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

I was denied insurance approval by BCBS of TN. PPO--they held my letter requesting authorization for 3 weeks instead of approving it. They knew that after the 3rd. week they would be changing the companies insurance coverage on the new contract. Which also changed the status of approving weight loss surgery. The new plan doesnt cover weight loss surgery or anything to do with it. My medicare is paying some now but I still have a lot of out of pocket expenses that I will be paying for a long time to come. Oh yes an appeal was worthless too.

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

My first visit with the surgeon was wonderful. I was so excited yet so afraid he would refuse me as a patient. He was informative and thorough. He covered all the steps of the surgery and listed to me all the possible side effects and risk of surgery. I have no complaints with my surgeon. At the seminar I attended his staff gave out wonderful brochures and notebooks with all sorts of information re: WLS. Just about any question I had was answered in that information.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I decided on surgery after repeated tries at dieting. I am disabled due to chronic pain so the pain was getting worse from the added weight. My knees are shot so is my back and neck so the weight loss has already started helping me. I cant go for walks like I wish I could ( doctors orders ) because Im just not physically able to. Plus, im vain. Being a woman I always like to look my best. It makes me feel better when I look good. But being at my heaviest I never felt attractive. My marraige had begun to suffer due to my own dislikes of my body.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

My surgeon knew at my first visit I would have to have the open RNY. I have had several abdominal surgeries which required that I be opened up. That left a great deal of scar tissue in my abdomen. The doctor knew for safety reasons it would have to be done Open. Truthfully I feel people who have the open procedure have less problems during the recovery period.

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 really had no fears. Even though we lost a dear friend who had complications 2 weeks after surgery, I still wasnt afraid. I knew it was only a matter of time before I became even more disabled if I didnt do something. I had to get the weight under control. I never looked back once I decided on the surgery.

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

I dont work anymore. I have been disabled for over 8 years.

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

I had a private room during my stay. All patients at this hospital are provided with private rooms. My nurses were very kind of course there is always one or two who try your patience. I was in so much pain I know I gave them a hard time. No pain meds. seemed to help me. So that would be what I would say my worst period of all was. All I needed at the hospital were a toothbrush and toothpast, shampoo, slippers, robe, deodorant and hair brush. You know if you forget your toothbrush they are probably going to charge you a small fortune to furnish it to you. I was in ICU overnight and in a private room 3 days. I was so ready to go home. It is just easier for me to recover at home on my own.

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

My only problem was with Severe Pain. It never was controlled properly even at the hospital. I do have a hernia that has come up since surgery. During my WLS surgery a different hernia was removed. It turned out to be the size of a football.

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 so excited. I was like a child with a new toy. I could not wait for my surgery date to hurry up and get here. I prayed a lot prior to my surgery and just before surgery. I had the support of my family and mentally I was more than ready.

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

I went home on the 5th. day. I was nauseous for the first 3 weeks. I had a problem with gas and I still do. My abdomen was very swollen and the plastic lines that were sewn into my skin on the stomach were rubbing blisters into the skin. The pain was intense. I had to leave those in for about 3 weeks. So I was a miserable girl. Learning what to eat was a scarey thing. I was so afraid of getting sick after eating I didnt want to eat at all. Of course we know we have to eat to stay healthy. I was not tired like everyone told me I would be. I was able to walk around my home a good bit so that helped with the soreness a lot. Drink lots of water--rather sip sip.

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

I drove about 70 miles to see my surgeon and to have the surgery. It makes traveling for my follow up visits harder but you do what you have to do when you have this surgery. It is just as important to follow up as it was to have the surgery.

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.

Meat is one thing I have a hard time eating. It seems to make me just so ill to eat it. Also, I have noticed so many foods dont taste right to me anymore. Especially beef and pork. I am not allowed to drink cola's per doctors orders. Also I stay away from sweets. Sweet's cause major dumping problems for me. So it just isnt worth it. Foods such as mashed potatoes, jello, squash, pasta, crackers, deviled ham, chicken salad spead, toast--things like that were and still are easy to tolerate.

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

My surgeon has a staff of great people. At the hospital they have formed a Support Group known as Faces of WLS--Birmingham, AL. They have monthly and weekly meetings. Also, we post on the groups website to give each other support. I just love the group. We have all become such good friends. I feel it is of the utmost importance to have a good support group or a support person. They help us when we have bad days and good days. Never be afraid to ask for help or advice when you need it.

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

My scar is about 13 inches long. It is very wide and ugly. I knew to expect it though. If I were a young woman who had never had children and woke up with a scar like that--I would have been devastated. Surgeons should always tell the female patients who are having the Open procedure what the scar will be like-before it is done.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I lost steadily the first two months then for a couple of weeks I just maintained my loss. Now I have finally gotten to under 200 lbs. Finally I weigh less than my husband.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Definitly, Men are noticing me more now. Heck, I even had a young man about 20 years old give me the old woo hoo when I walked past him. All I could do was grin. People dont stare at me in restaurants anymore either. It's a shame but the obese are very discriminated against. I dont know if our society and culture will ever learn to be kind to the obese. I hope so.