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

I HAD AN AUNT AND COUSIN WHO HAD AN EARLIER FORM OF IT DONE IN THE 80'S. I WAS VERY YOUNG AND DIDNT HAVE ANY THOUGHT OF IT OTHER THAN I DIDNT UNDERSTAND IT. WHEN IT CAME TO ME HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS, I DID MY RESEARCH VIA THE WEB AND I KNEW WHAT TO LOOK FOR. I HAD INITIAL IMPRESSIONS THAT THIS MIGHT BE THE ONLY SOLUTION FOR ME BUT I ALSO DID MONTHS OF RESEARCH AND THOUGHT IT OVER VERY CAREFULLY. I HAD A GLIMMER OF HOPE BECAUSE NOTHING HAD WORKED SO FAR. I was 350 at the time of surgery

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

MY EXPERIENCE WAS NON EXISTANT. I DIDNT HAVE ANY TROUBLE AT ALL. I DIDNT EXPERIENCE ANY DENIALS FROM MY PCP OR THE COMPANY AND WAS APPROVED THE FIRST TIME AROUND. I WOULD ADVISE TO CONSULT YOUR PCP AND EDUCATE THEM ABOUT THE PROCESS AND LET THEM KNOW YOU HAVE DONE YOUR HOMEWORK. IF YOU HAVE NOT, DO YOUR HOMEWORK BEFORE GOING TO YOUR PCP SO YOU CAN PRESENT A VALID CASE FOR THIS AND NEEDING THEIR BACKING AND/OR REFERRAL FOR THIS SPECIALTY SURGERY. DR TILLQUIST'S TEAM IS TOPS IN THIS AND WILL HELP WHEREVER THEY CAN. THEY ARE THE BEST IN INSTRUCTING YOU ON WHAT YOU NEED TO DO SO THEY CAN DO THEIR JOB. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ALL THE DOCUMENTATION THE PCP MAY NEED ABOUT THE SURGERY AND YOUR MEDICAL HISTORY AND DIET RECORD SO HE/SHE CAN MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION REGARDING YOUR REFERRAL AND MAKE SURE DR TILLQUIST HAS THE SAME SO HE CAN BE AWARE OF ALL THAT YOU ENCOMPASS

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

MY FIRST VISIT WAS SCARY. I DIDNT KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT BUT HE WAS VERY ENDEARING. HE WAS AN OPEN BOOK AND I COULDNT THINK OF A SINGLE QUESTION. HE WAS AND IS A VERY LIKEABLE AND PERSONABLE MAN WHOSE BEDSIDE MANNER IS IMMPECCABLE. BE SURE TO HAVE ALL QUESTIONS WRITTEN DOWN SO YOU CAN ASK THEM ONE BY ONE. THIS WILL GIVE YOU A FEEL OF THE DR AND HIS EXPERTISE AS WELL AS CALM ANY FEARS.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I WAS GETTING WORSE PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY READY TO DO SOMETHING DRASTIC. I COULD NOT LIVE THE WAY I WAS ANOTHER SEASON. I HAD HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, THE BEGINNINGS OF DIABETES, EDEMA, AGGRAVATED ASTHMA, I COULDNT TAKE CARE OF THE DAY TO DAY THINGS OF MY PERSONAL LIFE THE WAY I WANTED OR OF MY HOME OR CHILD. I COULDNT TAKE MY SON ANYWHERE AND HAD NO DESIRE TO. THE JOY OF LIFE WAS QUICKLY LEAVING. DAY IN AND DAY OUT OF CONSTANT PAIN WAS WEARING ME DOWN. I FELT I WAS IN PRISON IN MY BODY AND I HAD TO GET OUT OF IT. I MADE THE CHOICE BETWEEN FOOD AND MY LIFE. AND I NEEDED THE DRASTIC HELP ME STOP ME.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I WANTED THE PROCEDURE THAT WAS THE LEAST INVASIVE AND THE HEALING TIME WOULD BE THE QUICKEST BECAUSE I, BEING A SINGLE MOTHER, NEEDED TO GET BACK TO WORK QUICKLY

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 DID HAVE THE FEARS AND OF COURSE PEOPLE WERE CALLING ME AND TELLING ME THEY KNEW OF PEOPLE WHO HAD DIED OF THE SURGERY ETC, ETC, ETC. AT THAT POINT, I PUT MYSELF IN GOD'S HANDS EVEN THOUGH I DID WORRY. I WOULD BE LYING IF I SAID I DIDNT. I PRAYED INCESSANTLY AND PONDERED THE SITUATION EVEN THROUGH SCHEDULING THE CLASSES, THE PRE-OP TESTING AND ALL....EVEN UP TO THE DAY,,,I STILL NEW I HAD TO GO THROUGH IT BECAUSE THE LIFE I WAS LIVING WAS NO LIFE...I WAS BEARLY EXISTING. I BECAME REALLY AFRAID THAT DAY, BUT I THOUGHT GOD HADNT BROUGHT ME THIS FAR TO LEAVE ME, AND IF I DID DIE, I TOLD EVERYONE WHAT I WANTED FOR MY SON AND MY PERSONAL BELONGINGS AND I WOULD BE BETTER NOT LIVING IN THE PAIN THAN WITH IT. I JUST PRAYED AND ANYONE WITH THE SAME FEARS, IT IS NATURAL. IT IS OKAY....AND JUST PRAY...AND DO WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO...

