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

I was a nurse on a surgical floor, and I tool care of patients having different Bariatric surgeries. I felt the surgery was umnecessary, you just had to have some self control right? Over time and multiple weight failures i came to realize Bariatric surgery may be right for me. I researched it and found a program I was comfortable with.

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

My Insurance Company refused flat out. That was a tough blow, but my employer is a hospital that does Bariatric surgery. This didn't look good so they came up with a reduced rate program for employees. The Bariatric program also has their own financing. Everyone went out of their way to help me come up with the money. That initial rejection made me aware of just how badly I wanted this surgery, how emotionally I had given up on myself. Now I had hope.

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

I am having my Surgery through the WISH Center. They had me spend the day with them. I met the psycologist, nutritionalist, and the surgeon. I watched instructional videos and got to ask lots of questions. The surgeon was very open and honest, and very confident. I would tell people to just be honest with their fears and ask lots of questions.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

When I saw how well the patients were doing after surgery, and I got to know the surgeons and staff at the Wish Center better.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

The WISH Center only went with one type of surgery because of it's long term success rate. So I stayed with their recommendation.

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 recently re married and realized that if I didn't start taking care of myself I wouldn't be around in 20-30 years to enjoy being with this wonderful man ad my Daughter. I felt I'm already dying. I have high blood pressure, I can't breathe, I can't walk well, and I am hypoglycemic probably headed for diabetes. i won't live this way long either. It's all a trade off.

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 family has been supportive. They know I don't do things lightly. my Husband is great. My sister is worried. I just have to do what will be best for me.

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

My Boss is worred about me. I reviewed my reasons and she respects them. She is well aware of the Bariatric program at our hospital. I plan to take 2 weeks off.

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

The staff at Valley Medical Center were very attentive and kind. I did well the first night, but the medication/ sedation started to wear off on day two, I went home that evening and felt like I'd been hit by a truck. The most important thing to bring is a support person who doesn't listen to you when you pretend to be brave and tell them to go home.

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

No complications other than a problem tolerating the extensive IV fluids. The doctors picked up on the problem immediately and corrected 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 was such a mixture of anticipation and fear before surgery. I let everyone know I had made up my mind to have this surgery and now was the time to support me or just smile and nod. I didn't want to spend any energy reassuring others, I needed to take care of me.

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

getting through the first week was the toughest thing I've ever done. The pain and fatigue were amazing. My oral pain meds made me nauseated, and I couldn't sleep more than 2 hours at a time. thank God for my husband!! By the end of the secound week I was feeling like myself again, but I still tired easily. In the beginning I did ask myself, "What have I done". It's all a trade off, and I paid a price for the opportunity to get healthy.

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

I had surgery at the Hospital I work at. It's about 30 min from my home.

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 few days post op I could only handle ice and liquid protein suppliments. I graduated to popcicles. Everything tasted too sweet. I had a permenant sweet metalic taste in my mouth that water amplified. I switched to weak ice tea and that really helped. I discovered low acid no pulp orange juice. I haven't been too adventurous with foods. I had one incident where I think I ate too fast and too much and ended up vomiting. I plan to avoid that from happening again at all costs.

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

I forced myself to move. I found from the beginning my pain improved with walking. I went shopping and held onto the cart for dear life. I was amazed at how tired I would get. By the second week I felt fine sitting, I was bored and wanted to do more. I was back to work by the second week but doing mainly desk work. The fatigue was the roughest thing to handle because part of me felt soo good I wanted to be up and active.

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

I take a liquid multi vitamin and mineral supplement with all the essential amino acids, a liquid calcium supplement, and a b complex oral supplement daily.

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 would eat to fast and suck in air I continually felt over stuffed and get nauseated. I'm learning to slow dow, using a baby spoon helps.

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

Surrendering to the healing process. I should of treated my pain instead of toughing it out. I needed to learn to listen to my body and not judge. When I was tired I had to rest, when I was full I needed to stop eating, this was difficult to accept. I felt I didn't deserve peoples caring and offers to help. I chose to have this surgery, and therefore I chose to be in pain. I had to come to terms with how unreasonable I am with myself, and I had to learn to be kind.

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

I talk to most of the patients coming in for bariatric surgery just before they go to the OR. My staff will call me to spend time with someone who has alot of questions or is frightened. They seem to help me as much as I help them. They have alot of questions about pain management, diet and my scar. I routinely get asked to see my incision, and I'll show them, it all seems to help. They are really more comfortable seeing somene who made it through the surgery, and especially when I tell them how much better I'm feeling. I was asked to speak at a nursing workshop on patients having gastric bypass surgery. Again it was the sharing of my experience that helps me as much as I hope it helped them. I think it is important to have some outlet to vent the physical and emotional changes going on in your life. Patients just need to find what works for them.I wrote a book about my experience and the emotional journey I am on to come to terma with my psychological need for food. Please check out my book at my web site www.findingmyopendoor.com and keep looking for your own answers you can succeed!!

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

My scar is approximately four inches long. It has healed tightly and remains bright pink. it's pretty much what I expected.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I have to stop weighing myself daily. I typically stay the same for a few days then I drop 5 pounds. Now at 2 months my weight fluxuates with my menstral cycle, and how constipated I am. I need to keep up the water and the exercise. I think my metabolism is adjusting to my reduced calorie intake.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Not eally. I get more compliments like, "Wow! I never realized you had such great cheek bones." I think the differene is that I am more comfortable with myself.