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

I had heard about it, but really got interested last year when a lady I knew at work said she had lost 129 lbs. She told me all about her experiences and then I started looking up info on the net and asking my primary about drs.

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

I already said this was a cash deal. I wanted the surgery bad enough that I went outside of the insurance, because of time constraints.

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

My first meeting with the surgeon was one on one. There was no program set up yet at our hospital so I didn't have to go thru the screening meetings. I met with the dr. and my husband for over one hour and he went over everything in great detail, stopped and asked if we had any questions and explained it again if there were things we didn't understand. I had looked up the surgery on the internet and found a list of questions that were pertinent. He answered most of the questions in his discussion, and those he didn't answer, I asked him about. So do your homework. Look up the info on the internet and be ready with questions.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

My health, I wanted to live to enjoy my life and I felt that the dr. was very competent and I felt comfortable in his hands.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

The dr. explained that with the weight I needed to lose, the R & Y would be the way to go. I was at least 100 lbs overweight but not 200-300 lbs overweight so the measures would not be that drastic. He said we would go with the laparoscopic unless there was a problem. THis is what I wanted.

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?

Yes I had some fears, it would be dumb not to. I suffer from panick anxiety attacks and so that worried me. I did have a panick attacck in the hospital after surgery and the dr. gave me drugs to calm me down so that was fine. I felt confident that the dr. would do a good job and if there was a problem he would handle it. If I died, well, I wouldn't know about it because of the anesthesia. If there were complications, well, I was sure the dr. would do all he could to correct things. My biggest fear was leaking and having to stay in the ICU for weeks until it had healed. I think I was more afraid of that than dying. You have to have faith in your dr. or you have no business going in for surgery.

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?

They were very supportive, before and after the surgery. They are helping me deal with the newness of the situation and are happy that I am on my way to getting healthy. **********12/26/01 I just had my 5 month visit and am down 61 pounds. My family and friends tell me how great I look, that my attitude has changed and that I am a whole new person. I am getting lots of support from friends and relatives.

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

I did this during the summer when I am off work, so I would not have to deal with this situation. That is one reason I went the cash route because I needed to get the surgery done in the summer.

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

It has been 5 months since my surgery. I was there 3 days. The nurses and staff were fantastic. Things to bring, well maybe slippers and something comfortable to go home in. Really everything was provided, health and beauty aid wise. I didn't feel much like putting on makeup. Brushing my hair was nice though, so bring a brush.

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

Yes I had complications. Since I had previously had a tummy tuck, I had some adhesions. I was on the table longer than normal because of these adhesions. Well since they keep your arms stretched out during surgery, my arms were terribly sore when I awoke. So sore in fact that the pain was worse than the surgery site. I needed to move the arms to get the muscles moving and that was hard. I had a morphine drip that I didn't use at first but the nurses assured me it was fine to do so, and then I did. It helped. Also because I wasn't moving as much as I should (too painful in the arm and shoulder area) my temp went up and so they thought I might have a leak. So I had to go in for an extra x-ray (with an awful tasting liquid). It was truely the pits. I had to sit up and they put me behind this machine and then told me to drink half a glass of this totally nasty stuff. I thought I would gag, but I got it down. I know it was more than 2 ounces but I did it. Turns out everything was fine, no leaks and that the elevated temp was because I had some atelectasis by my lungs, because I was not as mobile as I should have been. But it all ended well.

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

Well, I felt like I had to eat everything I loved and wanted one last time so that I would remember it. I guess I kind of gorged for a little while. I was afraid I would never get to eat some things again so I indulged myself. My biggest fear was that there would be complications during or after the surgery but I just read up on what I could find, I asked the dr. lots of questions and I tried to do what I was supposed to do. I kept reminding myself that this was important because I was going to be more healthy when I weighed less.