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 WERE SUPPORTIVE AND SHOCKED THAT I MEANT TO DO IT. IT WAS A DRASTIC STEP BUT THEY KNEW I WAS DETERMINED BECAUSE I DIDNT WANT TO DIE AND DIDNT WANT TO CONTINUE TO LIVE THE WAY I WAS. I WOULDNT HAVE DONE ANYTHING DIFFERENT. EVERYONE WAS VERY SUPPORTIVE.

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

MY SUPERVISOR WAS VERY INTERESTED AND WANTED TO HAVE IT DONE. I TOLD HER WHAT I WAS HAVING DONE AND WHY BECAUSE I ALWAYS WAS GONE TO DR APPOINTMENTS. I WAS VERY SERIOUS AND SHE SEEMED AS THOUGH SHE WANTED TO DO IT. I TRANSFERRED TO A DIFFERENT SECTION BEFORE I LEFT FOR SURGERY AND WHILE OFF MY NEW SUPERVISOR WAS VERY UNDERSTANDING AND PATIENT. I WAS OUT OF WORK FOR 5 WEEKS.

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

MY STAY WAS GOOD. THE NURSES AND ATTENDANTS WHO TOOK CARE OF ME TOOK VERY GOOD CARE OF ME AND WERE GOOD FOR MY MORALE. I WAS THERE A TOTAL OF 5 DAYS. YOU REALLY DONT NEED TO BRING ANYTHING EXCEPT PERHAPS A ROBE AND SLIPPERS

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

I DIDNT HAVE ANY COMPLICATIONS. THE MEDICINE WAS REALLY STRONG AND MADE ME HAVE HORRIBLE DREAMS AND SEVERE ITCHING. THE NURSES WERE REALLY VERY UNDERSTANDING AND HELPED ME BECOME COMFORTABLE ON ALL ANGLES. FROM PROVIDING HYPOALLERGENIC BEDDING TO ITCHING ME...THEY WERE WONDERFUL.

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 EXTATIC..I COULD NOT BELIEVE I ACTUALLY HAD ACCOMPLISHED THIS. I WAS NOT VERY SCARED UNTIL THE DAYS CAME DOWN TO THE WEEK PRIOR. I CRIED WHEN THEY GAVE ME THE OKAY THAT IT WAS APPROVED. IF FELT MY LIFE WERE COMMING OUT OF THE DARK TUNNEL THAT I HAD BEEN IN FOR 12 YRS. THE ANXIETY I FELT,,,I PRAYED IT AWAY,,,,CONSTANTLY. I DID CRY TOO...OUT OF FEAR///AND RELIEF///

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

EXPECT TO SLEEP, AND NOT BE ABLE TO EVEN TOLERATE WATER. MY SENSES WERE MESSED UP. I COULD NOT STAND THE SMELL OF ANYTHING. I WAS VERY WEAK AND DEHYDRATED. I HAD A TOUGH TIME STAYING DEHYDRATED BECAUSE TO PUT ANYTHING IN MY STOMACH HURT IT TERRIBLY. I HAD IMMENSE DIAHREEA AND I FELT MISERABLE. I WAS CONSTANTLY NAUSEUS AND MY MIND WANTED TO EAT AND MY BODY SAID NO....MY FIRST TRIP TO THE STORE I ALMOST GOT SICK BECAUSE OF LOOKING AT ALL THE FOOD...IT WAS GROSS...I WOULD HAVE NEVER IMAGINED FOOD WOULD BE A TURN OFF TO ME. EXPECT TO BE SICK, NAUSEATED, ILL, MINOR DISCOMFORT, WEAKNESS, NO APPETITE...

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

20 MI MAYBE,,,,

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.

BACON- CAME RIGHT BACK UP ONE DAY, HAM- MADE MY STOMACH ACHE...DULCE LA LECHE CAKE,,,20 MIN- CRAMPS AND DIAHREEAH,,HOT LINKS....BAD STOMACH ACHE...HOT FOODS...STOMACH ACHE....ACIDY FOODS,,,STOMACH ACHE. GREASY FOOD,,,,STOMACH ACHE....MOST THINGS UNLESS VERY BLAND, GIVE ME A STOMACH ACHE. WATER STILL UPSETS MY STOMACH. NO FOOD IS REALLY OFF LIMITS,,,ITS THAT I DONT WANT IT BECAUSE IT WILL HURT MY STOMACH. WEEK BY WEEK I COULD EAT AND TOLERATE A LITTLE MORE. IN THE BEGININING I TRIED TO EAT TOO MUCH OF THE SAME THINGS AND PAID FOR IT. WEEK BY WEEK IT GOT BETTER AND I STILL AM JUST ADJUSTING. SOME THINGS I JUST DONT HAVE A TASTE FOR ANYMORE OR IF I EAT IT, IT HURTS MY STOMACH SO I KNOW NOT TO EAT IT AGAIN. 1-6-2003 I have moderate dumping and I cannot really tolerate sweets, which are my downfall. If I eat more that 7 grams of sugar, I am ill. I cant really eat spicy foods, greasy food is also a problem and just almost anything really if it doesnt sit right, I just put the food away...I flush myself with water by trying to drink it as much as possible. That is the only way I feel really good...I have lost 80 lbs in 5 months. In the beginning, I could not really eat anything...I just felt bad....as the months have gone on.....it has been trial and error....I still just mainly have milk for breakfast....and just light lunch and light dinner...sometimes no lunch....

