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

Surgery was never even an option early on....I never thought about it and it always seemed like it was not an option for me. As my health deteriorated and I began to have chronic back problems, my PCP mentioned the surgery to me and suggested that I might be a candidate for it. I did some extensive research on the internet and decided to pursue it as an option.

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

I had no problems getting my surgery approved through Cigna. My advice to others would be to make sure you know what your carrier requires as far as documentation to support the medical need of the surgery and to have that information as well as your medical records from your PCP with you at your initial consultation. This will speed up the process and should help you stand a better chance at getting approval.

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

I found my initial consultation to be quite informative. My surgeon willingly answered all my questions and also showed me a video of the surgery and possible complications. Come armed with your questions as well as with insurance info and you will get the most out of this consultation. Also plan to spend several hours there on the intitial visit....they are very thorough!!

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

The realization that I could not get the weight off myself!! It also helped that this process has been smooth from the beginning!!

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

My surgeon said I was a candidate for the Laproscopic version of the bypass, but gave ne the choice of the lap or open. I have choosen the lap version because of the benefits of a shorter recove and the minimal side effects.

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?

My biggest fear is dying from the surgery.....I do not fear the complications as much as I do not waking up after the surgery. I have attended a local support group and was reassured by a surgeon in the practice with my surgeon that they have had no deaths and have done many of these surgeries. I also have a friend who just had the surgery and sailed through it with flying colors. I keep those 2 thoughts in my mind and that has helped to ease my fears!

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 has been tremendously supportive of my decision to have the surgery. I have kept my decision from my co-workers and friends partly because I fear that some folks will see my decision as the "easy way out" of my weight problem. I know and my family knows that I am doing it for health reasons, but I am concerned at how others will see it. Once I have the surgery and begin to lose wight, I may decide to share the surgery with a wider circle of people. Whether keeping this from my friends and co-workers is right or wrong, it is an intensely personal decision to have the surgery and one that each person will have to decide how to share on their own.

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

I am currently on a leave of absence from work to attend school and have not shared my decision with my supervisor or my co-workers.

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

My hospital stay was 3 days and it was average as far as hospital stays go. I brought more than I needed (no need for pj's or gowns since the nurses and doctors are constantly looking at your incisions and the drainage from Jackson-Pratt tube--it's easier to open the hospital gown)but the one thing I used was my slippers. They get you up a few hours after surgery so it is helpful to have something on your feet. My stay was uneventful.....doctor indicated 3 day stay and sure enough,ut was 3 days.

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

None

In the weeks after you got your surgery date, how did you feel? How did you cope with any anxiety you might have felt?

My surgery date was 6 months after I was notified that I was approved so initially I had no concerns. The week before surgery was unnerving at best. My biggest fear was not waking up from the surgery....the last thing I remember saying to the nurses and the anesthesiologist was to make sure I woke up! The nurses said my nervousness was completely normal!!

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

Wow....the first few weeks home are exhausting!! Be prepared for ZERO energy!! The pain lasted about 3 days, mostly from the incisions, and eased each day thereafter. I expected to have more energy, but everything you do makes you so exhausted that you feel like you need nap!! Mt advice is to rest!!! Follow the instructions from your surgeon as far as exercising. You have to get out and do it even though you won't feel like it!!!! Once you have excercised, rest again!!!! Another tough part is eating pureed food! Be creative or it will get you down!!!!!! The thing that keeps me going is that it only lasts 4 weeks!!

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

My surgery was local (20 miles from my home).

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.

Most foods settle well pureed. The only thing that I was able to tolerate before surgery that is off limits now is milk. I like to mix milk with my protein shakes so I have to take lactaid before I drink my shakes. The lactaid helps, but I still have problems with gas with milk and milk based products.

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

It took about a week before I felt any energy or enthusiasm to do anything other than lie on the couch. I forced myself to walk everyday, but it took great effort the first week. The second week was much better and I regained much of my energy back. Every week thereafter has been packed with a little more energy than the week before.

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

Multi-vitamin, calcium, iron and B-12 on a daily basis.

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?

No side effects.

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

I struggled most with the pureed diet. Even though I was NOT hungry, I still desired "real" food after surgery. It was very hard to see others eating normal foods while I drank my meals. I was not prepared for the strong desire for food. It also took me awhile to adjust to the small amount of food I could eat. You become accustomed to eating a large portion when you are heavy (and you eat it fast too) and it takes a good while to adjust to slow eating and much smaller portions. Every day gets much easier to handle.....

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

I currently attend a support group at the hospital where I had my surgery. I find it's a VALUABLE tool. It is very helpful to talk to others about their experiences and get helpful hints. We often have guest speakers (plastic surgeons, nutritionists, etc) who keep us up to date on all of the tools needed to be successful after surgery. I highly recommend support groups to others.

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

I have 6 small scars which have healed nicely. I was expecting scars so I had no problems or concerns with my scars. They healed without infections.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

None

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

I have lost 32 pounds in 2 weeks and people are already noticing the loss. That makes me feel great!!