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

I first heard acout bariatric surgery(WLS) when I was in college. At the time I was only 80 pounds overweight and did not have insurance. So, I did not pursue it. Then later I had a work aquaintence whose friend had WLS and did great. So when I found out my new job's insurance covered it I was thrilled. My initial impression of it was WLS would save my life, and give me back the living of my life.

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

Federal Health insurance covers WLS pretty easily. I had a long history of doctors visits associated with weight related items. I would advise: don't be afraid to go to the doctor due to your weight. Insurance companies need to see that you would be less expensive to them with the surgery than without. Go and go frequently for things that are related to weight.

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

My first visit to the surgeon was overwhealming. I asked questions, but was intimdated. Ask lots of questions and take a notebook.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

My insurance covered it and I saw my life looming ahead of me with me getting larger and larger.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I researched on the internet and decided the RNY was the one I wanted. The other seemed to have too high a failure rate.

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 figured if God was going to take me, he would. I was nervous getting on the plane to go to where I was having my surgery. I was petrified and feeling that I can't believe I am doing this. But, I trusted God and my surgeon and knew if I was meant to go then I would go. The statistics on the death rates of morbidly overweight people helped also as the risk of death in surgery was less than the risk over the next couple of years (if I stayed over 100 pounds overweight).

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 and friends were very supportive. I got questioned on future child bearing ability, and procedure details. I made sure I was very well informed so that I had answers for all of thier questions.

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

My employer was pretty supportive. As I am a federal employee, we have protection against an superviosor forbidding the use of sick leave. I actually borrowed 200 hours against my future sick leave and was off for 1 month. I did tell my supervisor/employer that I was having weight loss surgery (and gall bladder removal) and that I would need to be off work about 1 to 2 months. I got a statement from my surgeon for back up and that was that.

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

The hospital stay was fine. My mother came to Ohio with me and stayed in the hospital. I had one "not nice" nurse, the rest were very good. They were a little short staffed and I was glad to have my mom there. She made sure that I got my pain shots on schedule and walked frequently. She was a great help. I was in the hospital 5 days, 4 nights. To bring: 1. someone who cares about you to help out, slip on slippers (no back), a good pillow (I brought my feather one), a fan (pain made me very warm), and carmex or chapstick for the dry post surgery lips. Did not need a book, I slept alot.

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

No complications from surgery. But, the first pain med for going home was a fake (synthetic) codiene and I started vomitting (nothing in the tummy so they were dry heaves) violently. I really worried about my staples that first day out of the hospital. We got in tough with the doctor and he prescribed a different pain medications (demerol?). This did very 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?

I felt elated. Whenever I was anxious, I just turned to God. That helped because I know God would not have me do the wrong thing.

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

I was really sore the first week home, I took the pain meds the doctor prescribed and rested alot. The second week home I was still sore, very tired (the slightest little thing wore me out), I was starting on food other than full liquids and would get the nausea and occasional vomitting if I ate the wrong combo of things or the wrong item. I would sit by the toliet, feeling ready to vomit. But Blueberry Buckle baby food settled my tummy. I ate alot of that the 2nd and 3rd week. The 3rd and 4th week were better, just very tired. But, every day was more energy and awake time. I went back to work (20 hrs to 30 hrs) on the fifth week. Still was tired occasionally but every week got better and better for me. I was back to work full time on the 6th week. I had full energy recover by the 8th week.

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

I went from Anchorage Alaska to Springfield Ohio. Long plane trip. This affected the aftercare somewhat. I see my local PCP every month and about 11 months out I had a work trip that I extended to see my surgeon. I think I would have gotten more instructions on my surgery and post surgery progress if I had been seeing my surgeon every month.

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.

First 2 weeks - full liquids. Second 2 weeks - modified liquids with crunchy items that I can pulverize with my teeth. After that I was supposed to be able to eat anything. For the first 5 months I could not eat soft flour tortilla shells, they would make me throw up every time I tried them. Steak was difficult for about 6 months (hard to chew up enough). Other than those items I did not have too much trouble. Mainly I would throw up when I did not chew my food well enough. 18 months out: Things I don't eat, due to feeling yucky, or bad side effects: Juice (too much sugar in liquid form, and gives me gas), Milk (lactose intolerant now, and gives me gas), icecream (same as milk, plus I feel lousy after eating it due to the sugar). Full sugar soda pop (I can drink diet just fine) - too much sugar in liquid form. Slushys, milk shakes or any sweet liquid is a not good. I dump on them - get sleeply, feel really full and yucky. I just want to lie down and let the ickiness pass. It generally takes about 1 hour.

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

First month - not much. Second to Fourth months-A little walking but not much else. Fourth - started with elipticall machine (I bought a fairly pricey one for the motivation and quality factor) for cardio and with a personal trainer on weights. Fifth to 18th - I work out with weights, I do my entire body. I used to do it 3 times a week, but now I am able to do my workout in two days a week. Still doing the elipticall in the morings.

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

I take a multi-vitamin, B-12 500 mcg, B Complex, C 500 mg, Calcium-Magnesium complex twice a day, Acidophilous (for gas), Iron (Trinsicon) twice a day, Pre-natal (just a really good vitamin, I am not preggers). Then I also take various vitamins from other sources. My parents are in a MLM and have a large supply of vitamins that are pretty decent, I also took Skin, Hair and Nail twice a day during my hair loss phase.

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?

Nausea - First 4 months were hard then it got better. I still get nauseous (at 18 months) but only after the wrong food or if I don't eat over a really long period of time. Vomitting - First 4 months I did more due to food that swelled and got stuck or not chewing my food enough. Now, only when I did not chew my food well. Sleep Disturbance - no more than normal (I was always a bad sleeper, and used to take medication for sleeping, but I stopped and actually am a decent sleeper). Dumping - High sugar, liquid things still get me at 18 months. First 4 months had to watch sugar and stuff. Now I don't except for liquid sugars, they wollop me. Hair loss - My hair loss started at about the 4th month and went on till the 1 year mark. It was not noticable on my head but it was on the furniture, the bath drain, my hair brush. Luckily it did stop and I still have beautiful, long hair. Gas - This was the shocker for me. I had never heard anyone mention this problem. About the 4th month in I started having this horrendous, very stinky gas. I tried to control it with Phazyme (Makes the gas very small pieces, so there is no internal pressure. But it slips out without letting you control the when and where.) and chlorophyl (gives you green, bright kelly green bowel movements) for a long time. But I stopped taking them and stuck with acidophilous (for the good bacteria). I also stopped drinking milk and orange juice. I still have stinky gas (at 18 months) but I can hold it until I am where I can let one rip and most days it is not too bad. These were my main side effects, with the gas being the worst.

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

Having the stinky gas. Everything else was handlable.

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

I use the OSSG mailing list as my main support group. This was very helpful and important. It let me know what was normal and that things I was experiencing were normal amoung other WLS patients.

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

My scar was from the breast bone to the belly button. It was actually shorter than I expected. It has healed pretty nicely with only a pale pink (somewhat darker than my normal color) 1/4 inch thick line down my front.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I had a short plateau about the 4th or 5th month and then again around 11 months. I have stabalized out around teh 13 or 14th month out. I am still 10 to 20 pounds overweight but really happy right where I am.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes, people look at me now and they seem to treat me with more respect.