LauraSlidell

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Obesity & Me

Describe your behavioral and emotional battle with weight control before learning about bariatric surgery.

I have been overweight for all of my adult life and most of my teen years. I was never full. It wasn't just sweets or junk (although I ate plenty of them). I could eat a whole salad bag and 4 baked fish and get up and eat a bag of carrots. I could eat 1/2 a pot roast with all the sides and then go raid the cabinets. I could (and did) eat 2 or 3 pizzas at a sitting. I tried a variety of diets, drugs, hypnosis and other programs - I never had much if any success and always ended up not being able to withstand being hungry.

What was (is) the worst thing about being overweight?

I am 60+ pounds lighter than the day I had my surgery and am still overweight. The worst thing about being overweight is not being able to keep up with my 2 pre-school children.

If you have had weight loss surgery already, what things do you most enjoy doing now that you weren't able to do before?

Not being focused on my next meal.

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

I have been researching all methods of weight loss for years but found out about the band 5 years ago when it was still in clinical trials. I really wanted in. I had been researching (again) and debating the RNY and still just not sure I wanted to rearrange the plumbing when I found an article about the band. I researched it further and became convinced it was for me.

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

I tried for 2 years to get insurance approval with repeated denials. I even changed insurers and still no luck with appeals. I decided to self-pay and then started researching how to do that.

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

I met several band surgeons stateside while trying to get insurance approval. After my final appeal was denied I started looking into going outside the country - specifically Mexico. I talked on the phone to Dr. Kuri first (and several times before I set my surgery date). He was very helpful and understanding.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

It was something I knew I had to do after the birth of my youngest. My weight was over 300, I had kidney stones and a variety of "female" problems and I was being treated like a second-class citizen when trying to get medical assistance for these problems.

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

My stay at the hospital was really nice. I was there from Thursday night thru Saturday morning. The rooms have balconies that overlook the pacific and the pool area - it was December but still not terribly cold and my mom and I sat out on the balcony and watched the sunset the night before. The room was nicer than most of the places I've stayed on vacation. The food left something to be desired (macrobiotic/vegan) so I'd advise you to eat your "last meal" before you get there. The most important thing to bring for me was soft knit, elastic waisted clothes that stretched - after the surgery I didn't want anything too tight around my waist.

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

None. I had a few days of fatigue, a few days of shoulder pain and a slight sore throat (from the entubation) but within 2 weeks I was back to 100%.

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 excited, scared, nervous and had a happy anticipation of the good outcome. The main anxiety I had was over the travel and being out of the country - not about the surgery at all. I knew there were complications and risks (even life threatening) but I just felt I'd be okay.

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

I was mostly tired. I flew out on Thursday, had surgery on Friday, walked all over TJ on Saturday and flew home on Sunday. I took Monday off of work just because I didn't know how I'd be feeling. I napped that day. I was picking both my boys up by the end of the first week. The shoulder pain was the worst and I used a heating pad off and on for about 10 days.

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

A million miles (it felt like). I flew from New Orleans to San Diego and then my doctor's driver picked me up there and brought me to his office (and eventually to the hospital) in Tijuana. It hasn't affected my aftercare because I found 'fill' doctors close to me before I even scheduled my surgery. I could also always fly back to Dr. Kuri for my fills.

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 did liquids for the first 2 weeks and added blended soft foods (yogurt, blended cream soups, refried beans with lots of milk) after that for 2 weeks. After that I could eat 'normal' just focusing on eating 1/2 to 3/4 cupful at a sitting. I have only had problems with bread - hamburger buns, cornbread - and some beef. I can eat pasta or rice and most other meats if they're cooked soft in a sauce. I can eat veggies (except asparagus for some reason) with no problem - cooked or raw. I have had fried shrimp - ate 1/2 an appetizer and was very satisfied. I can (and have) eat just the recommended serving size of ice cream.

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

I don't have much activity Mon-Fri because I have a 100 round trip commute daily (which takes 1 1/2 each way) and work at a desk job all day. I leave before 6 and return after 6:30. That leaves about 2 1/2 hours to have dinner, play with my boys, visit with my husband, get ready for tomorrow. One the weekends I have loads of energy. I worked in my backyard doing 2 years worth of weeding and replacing old mulch and pulling up bushes and pruning and all manner of things. I clean my house from top to bottom. I can do all the errands - groceries, library, dry-cleaner - and not get tired.

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

I take centrum chewable almmost every day. That's it.

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 the shoulder pain was the worst with this recent hair loss coming a close second. I am not entirely certain if it's surgery related or I'm just shedding my winter coat.

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

Forgetting that I've had it done and eating a big bite of a cheeseburger and having to vomit it up because it absolutely wasn't going down.

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

I'm a member of several Yahoo groups specific to band surgery and band surgery performed in Mexico and specific to my surgeon. I also have my surgeon's email address and phone number and he's very good about 'stupid' questions (stupid is what I think of them).

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

I have 5 scars and they're fading already (I'm using mederma). They are about what I expected - 4 small (2 inches long) incisions and one slightly longer belowe the other 4 and on the left.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Before my first fill I had lost 22 pounds but stayed there for 2 weeks. After my fill I started losing again.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

I am getting comments from close co-workers and various family members that indicate they notice I'm losing.
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