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

Originally, I knew about it because my niece who is eight years younger had it done about six and a half years before I did. I thought it was a great surgery and I knew it worked. I also knew that it was very dangerous and that it was not easy to go thru the changes that were needed. I admired my niece for doing it but she was very honest about the risk and the challenge. It is also not the same for any two people.

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

I had an angel on my shoulder. A year before the surgery I broke my foot and it spurred me to know that my weight was in serious, serious trouble. I gained about 35 lbs. while I was non-weight bearing. It made me really think and it motivated me to join a health club, hire a trainer and work with a nutritionist harder than I ever had before. I worked myself to the point of fatigue but I also started seeing my PCP regularly because it was taking such a toll on me. I didn't know it then but those doctor visits and the logs of my workout and diet schedule would soon really come in handy with the insurance company. I thought that they would demand I do a supervised diet for six months at least with a dietician so I had started seeing one. My weight had not gone up and I had somehow held it. To my surprise, they accepted all the documentation from the fitness club along with the notations on my weight from my PCP. I did not at the beginning of this journey even know I would need that so I was blessed that it worked out this way.

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

My visit was excellent. He was wonderful. We talked about the options for a WLS. He talked me about the ups and downs of both and together we decided the RNY would be the best option in my particular case. I was terribly frightened of the mortality rates and we talked about why those rates were so high and the difference in the national average and the program/protocols that they used as well as the experience of the surgeon/hospital.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

No questions about it - Dr. Guske made me decide to do it because he talked to me about the risk honestly, explained what they would do to assure my well-being and discussed the reasons for my health and quality of life this was the best decision I could make. The seminar got me thinking and Dr. Rantis was great at the presentation but it was Dr. Guske who pushed me over the cliff and made me feel it was the right thing.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I had an honest discussion with Dr. Guske. I am also bi-polar and crave carbs. We talked and I decided that if I was going to do this I should have the RNY and not let fear be the reason I didn't when deep down that is the surgery I really wanted and the one I truly needed.

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 was terrified of dying during the surgery and very frightened of leakage after because much of what I read indicated that was a very dangerous and deadly thing. I would say never go into this thinking that it's a walk in the park because it is not even done lap. However, if you know this is the right thing then seek out a Bariatric Center of Excellence, get a doctor who has done thousands of these like I did and be sure that you trust and feel safe putting your life in your surgeon's hands. You have to believe in the doctor and have a very open relationship with him to feel confident beyond your fears. If you don't, then get another surgeon. My surgeon told me without me having to ask what his track record was including how many deaths they had and the reason for each of them. His candor made me trust him right away.

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?

My family has been fantastic. My niece did this before so everyone has been on board. I was very nervous to tell my work friends and especially, to tell my boss what I was about to do. There are only a few exceptions of people who have not reacted well to this. My fears were unjustified for the most part. Everyone has been supportive and excited for me. They were very afraid as the media has made sure to highlight the risk and death rate for this procedure but they supported me. My boss has been completely understanding and made me feel good about it.

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

My boss wished me nothing but the best once I told him what surgery I was going to have. Originally, we thought I would be out two to three weeks. Now it looks more like three to four weeks due to a few bumps along the road. He and HR have been wonderful to me about it and assured me I have their full support.

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 excellent from pre-op thru recovery to my regular room. They anticipated my every need. I was there for four days. I was fortunate to have them give me a big fan but I would advise to bring a battery operated one just in case. I was very warm after the surgery and was told that's normal. Also for comfort bring your own shampoo and toiletries. Ladies, I learned a valuable lesson. It is very common to get your menstrual cycle unexpectedly right after the surgery is completed. Come prepared for that to happen.

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

I have had a little trouble with an incision and when my nerve endings came back to life they really came back to life. I have liquid Lortab and Lidoderm pain patches and it still hurts. The worst for me wasn't after they pulled my morphine pump in the hospital; it was when I came home and a week later my nerve endings started to heal so I felt a lot of pain on my left side.

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 excited but with each passing day I got more scared. I tried to research it, talked to my surgeon and honestly, I prayed a lot. There was no way really for me to lessen my fear because as each day got closer I realized I was about to take a huge risk as much as I knew I was making the right decision.

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

Well, I was very, very sore and really, really exhausted. Sleeping was not so easy especially flat. It seemed to exacerbate the incision where the drain was on the left side. The drain came out and I felt so much better...until...my nerve endings started to heal on that side and then I was dying in pain. I went back to the doctor, they cleaned out the incision where the drain had been and told me my nerve endings were healing. They added a 12 hour on and 12 hour off pain patch to my regimen which has allowed me to get some much needed sleep and to function more like a normal human being. I planned to go back to work in two to three weeks. Now its more like three to four weeks.

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

I traveled about 45 mins. from my house. It really has no bearing on my aftercare. The surgeon's offices are each about equal distance as is the hospital. It just means I have to take a half day off when I have appointments when I return to work.

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 only about three weeks out. I could not tolerate the protein powder, Glucerna, Glucose Control Boost or Carnation SF Instant Breakfast at all. I moved on to purees and found that eggs do not agree with me. Things that do include pureed Chicken, Tuna, refried beans (pureed) and watered down cream of chicken soup.

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

It has been slow to be honest. First of all the fatigue is very difficult and the soreness and pain level make it a bit hard the first few weeks. I am approaching week three but trying to walk some each day and push myself a bit to work thru the pain and walk a bit more each day.

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

I take Optisouce four times per day.

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 am still relatively early in my post-op. I did vomit quite a bit the first week I was home until I just eliminated the protein powder, Glucerna, Glucose Control Boost and SF CIB. Once I did that it helped. I occasionally vomit now if I eat eggs but I am only about three weeks out. Dairy and I don't mix so I've backed off it a bit. My sleep is really erratic but the pain patches do help me to get better sleep at night and I prop my head and legs up to take the pressure off the left incision site. I highly recommend a high quality memory pillow - it's been a lifesaver for me. My hair has not come out yet but I'm told it will. To that end I had it cut short and layered so I won't be crying over it around the Holidays. I have asked my doctor and his staff for help and advice on most things and they are wonderful and quick to respond. When I had my pre-op nutrition training they talked to me about the fact I had long hair and again in the hospital it was discussed. I knew what they said was true from my niece's hair coming out so as soon as I was able I bit the bullet and got a new assymetrical euro chic type bob. I am not half as upset as I thought I would be and it's a new look for the new me.

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

The stress of the pre-op testing, qualification, psych evaluation and just the waiting for the date and counting down to the actual surgery - fear of the unknown most of all. The only other thing is that in my case the pain has been pretty bad but everyone is different and pain levels are different in different people. I should not be viewed as the norm as I've met people who said they had NONE and didn't even need the morphine pump. They are indeed lucky souls. :)

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

I will be attending the healthy lifestyle class (3 hours) training and there is a post-op program (monthly) as well as a behavioral support program that meets every other Saturday. I think it is important to meet people who have done this and to listen to their challenges and solutions. I also think the emotional side is key to having it work.

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

I have very little scars since I had lap. Right now they are red but four of them have almost healed of the six I have. I suspect in time it will be hard to tell I had the surgery. I am amazed they aren't bigger. I find it incredible I had this huge surgery using these tiny incisions.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I don't know that I've had one yet. My weight loss has slowed down but then again the liquid diet had me losing a pound a day. I still lose weight just not daily which is normal. I'm hoping in a few weeks I can go back to the gym and do cardio and I won't hit a plateau for a while.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

People will treat me different. I know that from the days when I was thin. People are already treating me differently simply because they know I did this and I will be thin again. It is truly amazing just knowing that I've taken this step how people are treating me.