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

A ad on TV with Dr Ross Fox at Weight Matters. I saw him and sought as much information as possible. My insurance immediately approved surgery however my husbands insurance did not and referred me to Dr Weber and then husbands (Great West) insurance has picked up what my insurance did not pay.

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

Get doctors to show this surgery is for medical necessity not cosmetic reasons. I suffered with severe achilles tendonitis. I had my DR write a letter stating that walking would further my injury. (Which would, I tried walking and ended up in a wheelchair for a month to let the tendon heal) He stated that weight loss would be the best help for this problem. It has after 170 pounds loss I want and can jog, hike, walk. I have gone over 5 months with no pain medications just to get by. My work performance has soared. 2. Is your weight a genetic factor. In other words how many other family members or overweight. In my family looking at pictures EVERYONE had a weight problem. My mothers side of the Family on both her parents are a tremendous amount of morbid obesity. My fathers side his mother's side had a large amount of morbid obesity especially among the women. Document this. I have a form that lists medical problems related to obesity and genetics. It has a family history. It will also show you the higher risks you are of having these problems. I also have an article that shows the health costs of morbid obesity (The insurances will love to see the billions of dollars they will save by allowing the surgery) I also have a weight loss history. This shows everything you have tried. 3. Write a letter telling the Dr who will review this what your medical problems are affecting your every day life and the hardships you indure due to your problems. 4. DO NOT GIVE UP! KEEP FIGHTING! there are several organizations who fight for your rights. The obesity law and advocacy center is very helpful. This is a law office who fights for rights of the obese. the web site is http://www.obesitylaw.com/index.htm Don't give up. Even I will write a letter telling how much of a change this surgery has helped me. If needed.

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

I first saw Dr Ross Fox. He was knowledgable but i was not comfortable with him and his office was over two hours away. My husbands insurance recommended Dr James Weber and I was very impressed with his knowledge and experience. He treated me like I was a person and not a circus display like people made me feel.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I knew this surgery was the only way I could live a normal life and basically stay alive.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I love sweets and chose to have the bypass instead of the stapling to prevent my from consuming sugars. My biggest weakness.

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 really did not have any fears of complications. I was very sure of Dr. Weber. Before the surgery he even discussed complications he had had with patients and he did even have a death. He explained why and what could be done to prevent this from happening with me. I made sure when I went in the surgery room I was 100% sure this was the Dr who I wanted to entrust my life with. ASK QUESTIONS!!!!!!

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 husband was supportive at first and time is is decreasing. I find he sabatoges my diet oten. (I think he is insecure and thinks I will leave since we have been having trouble since he mental abuse relating to my obesity) My family coworkers and friends thought I could lose weight if I tried. Understand they don't have OUR unique problems and do not understand genetics for a vast majority of us. They were not very supportive until they saw the difference in me. my looks my attitude my energy. Now they even talk to me about it and tell others who are considering the surgery to talk to me.

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

I was out of work for eight weeks. They were concerned about the safety of the surgery and the horrors they have heard. (many horrors are from Doctors who do the surgery and are not experts on this form of surgeries. They have been very supportative and after returning we very careful in keeping me from doing excessive lifting. I do a lot of heavy lifting on a daily basis. They are glad I made this choice I worked my tale off and now can do my work even better and faster. and I am not cloudy headed from mega pain medications.

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

I was in the Hospital 5 days. It was difficult in the beginning. I did have a lot of pain but I did have the pain button. Walking is extremely important. Take a lightweight robe to cover yourself up when walking. I say lightweight I had a very heavy and with the IV in was hard to get it around my shoulders without help. Thus I had to get a nurse every time I got up to walk.

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

I did not have any complications. But you are given a breathing device, USE IT!!!

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 felt pretty good. It took about 4 weeks before I began noticing I could move around better. I got on the computer and spent a lot of time with support groups and reading.

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

I had difficulty laying in a bed and spent the first two weeks sleeping int he recliner. You may not have this problem. I did everything the Dr told me to do. Cooking was not a problem because I did not feel like eating. Make sure you do have your liquids you are supposed to have. Several times I would get busy and forget to have my liquids and vitamins.

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

It is about a hour drive for me. Your belly may hurt. I took a pillow with me everywhere I went and if I knew a big bump was coming on I would apply a little pressure to ease the pain.

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.

My doctor put me on the first 8 weeks of liquids or semi solids anything that would go through a drinking straw. I ate jellos puddings (sugarfree for both) yogarts, soups, broths. milk, (Carnation instant breakfast is good source of nutrients) I bought the sugarfree. I would also have mashed potatoes with broths. Sodas even diet are very hard aftarwards. I like a drink called diet ice.

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

I noticed every day I was feeling better end wanting to get out and go! By the time I went by to work I had twice the energy I had before. I could stay awake more than 10 hours a day.

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

In the beginning I took Centrum chewable vitamins. I take three a day. Centrum liquid vitamins has alcohol. I take most of my medications in a liquid or chewable form. Drink water when you take these.

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 began losing my hair about 2 months after surgery. Terrified I would be bald I tried everything. It is common and by the way your hair loss is only about 30% and you actually lose 10%. I tried several products. I found Thicker Fuller Hair and Rinse the best for my hair. I buy at Wal-Mart. Again I stress take your vitamins! I do vomit and find it is when I go back to my old eating habits. When I have too much refined sugar I get very tired and sleepy and usually fall asleep. I don't have much nausia sincethe surgery.

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

The worst part is the first two days after surgery. Pain was bad. I was uncomfortable and I asked my slef several times why I did this. (I'd do it again in a hearbeat) I did not have a cathater but did have the tube in my nose (YUCK!!!!)

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

I have support here on the computer and a chat group on MIRC (Intranet relay chat) program we are on DALnet and our channel is #OSSG I also have made several friends from my doctors office. ( Several of us are trying to get a monthly meeting for support)

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

My scar is flat and actually not bad looking. It goes from my breastbone to just a tad above my belly button (I had to have a herniated umbilical cord repaired when I had the surgery. It is not that noticable now. I am sure I can never wear a bikini but then again I didn't wear one when I was thin before.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I averaged 10 pounds a month and now am going through a plateau now. But I am now only 40 pounds to my goal. I have to accept it is going to go slower now.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Oh yes. I have to share ingnorance here. I had been shopping before the surgery and was in the parking lot helping my husband load the car. This young man maybe in his middle twentys looked at me and began stomping laughing and stated when I walked I caused an earthquake. About a month ago this idiot hit on me at my work. I told him what a pompus jerk he was and asked him if he remembered insulting a woman in the parking lot about her weight? He remembered then I told him I was that lady causing earthquakes and told him off in front of at least a dozen people. Let him feel humiliated.