Debby D.

Obesity & Me

Describe your behavioral and emotional battle with weight control before learning about bariatric surgery.

Before I learned of bariatric surgery; I had all but given up successful weight loss. I had a child in 1990, during 9 months of pregnancy I had gained 120 lbs.. I had always been on the heavy side and I had lost down to 140 lbs when I found out I was pregnant.Being my first pregnancy people kept telling me your eating for two now ,so eat up. Eat up is exactly what I did, My OBGYN didn't really seem that bothered by my weight gain so neither was I.Soon after the weight just came on little by little I felt as if I was being consumed with smothering fat that I knew that I would never be able to get off until it killed me. My health continued to get worse , my knees felt like they would no longer carry my weight. Simple trips to the grocery store or to Wal-Mart was limited trips of 15 to 30 minutes.I would search from the minute I entered the store till I left, thinking where I could sit and rest because the pain in the knees was so bad .I had to have a stress test and a cardiac cath done due to chest pains which I thank God that it was clear,but the fat was causing me to continue to have smothering and anxiety attacks.X-ray after x-ray showed more damage to my knees, cartliage was floating all in my knees. So I was looking to the future for knee replacements.Without the surgery my future seemed bleak wheelchairs were in my sight. Being 43 and looking at what could happen I knew something had to be done.

What was (is) the worst thing about being overweight?

Not being able to share my life with my husband and son at amusement parks,walking with my husband,going on field trips with my son's class.Feeling that every time I went somewhere there was always someone who had to point out my being overweight. Watching people look at you and decide that you where less of a person because I was overweight.Health problems and last but not least feeling that I had let my family down by not feeling that my life wasn't that important.

If you have had weight loss surgery already, what things do you most enjoy doing now that you weren't able to do before?

Setting comfortable in chairs at the office or at the theatres.

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

Carly Wilson was on TV having the surgery and I watched the whole procedure; still not thinking that was for me. That always stuck with me.I pondered the idea for three long years before I heard of a doctor doing the surgery in the next county and then I prayed that if this was to be then God would see me through the whole thing from start to finish and I give him all the glory.

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

My stay in the hospital was a very positive one and a good one. The staff were complete professionals and helped me with every concern I had. My doctor and his staff were A number 1.

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

No , I was very forunate to have healed well.

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 had a big lump in my throat I was excited and scared at the same time.Anybody that says they were not nervous at first would be lying. I kept on thinking of what I had prayed for and by the grace of God he never left me.

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

The first few weeks at home I felt loved everyone pinced in and helped. My husband and son never left me they were excellent nurses. But dealing with the liquid diet was hard for me. I kept having the need to chew on anything crisy or gummy. But I made it finally one week turned into two and then three and before I knew it I could start chewing on fish and chicken and then I had a craving for salad.You may experience some of these urges but just think its just for a short time.

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

The hospital was about 18 to 20 miles away.

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.

I am just one month post-op. In the first week I ate low-fat and low-sugar yogurt, Cream of wheat,No sugar Jello, Creamy soups such as potato,chicken, mushroom and celery.What I found out that I wanted more than anything was TASTE.Of course your protein drinks are a must along with your daily vitamins and calcium.Squirt cheese and saltine crackers helped me in the 2nd week along with instant breakfast drinks and lets not forget No sugar frozen pops.

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

My stamina came slow and I'm still waiting for my top energy level .

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

I started out with Tums twice daily and chewable vitamins after the third week we could change over to a once a day vitamin and a calcium supplement. Along with Vitamin B12 sublingual and a Biotin sublingual tablet .

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?

I accidentally ate to fast and became very nauseaed which was horrible for 30 minutes.I ate some lettuce with Italian dressing not thinking and I vomited or at least tried but I couldn't bring nothing up,after that my stomach settled down.Time is your best friend when any of these things occur. Just remember and this to shall pass.

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

I quess after laying on the surgery table for two hours my back hurt really bad for a week or more.

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

We have a support meeting every third Thursday of the month. Its very important to share and to support one another.

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

My scars are very small except for the one the camera went through and its about the size of an 2inch line.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Haven't yet.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes, Even with just 37 pounds off I can tell people are excited for me.
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