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

MY ACTIVITY LEVEL WAS 0 DAYS AFTER SURGERY. NO ENERGY AND VERY ILL I WASNT VERY STRONG UNTIL ABOUT 3-4 WEEKS AFTER. IT WAS A SLOW .Now my energy is through the roof. I can walk and stand in the malls with no problem....I can dance all night like I used to. I am not lethargic or draggy like I used to be....I cant believe how light I feel.

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

I HAVE NOT BEEN THE BEST AS FAR AS TAKING MY VITAMINS. I REALLY HAVE NOT TAKEN THEM....

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?

NAUSEA=ABOUT 2-4 WEEKS AND I STILL GET NAUSEATED. I ONLY VOMITED ONCE. I HAD SOME SLEEP DISTURBANCE DUE TO INTESTINAL HEALING FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS. THE DUMPING COMES FROM TOO MUCH SUGAR AND I DONT REALLY EXPERIENCE THAT BECAUSE I TRY TO STAY AWAY FROM THE SUGARS. I CANNOT TELL IF THE HAIR LOSS IS DUE TO THE SURGERY OR THE OTHER MEDS THAT I TAKE THAT HAVE THAT SAME SIDE EFFECT. I JUST DO WHAT I HAVE TO DO . NAUSEA,,,,DONT EAT AND JUST LAY DOWN. SLEEP DISTURBANCE...JUST TRIED TO REST EARLIER IN THE DAY AND LAY ON MY SIDE INSTEAD OF MY STOMACH. Now I have nausea if something just doesnt agree with me,,,,I just have to let it pass....I dont vomit...I sleep soundly and the dumping,,,well, I just steer clear of sugar...I have not really experienced hair loss....I am on meds that can cause it so I dont know if it is the surgery or the meds...

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

THE NASTY MEDICINE THEY HAVE YOU TAKE SO THEY CAN TAKE XRAYS TO SEE IF THE NEW STOMACH IS LEAKING. THE TUBES COMMING OUT OF MY NOSE FELT FUNNY. I WAS TIRED OF THE SHOTS IN MY STOMACH AND THE ITCHING THAT I EXPERIENCED. I HAVE A HYPER SENSITIVITY TO A LOT OF THINGS SO SOME OF THE THINGS MIGHT ONLY BE UNIQUE TO ME. ( THE TUBES GOING DOWN WOULD HAVE BEEN THE WORST IF I HAD BEEN AWAKE FOR IT. ) IT WAS KIND OF HARD TO BREATHE WITH THE TUBES IN BUT I DID IT. I HAD TO HAVE THE IV FOR THE ANESTHESIA PUT IN MY NECK BECAUSE THE VEINS IN MY ARMS WERE TOO SMALL. THAT WAS REALLY WORRISOME BECOME THEY KEPT POKING ME IN MY ARMS...ABOUT 4 TIMES ON EACH ARM AND THEN FINALLY GOT IT IN MY NECK. WHEN I WAS IN MY ROOM IT KEPT GETTING BENT BECAUSE I WAS MOVING AND SOMEONE CAME IN AND JUST LIKE THAT PUT IT IN MY ARM. WE SAW IT HAD BEEN CAUSING SO MUCH PROBLEMS BECAUSE IT WAS BENT IN MY NECK. THE ANESTHESIOLOGIST DID HIS BEST AND WAS VERY APOLOGETIC....

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

MY FAMILY...IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO HAVE PEOPLE SUPPORT YOU AND YOUR EFFORTS.

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

I HAVE 5 SMALL SCARS THAT ARE NOT EVEN ONE INCH IN LENGTH. THIS IS WHAT I EXPECTED

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I HAVE NOT HAD A PLATEAU YET. I HAVE HAD CONSTANT WEIGHT LOSS AND NO WEIGHT GAIN.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

YES,, I NOTICE THAT I GET MORE ATTENTION AND I AM WATCHED FOR FAILURE AS WELL AS SUCCESS. I GET A LOT OF COMPLIMENTS AND QUESTIONS. I AM GLAD TO BE A BILLBOARD FOR IT TO SHOW ANYONE THE WAY TO HELP BECAUSE I NEEDED THE HELP AND I WANT TO HELP ANYONE IF I CAN. I'VE NOTICED SOME JEALOUSY I THINK BUT THAT IS TO BE EXPECTED ABOUT ANYTHING IF YOU ARE DOING SOMETHING THAT SOMEONE ELSE HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DO....