as broth, juices and Isopure a clear proteing drink for the first week. Then I graduated to pureed foods such as baby food fruits and vegetables and refried beans in addtion to the liquid diet. I also drank lots of Slim Fast. The fourth week I was allowed other types of beans (ie. black beans and Kidney beans),lentils and whole vegetables and also cheese. (No corn, cabbage, broccoli yet) Most of my food was still mashed or cut up into tiny pieces. I ate this way for the next three months. On my fourth month I was allowed to begin trying meat in very samll amounts, like chicken, fish and some beef. I had to keep it cut up very small, chew it very well and make sure it was moistned with some kind of sauce or gravy so that I could get it down. At six months I was allowed to add carbs such as rice or mashed potates in very small amounts and I was to eat them last as they swell the stomach. Also no alcoholic drinks, no Soft Drinks. Now at 1 year I can eat almost anything I want to. I am lactose intolerant. I get a bad stomach ache if i drink to much milk. I can drink Lactaid. I can't eat soft serve ice cream at all, but I can have one scoop of regular ice cream without any problem. Anything greasy or with too much fat makes me nauseated and will sometimes make me vomit. I can't seem to tolerate Chicken breast or Turkey of any kind. I throw it all up. Maybe I can later. Sugar does not give me dumping syndrome but I still am careful with it and I mostly use splenda. And I recently tried some alcoholic drinks in very small amounts (nothing carbonated) and it gave me a terrible stomach ache. So, no drinking. That's okay I don't need it anyway. Today my diet consists of mostly lean meats, fish, eggs, cheese, including cottage cheese, vegetables of all kinds and fruits of all kinds and sometimes rice or potates in small amounts.

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

My activity level was very low in the beginning days after my surgery because I got exhausted so easily but I have gradually increased my level of activity along with my energy level. My energy level has increase dramatically since I lost weight so I am very active now.

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

I take one childrens chewable vitamin, and one 1000 mcg. sublingual vitamin B12 per day. I take 1 500 mg. chewable calcium lozenge twice a day. I supplement with a protein drink or bar as needed if I don't get enough protein when eating. That's it.

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?

The nauseas and vomiting were the worst part for me but I just needed to learn what I could eat, how slowly and thoroughly I needed to chew and swallow it and to work really hard to control my portions. One thing I have to say is that I have also become more in tune with how my pouch feels after I've eaten. Sometime portion control is not enough as I have found that I fiil up on smaller amounts of some things than others. For example Meat is very heavy so I can't eat as much as maybe I could of vegetables which are lighter. I have also learned that if I feel that telltale knot in the middle of my chest it is time to quit whether I have eaten enough or not. If I don't I will vomit. It still happens from time to time but not very often any more. I also suffred hair loss at 4 months out. It didn't quit until recently. Nothing I could do about the hair loss. Just wait for it to quit and make sure that I was getting enough protein and vitamins so that it would. Hair losswill stop eventually its just the way the body reacts after a major weight loss surgery and the stress of going through major nutritional and life style changes.

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

The hospital from hell stay. Everything else was okay. I managed to deal fairly well with things as they came up.

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

Obesity help it my support group. My surgeon offers one in the evenings but the drive is too far. Obesity help has been an absolute tremendous help to me.

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

I have five little scars on my stomach. My surgery was done laprascopically. It was not what I expected because I thought that there would only be one laprascopic scar. I don't mind though.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I went months without a weight loss, even though I kept to my diet and exercise. I was concerned but not discouraged as I had heard that this was pert of the process. After 3 months at plateau I began to lose weight again.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Some people treat me differently now. Mainly the men have begun to noitice me and pay more attention to me.