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

Actually, I had an anxiety attack in the hospital. I suffer from panic attacks and when I felt one coming on I told the dr. and I got some meds which helped a lot. When I got home the panic attacks continued for about 2 weeks. To be honest, the first day home I thought to myself, what have I done, the boullion was ok and so was the juice, but I couldn't stand the sugarfree jello. I was afraid I would never eat again. But then after my dr. appointment, he allowed me to have nonfat cottage cheese and yogurt and that lit up my life. I went to a picnic a week after surgery and did quite well. People could already see a difference so I started thinking, hey maybe this is going to be ok. I had some trouble sleeping in my bed the first weeks so my hubby bought me a used recliner and set it next to the bed. I put a sheet over it and it was a lot easier to sleep. The pain meds were a must so that I could relax and sleep. You heal better when you can do what the dr. says and it is easier to follow directions when you are not in too much pain. As far as food goes, I used ice cube trays to freeze juice so that I could "eat" something. You will need to have some small containers around so you can have measured amounts of boullion and juice and jello. Also when you get to cottage cheese and yogurt, you will need to measure those too. Eventually you will get to the point where you will automatically know how much to have. The first week I felt I needed to eat, it was almost an obsession, but after that I kind of had to remind myself to have something to eat/drink. The hardest thing to do was take in enough water, you have to be drinking almost all the time.

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

only a couple of miles.

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.

They give you a diet to follow with foods and amounts and that is what I did. First boullion, juice and sugar free jello. Then cottage cheese and yogurt, both non fat, no sugar. Then fruit. Then soup and little by little you start adding things. First, everything has to be measured, and liquid. Then you get to add some texture but you need to chew everything until it is very fine. I put things in the blender. I was never really a salad fan but now that raw veggies are off limits, I miss having a salad every now and then. Obviously had fat and high sugar foods are off limits. But not everything is off limits. Lots of foods have to be tried and you need to see how you tolerate them. Seafood is supposed to be ok, but for me, it just isn't working. I used to love shrimp, but they just don't agree with me. Meat is supposed to be hard to tolerate for some people, but in little amounts, well cooked and well chewed, meat is going ok. Cheese works very well for me and so do eggs and hotdogs. Spicey foods are a little tricky. Lowfat ravioli and soups worked verywell for me too. Every week I try some different things and see how they feel in my stomach. Bread is ok, a little at a time. Diet ice cream and pudding is great. I have to chew well and eat slowly so that I don't fill up too fast. I tried a donut but just couldn't handle it(too bad), but a piece of a cookie works pretty well. I drink a lot of protein shakes (usually one every morning) and they are filling and have all the nutrients I need. F

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

My activity level has been steadily increasing since surgery.

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

I am taking the multi vitamins that the dr. has offered (first I took flinstones) and also a chewable calcium and a sublingual B12. Also Ursodial. I could not tolerate the iron pills but it seems I don't need them because my iron levels are fine.

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?

No hair loss, no real sleep disturbance except for pain in the beginning weeks. I have only had dumping maybe 3-4 times. Vomiting is pretty common when I eat something that doesn't agree with me. I kind of start yawning and then have dry heaves and then up comes the unwanted item. after it is out, I feel much better and don't have any problems. I am sure that this will continue as I keep trying new things and introducing them back into my system. I just have to keep track of what doesn't agree with me. Sometimes I go back and try just one more time to make sure.

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

Waiting. Knowing that I was going to be ok, no leaks, no problems. Also, I would say the first week after surgery is the hardest. They farther along you get, the better is goes. Things become easier, you get to do more and try more and things just start flowing better. That first couple of weeks, trying to drink enough water is really hard too and it sometimes feels like you will never be able to drink enough.

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

there is a monthly support group and a newsletter and a symposium group. I didn't go for the first 3 months after surgery because I had conflicts on all the meeting dates. The newletter is nice to read and I called the dr. office quiet often the first 3 weeks to ask questions. the nurse and the first patient (I am number 3) were very helpful and well as the dr. I also had a friend at work who had gone thru the surgery and she was my support.

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

I have 5 little scars. Yes the dr. explained in detail what they were going to be like.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Yes I have hit a plateau at least twice. It is a little disheartening at first but you just keep plugging away and eventually you drop down some more and get on a roll again.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

yes, I am in a dance club and many of the men who were my friends and talked to me but never danced with me are asking me to dance now. Many people compliment me on my weight loss and many people are very supportive.