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

ON THE INTERNET. MY BASIC ATTITUDE WHEN THE FEAR CREEPS IN IS THAT, UNFORTUNATELY, OBESITY HAS BEEN A MAJOR ISSUE THAT HAS SHAPED MY WHOLE LIFE AND IT REQUIRES DRASTIC MEASURES TO LOSE THE WEIGHT I NEED TO LOSE TO BECOME HEALTHIER.

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

Frustrating and at times humiliating - but don't give up.

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

Come prepared with questions written down. Even though my main concern was his skill as a surgeon and his "bedside manner", I wish I would have asked him questions such as why he chose to do this type of surgery, what the mental health needs of bariatric surgery patients are - I focussed on more technical questions and wish I would have delved into this area too.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

My health, progressive isolation and desire to be able to do basic activities of daily living on my own. Fear about my future, and not wanting to burden my children with worrying or caring for a morbidly obese mother.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

lOTS OF RESEARCH AND READING, rny IS ONLY PROCEDURE DONE AT FROEDTERT, WHICH IS A WELL REPECTED TEACHING HOSPITAL IN MY AREA

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?

WAS REAL SCARED THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS, MOSTLY BECAUSE I HAVE CHILDREN AND AM A DIVORCED MOM AND THEIR DAD CANNOT BE DEPENDED ON, DIDN'T WANT TO CAUSE MY FAMILY ANY TRAUMA IF I WERE TO DO - I WAS AT PEACE W/ THE DECISION, JUST DIDN'T WANT TO HURT ANYONE ELSE IF SOMETHING WOULD HAVE HAPPENED TO ME.

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?

BEFORE - VERY SUPPORTIVE, THOUGH I KNOW THEY WERE SCARED, ESP. MY MOM AFTER - EXTREMELY SUPPORTIVE, ESP. MY MOM, WHO NEVER ONCE SAID ANYTHING NEGATIVE, DESPITE HER FEARS

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

DID NOT TELL ANYONE AT WORK - TO ME THIS WAS/IS VERY PRIVATE, OUT OF WORK 8 WEEKS (SOME COMPLICATIONS THOUGH), SORT OF HARD TO DEAL W/ THE "NOSY" PEOPLE ASKING QUESTIONS, MAKE SURE IF YOU WANT TO KEEP THIS PRIVATE YOU HAVE ANSWERS READY! (ie.wHERE WERE YOU?, WHAT WAS WRONG, HOW ARE YOU LOSING THE WEIGHT?, EVEN HAD ONE PERSON FLAT OUT ASK - DID YOU HAVE YOUR STOMACH STAPLED? - THIS FLOORED ME - IWAS NOT READY FOR THIS)

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

I was there 10 days and another 2 when the abcess developped. Overall, I would say my care was good, and I was pleased with Froedtert Hospital in general. My doctor, nurse practitioner and the residents were attentive, kind and understanding. I was not happy with a few of the nurses, because they were not very helpful or understanding because I had some problems with taking care of some aspects of hygiene and needed help. I personally would suggest to bring as little as possible - I used their gowns and personal care items, which were adequate for the short stay. I brought very little with me (slippers, hairbrush, underwear and a few light reading magazines.

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

I devellopped pneumonia very soon after surgery, so was in the ICU 5 days. I was lucky to have the support of family and friends which helped. For a short time I felt like "what have I done?!!!", because I just wasn't feeling well, but that was just for a day or so. I had to come back for 2 days about 2 1/2 wks after surgery, because one of the incisions devellopped an abcess. After about a month I was feeling more like myself - had become very weak because of all the laying around, but I started walking and very gradually increasing the time and intensity, which has helped.

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 fine, although became anxious about 2 or 3 days before. I coped by keeping busy and surrounding myself w/ friends and family as much as possible.

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

Had some complications, so I was very weak, and needed a lot of help. Rest and don't do too much too fast.

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

10 minutes - great to be so close!

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.

4 mos - Had no appetite the first two months, so had to force my self to eat. I have been very lucky, can eat almost anything, more than I expected at this point (1 Cup). The old behaviors are rearing their head, am having cravings (salty foods, peanut butter, raw vegies) - this is not magic - need lots of support from peers, and perhaps professional. As someone said to me, they did not operate on our brains. Not all of us can count on dumping protecting us from sweets, chocolate is still an issue for me and a problem at times.

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

Had to take it easy for 2 mos, due to complications.

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

Multivitamin, 1 Tum TWICE A DAY FOR CALCIUM, b12. MANY PEOPLE ADVOCATE PROTEIN DRINKS - MY HOSPITAL'S PROGRAM SAYS NO - THIS IS CONFUSING TO ME. aM LOSING LOTS OF HAIR - PEOPLE HAVE SUGGESTED BIOTIN, FLAXSEED OIL

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?

HAIR LOSS IS THE ONLY PROBLEM I'VE HAD - HARD TO COPE WITH (STARTED ~ 2MOS AND CONTINUES AT 4)

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

COMPLICATIONS WERE HARD (PNEUMONIA AND ABCESS), THOUGH CERTAINLY NOT AS SERIOUS AS SOME FOLKS I'VE HEARD ABOUT. 4 MOS - HAIR LOSS, NO DUMPING TO "PROTECT ME" FROM SWEET CRAVINGS NOT ENOUGH EXERCISE OR EMOTIONAL SUPPORT AS PART OF BARIATRIC PROGRAM AT MY HOSPITAL - YET

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

The hospital has a support meeting once a month, which provides a lot of info and lets you know you're not alone in this. I find the 3 or 4 personal contacts I've made (we mostly email) the most helpful and come on this site as much as I can, which helps too. sUPPORT GROUP SHOULD MEET MORE OFTEN, ONCE A WEEK AT LEAST.

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

Laparoscopic surgery, so very small, and I've had lap gall surgery, so I knew what to expect. I've had three vertical c-sections, so I don't plan to wear a bikini any time soon :), so not traumatic at all for me.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Have been losing weight consistently and really enjoy the fact that I can walk briskly (it's only been 2 mos). I'm kind of surprised I haven't suffered more emotionally, because I have been depressed and on meds for the past ten years (strong hx in my family)and I thought it would be worse, since this has been such a major change. I've been preparing for a long time, and had plenty of good info and support, so I've done OK. Well now it's been 4 mos and I am on a plateau, which can be frustrating.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Not yet - I choose not to call attention to the weight loss (started at 380 and have lost about 60lbs) - I wear loose clothes. My major purpose for having the surgery was my health. Perhaps I will have more to say about this in time. 4 mos/80lbs - people are starting to notice:) - though I don't like too much attention because of it - don't want to be more accepted/treated better simply because I've lost weight.