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

I first heard of bariatric surgery 20 years ago whena distant cousin had it done and died from complications. The 12 years a go a friend of the family had bariartric surgery and she looked great when I seen her but she had problems with hers. Hers was much older surgery and she did not eat at all or take vitamins. But I thought at first that there was no way I would do that since it seemed so risky. As I kept getting heavier and heavier though I wondered about the surgery and when I seen the commerical for the surgery I finally called and then went and got the info and research on it.

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

As far as my insurance comapny covering my surgery I was turned down once. Dr. Sonapal's office handled submitting it again and I was approved then and everything was covered 100%. The insurance company was great with it all. The insurance company is SelectBlue (A HighMark Blue Cross Blue Shield Point Of Service Program) Member Serive/Benefit questions 1-800-835-4290

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

My first visit with Dr. Sonpal was very informative and educational. You had the seminar first then seen the doctor. I felt at ease with the doctor within a matter of minutes. I did not feel like a number and that is very important. He took his time and answered all of my questions and concerns. Just be honest with your doctor and ask any and all questions you may have.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I finally decided to have my surgery even after I waited a few more months after I was approved. I kept gaining weight and was trying to lose and not doing it. I had finally had enough and wanted to take control of my body and my life and knew this was my last resort. I do not regret it at all.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I had seen the commercial for bariatric surgery & made the call. Dr. Sonpal recommended the RNY procedure. I trusted him & that is something you must have for your doctor. I had done enough research on it to know the risks.

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?

My biggest fear was dying from the surgery or having compications from it. I put it in Gods hands though and knew he would take care of me. I knew though that if I didn't take control of my weight problem that it would kill me. I did have a lung collapse & pneumonia set in and came home with oxygen for 2 weeks. I am a somker and did smoke the morning of my surgery. It was not something the doctors or anyone else did. They were all great. I would defiantely NOT SMOKE before your 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?

My husband was with me 100% with whatever my decision was. He would tell me that he loved me no matter what and that my size was not hte issue. That he cared about me and didn't want me to have health problems. But being overweight I was insecure, I would get jealous and feel threatend if someone talked to him (we have been married for 15 years and I have always been heavy) I am not stupid society is constantly showing that "thin beautiful people" have everything going for them and they even treat you that way. Sex sells everything from tooth paste to toilet paper practically. My husband has been an excellent supporter through all of this. That is so important. You go through some rough times at first and so many drastic changes so quickly. But it was my decision totally. But I did do this for him as well as myself and things have defiantely changed for us, I am so much more confident about who I am and no longer insecure or feel jealous or threatend in my marriage. My daughter who was 18 years old at the time was not really for it because she was worried about what could happen to me and felt I was fine just the way I was. I was Mom. She loves me unconditionally. She is happy for me and has noticed the change about he way I feel about myself. she just wishes I would eat more. :-) My Mom was worried as well about it, but was supportive of my decision and understood how I felt. She wanted me to try another diet before going through it though first. She sees now that I am doing great and have no complications, she also tries feeding me all the time though. Hmmp wonder why I was heavy in the first place. Friends were like you don't need to do that your a great person and we love you for who you are, and being heavy is just part of what makes you up. I didn't even tell my sisters or brothers about the surgery until after I had it done. My one brother always made fun of me and I didn't even want to hear him. Everyone has been supportive though. I love seeing people I haven't seen in awhile and they DO NOT even know me. The look on thier faces & reations are great.

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

Everyone was great about it & I was off work for 6 weeks.

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 for 2 days. I was really amazed at how everyone there was so kind and really cared about you. I have had other surgeries in the past and never have I been treated so kind and good. It was the first time I had ever heard of music therapy and I defiantely recommend taking what ever music it is you like to listen to that calms you.

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

I had a lung collapse and pneumonia set in. I knew it was from smoking and wearing the binder (that is why they don't put them on people with broken ribs anymore). I came home with oxygen and was on it for 2 weeks.

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

After I got my surgery date I was nervous and still not sure if I was ready to risk having surgery again in my life, knowing that it is painful and risky. Any surgery is. I turned my fears over to God and knew he would take care of me. It helps being positive and telling yourself that you are going to be okay. Being strong minded really helps. Telling yourself that the recovery is only for a few weeks and then it will be worth everything to have a new "body, attitude, self esteem, will be worth it all."

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

Your first few weeks from home are really not to bad. Your sore, you wonder did I do the right thing, eating is a new experence because it is liquids for the first 3 weeks. You can not hold much in your new stomach, so don't expect to eat more than a couple of bites at a time. Don't expect yourself to do to much right away, by the 3rd week you are walking straighter and each day gets better. Do walk everyday a couple of times a day, get those muscles built back up again, it also helps prevent blood clots forming in the legs. This is with any surgery, you can not just lay around all the time. Just keep telling yourself YES this was worth it, and when you eat something for the first time take your time relax, when your stomach starts to cramp up(I would compare it to contractions, with the intensity) do deep breathing and tell yourself you are going to be okay and this shall pass soon. And it WILL.

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

I live 1 1/2 hours away from Cleveland and it was not to bad, I took my pain medicine before I left the hospital and did okay riding. My husband drove very carefully. I was extremely tired when I got home but very happy to be there. There's no place like home make you feel better. As for my aftercare it is no big deal for me to drive the distance. I just wish I could make the support meetings more often, but with my work schedule it can not always be.

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.

