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

I first heard about it from my aunt. She was considering it for herself. My first impression was that it was a little scary and I didn't think that I was ready for it. It seemed to be too much of a battle and too much headache and too much sacrifice. After a while, though, things changed. Mostly I changed, and decided I needed to MAKE changes in my life. And so far, it is something I have not ONE iota of regret for doing!!

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

My experience with insurance was short and sweet. No problems of any kind. Two weeks and it was done. It was wonderful, because this was the stage I was worried about the most. Since I just breezed through all I can tell anyone is that if you are having problems- FIGHT!!! You will be glad that you did.

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

My first visit was very quick and short. The best thing for you to do is BE PREPARED. Have lists of questions and do a lot of investigating. Be sure you know exactly what you want and what it entails. That way you already know what you are getting into and if it is really what you want. Then all the doc needs to do is set things in motion!!

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

Honestly, I called the doctor's office spur of the moment to see how long of a wait it would be just to get scheduled for a consultation. There wasn't a very long one(about a month) so I said WHAT THE HELL!!! It was a roller coaster ride after that moment!!

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Well, from my research I had decided that an RNY was the best procedure for me. I liked the results that you get and it just seemed to be the best one out there. All the rates are low - complications, failures, etc. Except of course for the weight loss rates!! Those are nice and high!!! My doc only does RNY's open, and I think that's safer really, so that's how I ended up with an open RNY!!

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?

Um, I don't like to dwell on negative things, so mostly I just didn't think about it. The big thing, of course, was my babies. But I wanted them to have a mother, not a bump on a log! The death rate for this surgery is very low and I am relativly healthy and I was only 23 so I figured I just bounce right back. Yes, having fear is normal, you need that fear so that you don't just jump into something that is not right for you. But I was afraid of dying if I DIDN'T do this. So it is just a choice you have to make! Which option is the best for 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 don't remember any one really NOT being supportive. The least supportive was my mother and she never came right out and said that she didn't think I should do it. She just was like "It's your life and your body, do what you want." SO I DID!! I think most people knew that I wanted to do it and trying to talk me out of it wouldn't work, so they just didn't try!:)

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

N/A

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

I had surgery at 8:00 on a Friday morning. I made it to my room around 12:30p.m. completely OUT of it! LOVE that morphine!! The whole rest of my day passed in a blur. I do know that it was hurtin' like hell and I had a brief moment of "WHAT WAS I THINKING"!! But I hear that's pretty normal! Saturday was better, I was up and navigating the halls. They removed my NG tube, and I think I hated THAT more than anything else! Sunday, the doc came by on rounds and kept asking if I wanted to go home that day! He said he could not believe how well I was doing. He told me that there was a lap RNY patient 2 days before my operation that wasn't doing as well. The angels were smiling on me! That afternoon they took the morphine pump away and started me on the liquid pain medication. I took one little sip and said NO THANKS!! It was disgusting. So, my second day after surgery I was off pain meds completely. I never did fill my prescription. I had heard of other people being off of meds before leaving the hospital and thought they were crazy!! But it really wasn't that bad!!

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

No complications AT ALL!!! Thank you, God.

In the weeks after you got your surgery date, how did you feel? How did you cope with any anxiety you might have felt?

They gave me a surgury date that was only 3 weeks away. I was so busy trying to get myself prepared and ready to go that I didn't really think about it. Until, about 3 DAYS before, then it hit me!! I couldn't eat(and isn't that when I should have been eating every thing in sight?). I WAS nervous, but very excited at the same time. It's funny how MAJOR life changes can affect a person, hmmmm?

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

The worst thing was that I couldn't hold my baby. He was 6 mo. and over 10 pounds. That sucked so bad!! There were a lot of uncomfortable moments. For the first few days I slept and slept and slept!!! I did sleep on a mattress that my husband brought down and put on the living room floor. Mostly on just one side and then a few days later I could sleep on both sides, and a few days after that I could sleep on my back. Laying on my stomach, even now, still feels kinda' weird. Three days after coming home, I was already nuts! I had to GET OUT!! We went to the video store. We were gone maybe a half hour. I got home and was exhausted!!! I went right to sleep! I don't think I ever did watch the movie we rented!! But every day was better and better. I still get dizzy if I'm getting up from the floor and still feel a little weak every once in a while. But it takes a bit for our bodies to adjust to the SMALL amount of food we get in a day, so I'm right on track!! Just take it one day at a time! (I would rather do this again than give birth again!!!!)

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

My hospital was only about 5 min. away from my house, so no problems.

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 have not really experienced any trouble with foods. Whether it was tuna or chicken or fish or anything it has always done just fine. I just religiously stay away from anything with sugar and try to keep to low fats. I still tend to drink my water too fast and some times get a tummy ache, so when they stress eat and drink sloowwwly, they know what they are talking about!!!

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

The days after surgery I tried to keep up a small amount of activity. My husband had his hands full with the boys, so I didn't really want him to have to wait on me too. Plus, they tell you to walk and move, so I would get my own meals and go on my walk down my street. And each day I would go a little farther, and do a little more. Right now, at 5 weeks out, I would sat that my level of activity is about where is was when I started and I just expect that it will continue to increase!

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

I take a bugs bunny multi-vitamin (My doc said I can switch to an adult pill now, but I LIKE the chewables!!!) Also, calcium and B-12

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?

So far I have been very blessed. The worst thing for me was the constant tossing and turning I would do. I could never get comfortable and STAY that way for very long! That went away as I started feeling better. The other symtoms so far have not reared their ugly heads.

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

The constant waiting game. You have to wait for a consult, then you wait for a psych. eval, then you wait for the results, then you wait for a date, then the surgery and through it ALL you are usually still waiting to find out what ins. is going to do! Some times all the waiting can get very discouraging but the end result is enough to help endure it all! Just DON'T give up!

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

There is a support group that meets every other Monday night and I find it fun and interesting to go to. You get all kinds of good info, different stories, and these people know exactly how you feel and think. I LOVE the support groups and am glad that I have them to help me though any problems that I may have. I see the doc at one month, 3,6,9, etc. My favorite reason to go is to get weighed. I don't weigh any other place. It is best for me because every one's scale usually says a different thing!

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

OH MY GOSH!!!!! I think my scar looks fabulous!!! I have only been out for 5 weeks, and my neighbor that had the surgery about 8 mo. ago says that mine looks better than hers!! I am very pleased with how good it turned out! My husband is not so fond of my scar as I am, but he does admit it looks a lot better than he thought it would!!

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Since I only weigh at the doctor's office I haven't noticed anything yet. Also, it is still pretty early yet!

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Nah. I haven't lost enough yet for anyone but myself and people close to me to notice