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

I saw TV commercials but I thought that it was a surgery that was not local. I didn't know that there were Drs. here in the area that do the surgery. I asked another surgeon that did a surgery on me and it happened that his partner did the surgery. He recommended that I see him. I heard that another surgeon close by also did the surgery but had a lot of patients die or was not successful. I was scared to death. I talked to him and also went on line to find out more information. I also had heard about the surgery when Carnie Wilson went through it. I have been following her progress in the magazines and through internet also. Having my husband there during the initial conseltation was a big plus because he had questions that I didn't even think of and it had made an impression with the Dr. Dr. had said that if your spouse if supportive in every way and that includes from the beginning meetings is very important. A lot of marriages dont work out because of jealousy of the weight loss.

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

Approval was very easy with my insurance company. Cigna Health Care. I wrote a letter explaining every diet plan I tried, my health history, every ache and pain I experience every day and gave that to the Dr. to send in with his letter. I took 3 weeks for approval.

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

I had my husband with me to ask questions that he had and the Dr. was very impressed with him being there with me. He said that the chances are that our marriage will survive are better because he was there to be supportive. I didn't drag him there, he wanted to come with me to get the "scoop" himself and to meet the Dr. that was going to perform the surgery. Dr. was very open with odds and all that was going to happen.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I knew that the surgery was right for me because I tried everything else. I did not want to be heavy all my life, I wanted to enjoy living, being with my kids and my husband, enjoy being a wife and partner. I saw that it worked for a lot of other people, and also that after time, people had gained back some weight too, but I knew that once I had lost the weight that it would be easier for me to keep it off. All I would have to do is think about the misery that I was in every day and that would do it for me. I wrote a letter to myself before surgery about how much pain I was in and what it was like to be heavy. This will be a reminder for me not to go back there.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

The Dr. told me that he did not do the lazer and that the RNY was all he did because it was the most successful.

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 had faith in the Lord that if it was my time then so be it. I said goodbye to my family but that I would see them again, and not to be sad because I was doing something to make my life better and if it didn't work out it was not meant to be. The odds of dying are greater in a car than from this surgery. I have been through 6 other surgeries so I was not scared about surgery itself, just the fact that my insides were going to be rearranged alittle. I can handle that because it was going to make me live longer to enjoy life the way I was supposed to.

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?

2 out of 6 family members were supportive. They ask how things are now and tell me how great I look. They were scared for me but any surgery is scary. I have family in the medical field and they know the risks involved. They tried to talk me out of it but I didn't listen. I felt that it was meant for me to have this done so that I could get on with my life. 40 is too young to be house ridden. I should be going to my children's school functions and be a good wife.

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

I do not have an employer or had to take time off work. I had the surgery during a time of year that I am not busy with anything else so I was able to care for myself.

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

Trinity Medical Hospital in Rock Island is a fabulous place. Although the nurses weren't that up to date with the surgery process, because I was put on the heart floor because of my bp dropping during surgery. One nurse read up on it and was a great help. I was in for 6 days. They want you walking as much as possible but I had these blow up footies on my feet that would fill up with air and then deflate every so often. I had to ask the nurse to take them off every time I wanted to go for a walk or go the bathroom. I had no independence that way. The most important thing to bring to the hospital would be a waterless shampoo. I don't know if you can buy it from the stores but they have them in the hospital. I couldn't live without washing my hair every day. It felt really great to be clean in every sense.

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

The only complication I have from surgery is that my scar runs along side of a previous scar from surgery. The skin between the two will be numb and basically dead my Dr. said. Dr. said that after all my weight loss I can have a tummy tuck and get rid of one and that will make things a lot better. It also is a place of weakness for hernias so I can't lift anything too heavy for the rest of my life. That's ok to let someone else do the work but not for employment that requires lifting of some sort.

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 very ready for surgery. The day I found out was the best day of my life. I still ate everything I wanted and said that this will be the last time I eat this much but it will be worth it when I can actually go to stores and buy clothes that are in the "normal section" and don't hide every bump and bulge. I didn't have a full family acceptance. 2 out of 6 were supportive and continue to be. I didn't have the surgery for them or the ones that don't care. I did it FOR ME. I knew I had to deep down and that got me through to the day of surgery and thereafter.

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

My first few weeks were spent with my husband measuring everything and preparing everything the way I was to have it. He was great. I had very little pain or discomfort. I wore a binder to protect my stomach and the staples. They pulled a few times which is a little uncomfortable but it gets better. Eat slowly (very slowly) and enjoy every bite. The blended food tasted the same but just looks like colored applesause. Walk and move as much as possible. Don't over do it though.

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

I was only 10 minutes away. Going to the Dr. or nutritionist is only 15 min. Having someone drive me there and back is something I am not used to but there is no driving for 6 weeks.

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 could not have any foods with sugar. At first it was soups and jello and then added chunkier foods but had to blenderize them. Meats were a little hard to accept at the 6th week or so. Make them with more liquid to make it go down better. Mine was very dry and wouldn't go down very well. Now I am eating meat and vegetables at every meal. PB on toast for breakfast, cheese toast for lunch and meat and veg for dinner is a normal day.

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

Days after I got home would be walking the bike path for 30 min. however far I could get as long as I kept moving. Weeks after I was walking 3 miles in 30 min. with stretching before and after.

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

I take One a Day vitamin, Calcium 600Mg, and Citrucel (fiber)

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 not had any hair loss or sleep problems. I can feel pressure in the middle of my chest when I ate too fast or too much. I walk around and then could go back to finish or I put it away for later or another day. 8 months in I still get excited about eating with friends and sometimes eat too fast that I don't notice that I ate too much until it is too late. A few times all I have to do to release the pressure is throw up and then I am fine. Other times, I have to throw up and lay down (propped up) so that it will settle better. I was told not to eat anything solid then for 24 hours after that.

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

I have no regrets

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

I was going to a nutritionist but I was going to have to pay for it myself (not insurance) because insurance only pays for 3 visits. I am now looking for support groups on the internet. It is very important to talk with people that have been successful with the surgery because they are the ones that have lived it. Sometimes nurses, nutritionist can be "cold" and not understanding because they are telling you what to do by the book because they don't know how you are feeling.

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

My scar runs from my bra line to my belly button. I knew that it was going to be that way because the Dr. explained that to me. He also explained that the other scar I had is over too far and the skin between that one and the new one would be basically dead and would have to be "fixed" after my weight loss.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I have had 3 plateaus. One at the beginning I held at 15 lbs. I started to get discouraged early on. Then it just fell off until I got to 60 lbs. A month later 20 more fell off. Now I am holding at 80 lbs. for almost 2 months. I know it is because I don't get out and walk as much because this is my busy time of the year. I am feeling so good though that I am not hard on myself yet. I know that if I go and walk 3 days of the week I would lose more.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

I see more people looking at me and smiling. I think they know who I am but can't place me because I look different now. The ones that do know me are just know saying, "You have lost a LOT of weight haven't you". I am open with them and tell them that I had surgery to lose weight and they all want to know more. Either for themselves or for a loved one.