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

by the time I researched it I was ready for wls. I had already given up on life and knew that this was the only option. I never had a second thought about doing it becuase I wasn't living a life anyway.

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

I had so many health problems that my ins. co. approved me in 1 day. I only had to have contact with them 2x... the first call was to see if they even covered and what they wanted. which was yes and the basics. they wanted a drs note, a phsyc eval, the surgeons report and so fourth... the 2nd call was to see if they recieved the paperwork from my surgeons office and they said yes, and it had been approved already!

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

I already had, had met with dr. esti for other issues. so I already knew him. He had me watch a film and then gave me a test of my knowledge of wls. I missed one question becuase I didn't read it right... I think before anyone meets with any wls surgeon they should read and research anything and everything possible. don't go into anything blind.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I knew I wanted it the min. I started researching it. I was tired of not living.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

my surgeon only does RNY. I didn't have an option when it came to this. but I trusted my dr. 100% becuase he had operarted on my son 2 years prior for crohns disease. this is the proceedure that he believes in. and with everything that I read It seemed to me better than the others too.

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 of course had the normal fears that come with *any* surgery. this wasn't my first experience with surgery. I have other health problems for which I have been operated on 5 times before. I just made sure I had things in order incase something did go wrong. but I wasn't living a life. I was truely miserable. so this was my only option and I didn't let the fear control 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?

I only told my kids, my mom, my husband (were serperated and I wasn't going to tell him at all except that wouldn't have been fair to my children. he was the *ONLY* one who wasn't supportive) and a few very close friends. The rest of my family I told after. it was easy to do that becuase I live 3000 miles away from the rest of them. I didn't want to listen to anyones negitive crap about it. they havn't researched it the way I had and wouldn't have known what the heck they were talking about anyway. only what they see on the news..... after the surgery when I told everyone, to my surprise they were all very supportive. (of course, it was done and over and they couldn't bring the fear into it...)

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

I'm on disability through social security and private long term disabiltiy ins. due to other health problems. this wasn't an issue

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

I honestly don't remember that much. nursing care is horrible. the nurses are so over worked and usualy not very compassionate. this hosptial stay was 100% better than any other time I had surgery.

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

I had a few things happen. 1st thing, the day after surgery I had to go have the upper GI to make sure things were "OK"... the radiologist was a jerk. I took 2 sips of the barrium stuff (YUK) and he said STOP-STOP... don't drink anymore test is done... I asked what was wrong and he said that I would have to wait and have my surgeon tell me... OH MY GOD!! in my post op, pain killer drugged out mind I was thinking that stuff wasn't hooked up right and leaking into other areas and all kinds of nasty stuff.. I thought I would have to be opened up in surgery. it was awful... it turned out to be nothing except that I was swollen and the liquid wasn't getting through. but it took a few hours to find that out and I was miserable and hysterical for those hours. the 2nd thing which has nothing to do with WLS it's self is all the sudden I have no veins. never in my life had this been a problem. so I eneded up having a pic line put in. I was scared to death but the tech and nurse who did this were awsome. the nurse explained to me step by step what they were doing. I was so scared (more scared of this than the surgery it's self.. go figure!) third, and I still don't know who's fault this is including my own. I never recieved my medications that I was taking already (antidepressants mainly) while in the hosptial. I was very upset becuase they tell you to never abruptly stop these kinds of pills. I was in the hospital for 5 days. and when I kept asking they just would give me ativan or something.. but I was too loopy to really understand what was going on to get to the bottom of it. however, since I was off them for that long I just stayed off them. and I feel better now than I have in the past 7 years I was on them!

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 never needed the pain medication once I got home. I moved pretty slow but no big deal. I was no longer tired. it's been over two months now and I have more energy than I have had in 20 years. it's amazing. my 5 and 6th week I didn't loose any wieght. I was now on real food and I was eating things on the list and the right amounts but they were too high in carbs for me. (patatoes, rice, fruits and juice) I was very upset with no wieght loss. so I figured out myself that I needed only protien and got my wieght loss going again. dr. said that was the exact thing to do.

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

I don't know how to anser this question. every day was differarnt for me. and everybody is differarnt. my family was very curious what I was eating and in shock about the amounts.

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

5 miles. I live right by the hospital.

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.

off limits from my doc is beef and pork. I am so sick of chicken and fish I could scream! I'm only 9 weeks post op so I am still learning. I havn't had any of the dumping syndrome yet although I have been neasus over things here and there.

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

in my mind I was ready to run a marathon!! physically of course no. but I had more energy than I knew what to do with. becuase of some other health problems I am not able to excersize to the degree someone else of my age and wieght should be able to.

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?

nausia first thing in the morning.. every morning!! it's morning sickness all over again. hair loss was happening even before surgery. I sleep better than I have in 18 years. no more getting up 5x a night to pee!! no more waking up just to turn over..

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

people (family and friends) always watching me... I feel like I am being tested. pass or fail!! but I went into this knowing it would be that way.. curious nature of people and I would have been the same way had I known someone.

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

the hospital has a support group. which I wasn't aloud to go until the month before my surgery. I feel this is WRONG.. I think people who are even *THINKING* about wls surgery should be able to come in and observe and ask questions about it... we also have a local group support meeting associated with this web sight.

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

I have 6 very small thin lines with the lap proceedure. scars to me are not inportant becuase I have hidradenitis suppurativa which I have had since I was 13. my body is already ruined with scars and I learned to live with them a long time ago.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

9 weeks post op and I have had a couple of times with no weight loss. I expect too much and I know this. it is very upseting not to see the scales move the way you want...

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

I had a freind (bigger than I was) who told me she wasn't going to be friends with me once I got thing becuase I would be too obnoxious. she was joking of course but with any joke there is always truth behind it. It made me feel bad for her. the only other thing is constantly being watched and or *tempeted* to try to eat things... sad!!