JENNIFER G.

Obesity & Me

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

I have dealt with weight problems all my life. I had tried everything!I saw Carney Wilson on TV, and later discussed it with my Doctor. She told me about a patient of hers that had the surgery, and gave me the information. I called Dr. Schauers office, and got the paper work. The rest is history.

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

The worse thing about being obese is not being able to fit on rides at the carnival. And being embarrased when my daughter comes home from school, upset that the kids teased her about her mom being a "cow". Not feeling sexy, never wanting to go to the beach, not having the energy to do all the fun family outings!!

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

Doing family outings. Going on long walks. Sitting in the floor with my daughter to play games. Being able to walk through the mall for a long time, or go on all day shopping adventures! Can't wait to try white water rafting, and horse back riding with out worrying about breaking the horses back!!!

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

I saw Carney Wilson on TV, and I read an ad in the National Enquirer.

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

My surgery was on a Monday, and I was released on a Thursday. The nurses were overstaffed. Thank God my husband was with me to help. The most important thing to bring is loose fitting clothes for the ride home and a pillow to hold on your stomach for the pot holes.

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

None what so ever. He did a terrific job!!! I haven't been back!

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 so scared. But I was still in the middle of going through so many tests, and faxing them over, and scheduling so amny tests was really rough!! The timing was bad, and it was hell all the tests I went through. It gets really bad toward the end , I wanted to cancel I was so scared, but I had to be tough and get it over with!

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

The only after care support I had was 2 friends at work. One that had been through it already, and another the was going through it soon after me.

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

I have 6 tiny holes from the lap. This was better than I expected. Hopefully one day I will be in a bikini!!! If the old stretch marks go way!!Haha

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

At first I lost around 5 to 8 lbs a week. Now I only weight every 2 weeks. And it is about 2 lbs.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

People are treating me very differently. I have lost 100 lbs. now. They say things like I am a toothpick, or I will blow away. Men are treating me much differently now too. This is the least I have weighed since my Senior year in high school.
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