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

I first had gastric stapling done in 1980. The results were temporary. When my stomach stretched out, I was right back to my old habits of eating too much. I'd read and heard about the "Fobi Pouch" in People Magazine and in the media. I heard about Carnie Wilson having the surgery on the Internet and thought "how weird!", but never considered the surgery for myself until backed into a corner by my boss.

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

Since my insurance carrier has already covered other diet plans for me in the past, I was not surprised that they approved me after the first letter. My advice would be to lay the ground work with your physician.

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

Due to my mobility problems, my 25-yr-old son went with me to my first visit. We both worked on a list of questions to ask. Those that weren't answered in the preliminary "class", we were able to ask the doctor. He was very optimistic and positive. He said they could do surgery to remove my large, pendulous "apron" at the same time as the gastric bypass. I was thrilled. I could hardly believe my ears. I would suggest doing what I did. List all your questions before you even go to the doctor's office, then check them off as they get answered - either in the presentation or in your personal meeting with the doctor.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I finally realized I was going to die if I didn't do something quick. I could not walk 10 feet across the room without gasping for air.

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

I was very pleasantly surprised by Southcrest. The hospital is beautiful and the staff there is wonderful. My stay was 10 days... longer than normal because of an unremittant high fever that kept spiking at night. Amazingly enough, as soon as I went home, the fever disappeared. The staff and drs were wonderful (well, 99.9% of them were). The most important thing to bring? Some 'smell-good' bath gel and lotion for the nurses to sponge-bathe you with after surgery. It makes you feel human again when you can't get into the shower.

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

My only complication is a numb spot on my right leg (hip to knee) that resulted from a 'nicked' nerve during my tummy tuck. The dr said it may (or may not) regenerate. It's a small price to pay, in my opinion, for the 29 pounds he took off my tummy!

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 not apprehensive at all! The way everything happened, I felt I was in the perfect will of God and I knew He was in control, so I had no reason to fear.

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

I was surprised at how incredibly WEAK I was. I've always been a strong person, but in the last year, my strength has faded (due to my weight). I expected to "snap back" from surgery as I did in the past (the distant past) and did not expect the weariness. At times, I could not hold up my head! When I made it to my 2-wk follow up with the surgeon, his staff told me I was not getting enough protein. We went straight to GNC and bought some EAS Myoplex Advanced Protein, with 43 grams of protein!!! Man, have they made a DIFFERENCE! I returned to work 4.5 wks post-op (half-days) and am getting stronger each day. I'll be working full time by next week, I'm fairly sure.

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

Less than 10 miles. The hospital was ridiculously close and convenient for my family and me.

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.

The first two weeks post op consisted of liquids... SF jello, broth, SF popsicles, SF Carnation Instant Breakfast and juice. I'll never be able to eat Jello, broth, popsicles or CIB again! The next two weeks consisted of soft foods... cottage cheese, scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes, applesauce, baby foods, etc. By the end of the fourth week, I was so hungry for something to crunch, I couldn't help myself. I snitched a "Charlie's chicken chunk" from my husband's dinner and crunched on it until it was soup, then swallowed it. It tasted like pure ambrosia. The next day, I called my surgeon's office, confessed my sin and was given absolution! They said I could try anything, to just chew everything well and call them with any questions or problems. The only thing I have tried that has NOT gone well was some Four Season Beef from one of my favorite Chinese restaurants. Although I chewed the beef very well, my stomach rebelled as soon as it hit. I finally had to go throw up because it burned like fire. Since then, I ate part of a very ripe pear and had to throw it up as well. I thought I'd chewed it well, but it came up in chunks, so I'd obviously been distracted and swallowed one bite too soon. You really have to learn to chew your food thoroughly! Practice, practice, practice before surgery!

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

For the 10 days that I was in the hospital, I spent most of it getting out of bed and sitting in a chair next to the bed. I only walked down the hall a couple of times with the physical therapy people when they came by. I had been very limited in my ability to walk BEFORE surgery, so there was no way I was going to jump up and run the races they wanted me to run. Since I have been home, I get around well, though I still use my walker (now 6 wks post-op). Due to the nicked nerve which affects my right leg, I am leary of walking without it. I don't want to fall. My ability to get up and down is getting better and my speed with the walker is improving as well. I've started making trips to the bathroom without it, but I have furniture I can grab every step of the way, too. I'm trying to wean myself off it, but it will take some time, as my legs grow stronger.

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

I take two chewable Flintstones Plus daily (morning and afternoon), Sublingual B-12, Calcium Citrate (afternoon & evening) and Biotin (for my hair). I am getting ready to add "Green Miracle", which is a multi-vitamin, multi-mineral food supplement produced by Ultimate Living, as soon as my order comes in. For protein, I get EAS Myoplex Advanced Protein (43 grams) from GNC. They have Chocolate Fudge, Vanilla and Strawberry Cream.

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

Waking up in ICU, intubated, with my eyes taped shut, before I could move a single muscle. I did not expect that. I thought I'd had a stroke because I could hear everything that was going on, but I could move nothing but my eyes and my eyelids were taped shut. The ventilator was operating perfectly (I later was told), but it was not breathing fast enough to suit me and I thought I was suffocating. I was terrified. How did I relax? By imagining myself being cradled in the arms of Jesus... I figured if I was going to die, I'd just go home to be with Him. That took the edge off. My next-to-the-worst part was Sunday, four days post-op. My bowels started waking up and I was bloated with gas, but could not pass the gas!!! I was in HORRIBLE pain. It did not help that the nurse discontinued my PCP pump (morphine) that morning, either. I was certain I'd done the WRONG THING!!! By the afternoon, I'd learned how to successfully deal with the gas problem (sit up, grab the footboard at the end of the bed, bend sideways, lift one leg and "let er rip!"), so I was in much better spirits and frame of mind. Would I do it again!? DEFINITELY!

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

My husband is handicapped and cannot prepare meals, so I went to my mother-in-law's home for a week after my release. At that time, I wanted nothing more than my own bed and went home. Everything has been fine since then.

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

My scar is narrow and beautiful (compared to the last abdominal scar I had, which looked like a flatworm crawling up my abdomen). The scar is fine, except for one small "bulge" that still has not healed. It is better than I expected.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

None at this time. I'd lost 70# on my last check three weeks ago!

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Not yet - though everybody is very supportive and complimentary. My weight loss is showing - especially in my face (I have a jaw line!)