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

My mother decided she wanted to spend a big chunk of money to hire me a personal trainer. The personal trainer ended up being a very wonderful lady who told us of a man who had a surgery and lost 100 lbs. in the first three months and is now working out in her gymn. She recommeded that we look into it, she also told us about a Doctor just an hour from my home and told us he was coming to town to speak to people about this surgery. I went straight home and got on the internet, found Obesity.Com and have been on this web site every day since. My first impression was do whatever I have to, to loose 100 lbs. in three months.

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

I was really worried about Medicare and if they would approve, I just kind of assumed they wouldn't agree to pay it right away. I mean we're talking about an Insurance that won't even pay for a dentist. But I found out on my first visit to their office, that if I paid $261.00 I could get a surgery date that day. I was thrilled to find out that Medicare paid that well for this surgery. Stay positive, and know that whatever you have to go through, the end results will be worth it. AFter the first couple of month, there won't be a day in your life that you'll regret this.

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

My first visit was with about 10 other people, you could bring someone with you, if you'd like. WE had an question and answer session with the lead nurse, that has been through the surgery. She makes you feel very comfortable about asking anything. She also explains the steps that you'll go through to have the surgery, during the surgery, and after the surgery. And then the two Dr. came in and explain a few things, and so you can meet them. And then we went back to the waiting room and they took us in one at a time to weigh us, and talk to the Dr. that would be doing my surgery, privately. I couldn't have asked for a better first visit. I went home with a surgery date. I have heard others criticize Dr. Gorospe for not giving them much time at the pre-op private consultation, but everyone had lots of time to ask any questions and meet him in the open meeting. I really don't understand what the problem is. I found it to be very thorough.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I really had no choice. I had to loose 100 lbs. as fast as possible. My brain surgeon would not do surgery until I was lighter and I can not have a life until I have brain surgery, because of my seizures. Diets dont' work, this is the only cure for obesity, in my opinion, I don't know why someone in my situation wouldn't want it. I feel I had the best Dr. in the USA, or maybe even the world. Nothing was there to stop me.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

AFter you loose this weight from this surgery, there's no chance of ever being obese again. You not only have a band around your new stomach to keep it from stretching, but your stomach is very small, and there's no way you can eat sugar and high fat foods again, without being sick. That aspect thrilled me about this type of surgery. This would force me to eat healthy the rest of my life. How many times have we been on a diet and wished there was someone or something to force us to go through with it? And you will not find a person that has had this surgery, two years after surgery, that is still obese. Most loose it within one year. Why wouldn't I choose this surgery?

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?

The only fears I had about complications from the surgery, was the fear of complications from my seizure disorder that I've had for 10 years. I was afraid that they would interupt the surgery, or stop me from having this surgery. Being only 23 yrs. old I really had no fears of dying. I'm still at that age that I feel invinsible. I had tons of faith in MY GOD and My Dr. It really helps to go to the Support Group Mtg. in pre-op and hear the testimonies from the people that have already gone through it, and look better and feel better then they have ever in their lives.

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 mother had a lot of anxiety about it, but she and the rest of my family supported my decision, and were happy for me. Both sets of grandparents were ansious about my decision. They thought it was too extreme. There were friends that just thought I should eat less and do it myself. Everyone is very supportive now and kind of watching the situation to see how it really turns out.

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

N/A Disabled

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

Things were a little rough the first day because I had a very uncaring nurse at first (IN ICU) but after she was off duty, everything went smoother, they moved my Morphene up to every 10 minutes insteal of 15 to help catch up on the pain. They moved me to a regular room the second day. They take an X-ray to make sure there's no leakage and then remove the nose tube, that was great! Some of the nurses were wonderful in Southcrest Hosp. It was a beautiful Hospital, only three years old. (Tulsa, OK) I went in early Fri. morning and left Monday afternoon. I'd take a fan, p.j.'s and definately your mommy, haha.

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

None at all

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 very excited and couldn't wait. I was soooo ansious. At the time they were scheduling surgery dates about five months in advance, so I had a long wait. Now there is a new Dr. working with him and you can probably get in sooner than that, but those were the longest five months of my life. After surgery was scheduled I would have gone for the surgery the next day, if they would have let me. I never felt like I wanted to back out. Not even on the table in the surgery room.

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

First, I had a hour drive home from the hospital. I ate jello on the way home and soon as I got home I threw up. I felt really bad all night and of course after surgery was not very comfortable for sleeping. The first two weeks were about what you'd expect. Lot's of pain from the incision but it just felt like incision pain and not inner pain. My third and fourth weeks were the worst for me. My birthday was two weeks after surgery, that night I got extremely nausious and sick and stayed that way for 2 weeks, living on ice chips. I got dehydrated and was put back in the hospital for one night to fill me up with fluids. A few days into my second month the nausia went away and I could finally start saying I was glad I had this surgery.

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

I was one of the lucky ones, Dr. Gorospe is only an hour away from my home town. I was happy to drive that hour, and would recommend him to anyone no matter how far they had to come. He's the best, and the only Dr. I'd let do this surgery. (Either Dr. in his office is good)

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.

When I first got home I could only have clear liquids for two weeks. I tried to stay as close to that as possible to avoid any complications. Then in the third week we got to add some soft foods slowly. Mashed Potatoes, soup, some things that were mild on the stomach. Unfortunately I was so nausious I didn't get to have much of this. By the time I was feeling better I was already to the step to try lots of things. Of course all sugar and fat is off limits for life, but you can have sugar free. I loved the popcycles and snow cones. I'm three months now, I can eat bread, meat and salad. These are somethings that some people still can't eat. But I'm very careful about chewing every bite extremely well.

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

Flat on my back days and weeks after surgery. Just a couple trips a day from the recliner to the toilet. I didn't do a lot of walking. I tried to walk around the house, but it's hard for me when I'm having seizures and dizziness. So my experience is different from most peoples.

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

The first hour or two out of surgery. That was due to a nurse that could care less I was in pain, and she took her time about helping the pain in any way. I have shared this with my Doctor and the Hospital Administration. I hope it never happens to anyone ever again. It was awful. Most people coming out of this surgery are given pain meds. before they ever wake up, so it's not that bad. But because I was sent to ICU, and happened to be on Mary's shift I got very bad treatment and was in a bad way for several hours. When she finally gave me pain meds. it took a while to get on top of the pain. That was a horrifying experience and makes me say, "I'd never want to do it again". But as I said, this is out of the ordinary. If I could,I would make sure this nurse never took care of anyone coming right out of surgery again. But I'm still glad I had the surgery.

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

It's provided by my doctor, Dr. Gorospe. It's once a month, the second Mon. of every month. Atleast 150 people attend this meeting every month. Pre-op, Post-op, family and friends and those interested in the surgery. There's always a guest speaker, someone always gives a testimony, there's a drawing for a door prize, and my favorite part at the end, every post-op person there gets to stand up, tell their name, their insurance company, their surgery date, and how much weight they've lost. Not to mention the question and anwser time at the beginning. It is very helpful, and important in my life. I haven't missed one since I was one month Pre-op.

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

I was told my scar would be about 6 to 8 inches, being so tall it ended up being about 12 inches long. Dr. Gorospe is excellent with the incision and considers it his signature. Some people's scar, over the years, have dissapeared in some places. It's very skinny and you can't see any stitches or staples when you come out of surgery. The stitches are on the inside and dissolve so they don't leave a mark and you don't have to go back and have them removed.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

No, except for noticing my weight loss.