At first I was on a total liquid diet for the first 2 weeks, then I went to semi-liquid or thin puree consistency. I was surprised at how much 1 1/2 cups of food seems when your stomach can not hold all of it anyway. Go slowly in eating, it may take you an hour to eat all of it. Don't worry, each day gets better. I bought baby food and would eat that, prepackaged puddings, soups, mashed potatoes, applesauce. Your taste buds are off anyway from the pain medication but soon enough you can go with out the medicine. I was scared to eat "new" foods for the first time and would only take a bite and wait and see what would happen. Sometimes your stomach cramps up just because you have just put food in there. It is still healing and needs time to completely heal. Be Patient with yourself, DON'T get discouraged. You must be calm and relaxed when you eat and take your time to chew your food slowly. You feel like you are learning to eat all over again. YOU ARE! As each phase passes you try more and more "new" foods. (FOODS you used to eat, but are in regular consistency) You must eat more often and drink lots of water. I never hardly drank water,I was a soda drinker. Now I am never with out a bottle of water with me. When your stomach is bothering you trust me on this EAT A POPSICLE! It will numb it. Slowly your stomach and system adjusts to the foods again and you learn what you can tolerate and what you can't. For me CHILI is a NO!! I was on the couch for 3 days in pain from it. I won't go near it again. Breads are getting better, eat wheat though. White turns to sugar as soon as it mixes with the syliva in your mouth. DO Not drink soda unless you want a "sugar dumping". I took a couple of sips soon after my surgery (about 4weeks) and won't do that again. It makes you sick, sweaty. But on the general I can eat everything I used to, it just takes trial and error on your part to learn what you can handle. The only thing I feel I can not stress enough is to be calm and relaxed when you do go to eat and be patient, just because you can not handle something one time, doesn't mean you can't in a month or two. Don't feel self consious when you go out to eat either, order from the kids menu or senior citzens or tell the waitress you only want half an order, or order and appetizer. Trust me thats all you will be able to handle. Just ask for a doggie bag and take it home with you, you will be amazed how many meals you will get from one regular meal. My husband jokes with me and tells me what a cheap date I am now, give her an piece of bread and a glass of water and she's full. It helps to joke and have a sense of humor through all of this. Don't expect to be able to eat all that is suggested in the quanity from your diet follow up list. I still can't, so I just eat more often. Every two hours it seems like I am eating something. Eat lots of protein foods. You can not eat and drink at the same time because you get full quick, but that is hard for me to do so I just sip a drink when I need to. It gets better every day, every month.

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

My activity level was very limited at first, I was on oxygen the first two weeks, so I didn't feel like doing much. You don't anyway, your body has just had a major shock to its system. But I would each day take a shower, walk for a little bit. By the third week I felt better and was starting to do things around the house little by little. Then pretty soon you are back to normal.

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

I take 2 multivitamins, 4 calcium tablets, and zinc. I do not always take them everyday and know that I should. All of my blood work has come back great each time, no defiencies anywhere. I am getting better at it though these past few weeks and make myself take them.

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 really have not had to much problems with side effects. The nausia is only once in a great while, I have had no vomiting, sleep is actually much better for me now. As for dumping that is only if I have eaten something with to much sugar in it and you only need to do that once or twice and you watch it from then on. The hair loss I did get shortly after the surgery, the first few weeks and lasted till it was about 3 months from my surgery. I started taking zinc and that has helped it, I don't have anymore now than normal.

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

For me the worse part was the pain at first, then the doubt of did I do the right thing. It did not help me seeing a guy on the Sally Jessie Raphel show who had had this surgery the very day after I got out of the hospital and how he was having problems maintaining his weight. That scared and worried me. For me I know now I did do the right thing & it has been 16 months since my surgery. I am doing greatand do not regrett it. Be Positive about it, tell yourself you are going to do good you are going to be fine and when the rough times come just keep telling yourself you are doing good and you will be.

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

Dr. Sonpal's office has a aftercare support program. That meets monthly as well as news letters every couple of months. Since I can not always make the meetings because of the distance, and my work schedules, I do look forward to the news letters. They are helpful to me. My husband, family and friends have been a major support to me. I have changed it now to where I can go to the meetings and plan on doing so.

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

My scar is very thin now and has healed really well. Yes it is. Before I had the surgery I had seen a guy in the office who had just had the surgery, and he showed me his scar. So I knew just how long it was going to be.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I have reached my goal weight and really didn't reach a plateau. The weight did go slower as time went on. At first you lose like crazy, then your body adjusts and you start losing slower. I have found though that by having ice water with me helps. Ice water will help the body burn 250 calories faster, it also fills your stomach so you feel full. So I bought a few bottles of water started freezing them and drinking them through out the day and then refilling the bottles every night.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

My family and friends do not really treat me any different. Except to say I need to eat more now and not loose any more weight. I am still the same person but with a new body. I would have to say it is more of how I feel diffently about myself, confident, not embrassed, not thinking and knowing people are staring and making rude statements. It changes your whole attitude and outlook on life itself. I love going places and not feeling self-conscious anymore. The look on peoples faces that I have not seen in years and them not knowing who I am and the compliments that I get on losing the weight. Lets face it we would not really be doing this if we were not insecure, self-conscious, embrassed about the way we look and feel about ourselves. Let alone the health issues, but when you are so heavy you get so depressed about your appearance that you don't even want to go anywhere. Not know it's like okay, sure lets go here lets do this or that. Your life does change and for the better. At least it has for me.