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

I hear about it from a friend that was pursuing it. I also talked with my doctor about it and thought well my insurance will never pay for that. I felt that it was a drastic measure and could be considered the easy way out by some people. I felt that I had no other choice if I wanted to continue to live.

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

I was lucky in some ways that my friend was going for approval just ahead of me so she was plowing the way and help me so much. I had some problems with getting my paperwork recognized by the insurance company. The surgeons office said that they sent it but the insurance company said no. So I sent my own packet of information and sent it certified and they had to recognize that information. I was denied the first time because lack of information and so I sent off what they needed and then it was sent out to an outside reviewer and was approved. Advice if someone says "I'll take care of it" no matter how good they are or think they are, follow up. don't leave anything to chance. If you have a question ask it. Don't worry about offending or pestering them it's your life not theirs.

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

My visit was pretty routine. He showed me where my incision would start and end. Talked about the after care program. I wish I had asked more questions.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

The way I was feeling health wise was deteriorating was the main factor in deciding to have the surgery and then I saw some of the people on the website and their success, I figured if I do nothing then I am already dying and if I have the surgery then I have attempted to live.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I felt the BPDDS was the best for me because I didn't like dumping syndrome and the possibility of having to have more surgery to remove the gallbladder later didn't appeal to me. With the BPDDS you can still tolerate some sweets and if I am out and have to eat something that may have some sugar in it then I should be fine. I felt that I needed to be able to eat more than a 1 ounch pouch to get in all the protein and water necessary.

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 think all fears of dying when you are facing major surgery is normal. I don't look forward to the pain, but what scares me the most is waking up and finding out that I didn't have the surgery due to some complication like finding cancer. I am scared of the possibility of a blood clot in the lungs. I am scared of losing the life I have with my husband.

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 co-workers are excited and happy for me, my husband is supportive, my mother is not in favor of the surgery.

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

They are very supportive. We accumulate paid time off and sick leave. They are fine anytime we need to use that.

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

Baptist hospital was great. I was there 4 1/2 days. The nurses are great on floor 8. The most important things brought were lotion, lip balm, slippers and robe.

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

I didn't have complications. My doctor did have to do some fancy sewing since all my insides were compact and attached to each other. other than that and being in icu and on the vent a little longer that usual it was fine.

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

A roller coaster of emotions are constant between anxious, nervousness, fear and apprehension. Sometimes I would have liked to have forgotten that it was going to happen, but everyone kept reminding me by asking me when it was, or how I felt. That was both good and bad.

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

You should expect to feel tired from the procedure and from eating just broths and such. you should still try to walk as much as you can and if you notice anything out of the norm for your procedure call immediately the doctors office. my friend got an over growth and was quite sick and had to go back into the hospital. so know what to expect and make sure to jump on any symptoms that are not supposed to be happening. whatever you do eat slowly and chew well.

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

Approximately 150 Miles to Nashville to have the surgery. My aftercare should not be affected by the distance, since I am committed to the aftercare program with the surgeon's office as well as my local PCP.

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.

So far I have been able to tolerate anything I have tried. Cold foods make my belly hurt so I let them get room temp. I have been able to eat jello, pudding, tuna fish, meat loaf tv dinner, had a little soda after making it flat and room temp. I was lactose intolerant for about the 4th week until about the 10th week. I can drink diet sodas without making them flat. I eat anything I try just fine.

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

I had a very high activity level immediately after surgery. about 3 weeks I started to experience lower levels and around the 5th week I'm feeling really good.

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

I have to take calcium, adek, ferrous fumerate, and a multi vitiamin. the calcium pills are huge so I take calcium chews made by topcrest. adek I crush and take by 1/4 tsp I take 2 flinstones chewable daily and the ferrous fumerate I can swallow normal.

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 just choking on vitiamins and solved that by crushing and changing to chewables.

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

Pulling the tubes from my side, throat and nose. The stiches holding the tubes caused me much discomfort. The line in my neck really bothered me.

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

none yet

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

it's a little longer than I thought it would be. I had 36 staples. and it's approx 8 inches long. It has spread in width, but is mostly smooth and straight.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Now that I can eat more I find that I am trying all my old favorites. I feel like It will be disasteroius if I don't get back on track.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

people that never use to talk to me are now and looking me over. I have always been looked at, sometimes now though I feel it isn't negative.