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

From a friend that had it done. At first I thought it was drastic and I should be able to loose the weight on my own. Then after many conversations and even more wt.gain I started to look at it differently. My friend had no problems and sailed through the post-op period.

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

My part was sending in all the information the doctor requested. Once he had all the information the office sent it in to insurance and I was approved in 2 weeks.

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

I was flying in from another state so I went to one satilite meeting where I met the surgeon and his advocates and listened to several hours of information about the surgery. I then attended a meeting the day before surgery and recieved even more information. The morning of surgery I met with the surgeon and went over my surgery. I had a list of questions and concerns and each was answered. People must bring the questions they want on a list because at that point you forget so much. Write your concerns on paper and bring that to the office when you go for your appointment.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

Inability to diet anymore and not wanting to regain what I had lost. I had just been there too many times.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I knew about the distal and the proximal and I didn't like either. The proximal you don't loose as much as with a distal but you don't have the foul odor like with a distal. I finally settled on a medial which gives good weight loss and if you follow the diet as recomended the foul odor is less, and absorption is a little better than the distal.

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 did talk to the kids about my concerns. I made out my will. Even tho I didn't think anything would go wrong I must have been worried that it could. The fears are real and you need some one to talk to so find a good support group before surgery and continue to attend it after surgery.

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 told my children only ( I am a widow) I also told my best friend who was also going to have the surgery. I would not just tell anyone because of the negitive things people say that can blow your confidence. My children were very supportive as was my friend, many of my other friends still don't know that I had surgery.

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

I retired and than had the surgery. Worked very well as I didn't have to go back to the very stressful type of work that I had been doing for so long. It was a great relief.

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

My stay was 3 days. I was very tired when I went home. Bring to the hospital only the basics like toothbrush and paste, nightgown and robe, slippers, and any meds that you have to take on a daily basis. Keep it light so you don't have to carry much when you leave the hospital.

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

No complications that I remember. I was in ICU for 1 day and did third space fluids but that corrected itself the 2nd day.

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

Actually I was not very nervous about the surgery. The anesthesia bothered me more. I have high blood pressure (treated) but It still was high. The drugs the anesthesiologist uses can control this to some extent.

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

I was very tired and had no energy what-so-ever. I started on designer protine and had constant diarrhea, to the point that I could not leave the house. Finally after trying imodiam AD and adjusting the protine I switched to pro-blend 55 with much relief. The beginning of month 2 I was able to go to the store for a short jaunt for the first time. My energy started to come back and I felt like a new person. I went through periods of depression which all ended when the diarrhea ended and I started absorbing my hormones again.

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

From Alaska to Tacoma Washington. I stayed in contact with the doctors office and asked questions whenever they came up. I don't think the distance affected my aftercare at all. I do get followup care with my physician for blood pressure problems but thats all.

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 week I drank only water and juices. Week 2 I added the protine and vitamens but stayed only on liquids. Beginning on week 5 I started on soft foods like cottage cheese, yougert, ground soft cooked meats, oatmeal. Anything soft with the total amt per meal being 1 ounce, but I could eat 5 times per day. Slowly I increased the kinds of foods I ate but stayed at the ounce amount. Continued the protine and vitamins forever. Meats and chicken are hard to digest, scrambled eggs are ok but soft boiled are a no-no. I do not eat milk or sugar they will sabatoge your weight loss. I am still careful about eating vegetbles and only eat soft cooked ones and not raw. My hardest thing to learn is to slow down, don't gulp, chew everything to death, and eat slow, did I say eat slow It will save you trips to the bathroom to throw up.

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

The first month after surgery I had no energy In fact taking a shower was exhausting. By month 2 things were better and by month 3 I felt like a million.

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

You must stay on your protine supplement for the rest of your like and your vitamins. I get my vitamins from vita4life.com and the protine from netrition.com My 3 month lab work turned out good.

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 have had very few side effects. The diarrhea in the 1st month was the worst but with a change in the protine everything was set right. Nausea and vomiting only occure when I eat too fast. since I learned to slow down that to is controled.

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

I think the worst part was having to go out of state for the surgery. I do not like to fly and that make things hard besides I was traveling alone and I was very weak. The surgery went well. I was tired of waiting for the surgery date due to all the paper work that needed to be filled out and sent in. Other than that all went well.

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

After care with a support group is essential I have not missed a meeting and am so glad that there is one available in Anchorage. There is valuable information to be gained from thoes who have been through it all years ago.

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

I had abdominal surgery before so I knew what to expect. The scar is not as pretty as it could be but who cares since I feel so good and continue to loose wt. No one sees it except me and I don't intend to wear a skimpy bathing suit.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

After my initial month of diarrhea and rapid weight loss I didn't loose for the next month now I am averaging 10-15 pound loss per month.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Since retiring the people I associate with treat me with respect and kindness. I do notice that people don't stare at me when I go out to dinner. Guess I'm beginning to look more normal.