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

I found out about the surgery from a co-worker that was about my weight and another who weighted even more. They expressed to me how safe this surgery was. It was an important surgery to them because they both said that they were so tired of being fat. I did not know that there was help for people like me.

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

Personally, I did not have any trouble.

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 so exciting to me. It was the next step after deciding that I wanted to do this and getting in contact with a surgeon. I was on my way. I listened to everything they had to say. I drank in all the information. I didn't need to ask a lot of questions because my friends Sandra and Tonya, who had already had the surgery, had already prepared me. However, there was a man and his family there from the opposite end of the state who I was able to talk to later and tell him of the personal experiences of my friends.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I am an RN. I had met gastric bypass surgery patients in pass years. They all were in the hospital for pain and nausea, but contantly wanting something to eat. They also appeared to have emotional issues. So when I found out that gastric bypass is much safer now and they monitor your emotional stability before surgery I decided to try. Another factor was that my insurance would help me with the cost.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Dr. Chapman discussed lap vs. open. The two of us decided that the lap procedure would be best.

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 trust my doctor and the hospital where I am going to have my surgery. I made the decision to have this surgery. I put myself into the hands of my God and my health care professionals. I do not advise anyone to have surgery that is afraid.

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?

At first, my brother Ray, was skeptical. He feared that something would happen to me during surgery. He started talking to me about healthy eating habits and pills that could control my appetite. Then all of a sudden he started meeting people that had had the surgery. Each one of them told him that it was the best decision they had every made. I feel fat and ugly. My brother has always called me beautiful and has never acted as if he was ashamed of me. I had to explain to him, that if I was not so heavy that I would visit him more often at the military base he is stationed at. I explained to him how I was belittled by family and school mates while growning up. Even now I hear remarks from people regarding my weight. It would be so nice for it not to ever be an issue again.

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

My immediate supervisor permitted me to take the time off that I needed but she never once called to ask about how I was doing. However my old supervision did come see me and called me at home. I spent two days in the hospital, and four weeks at home afterwards. The people that I work with were fantastic. Rochelle Whittington and Sheila Lynch were with my brother during the surgery. They were also at my beck and call during my hospital stay. Rochelle would come up during the day whenever she could get away and make sure that I had everything I needed and that everyone was treating me right. I even had to ask her to bath my tail, and take me to the bathroom and she always did so without hesitation or complaint.

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

My first night in the hospital was terrible. My oxygen saturation alarm kept going off, and I was so dizzy while lying in bed. I was afraid to use my morphine pump because of this. And it resulted in me being in terrible pain. I told my nurse that night what was wrong with me but he just looked at me, turned around and left the room. He never tried to help me. The nursing assistant I had that night would come in popping her chewing gum, take vital signs and never tried to help me even though I was crying in pain. My brother stayed with me that night and did not know what to do. I called the switchboard department and talked to a friend of mine. She called Mr. Berryhill, a person I worked with. He came to my room, picked me up and turned me off my back. My friend from switchboard, Wanda Mcfaddin came up and stayed with me,and sang to me until I went to sleep. When Dr. Chapman arrived the next morning he told me that no matter how dizzy I get that I should use my morphine. By the time that pump was taken away from me I had blisters on my thumb. Also that morning, Nurse Kelly Ann Carroll RN came in, and took complete charge of my care. The nurse I had the night before was not allowed to take care of me again. The nurses that did replace him the next night, Ceasar Colon and Janet Beasly were wonderful and caring. To me the most important things to bring to the hospital are your friends and family. I could not have done this without my brother and my friends.

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

The only complication I had was pain. No amt of pain med completely took the pain away until the staples came out.

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 in pain for two weeks. I was unable to lie down. I had to hold my abd whenever I walked. The pain did not start to get better until the stable were taken out. I ended up going to the doctor's office two days before my appointment because of the pain. I did not have any anxiety. I am surprised about this. I was a 23 year smoker. I quite in March after my first doctor's appointment. I haven't smoke since. I didn't even wear a patch.

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

As I said before I was in pain for two weeks until the staples were removed. I was extremely week, and bascially I was a wimp, stayed home, or stayed with my friend Stella Brewer.

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

I traveled 45 miles to have my surgery. It only take an hour to and from the hospital. It did not effect my aftercare.

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 they started me on food, I could only tolerate a few bits. My concept of food changed drastically. I eat so little but I don't want to waste food. Food no longer taste the same to me. For the first two month after my surgery, I vomited very day. I told me doctor about this but he said it was alright as long as I was tolerating liquids, which I was. I was really beginning to worry about the vomiting until all of a sudden I was able to tolerate food. I vomit maybe once or twice a week now. My taste for food has changed also. At first nothing taste good. Then it became impossible for me to eat the same things twice. Sometimes I can take one bit of food and be completely satisfied. I can not eat anythihg sweet. Even if I have some juice without diluting it first, my stomach begins to ache. I used to love shrimp and fish. I no longer care if I have any or not. I almost cannot tolerate chicken. But I still continue to love pork and beef, (isn't that strange.) And I tolerate pork and beef with no problems. At first I could not eat cheese. Now I can tolerate that better than anything. Before surgery,I did not care for milk. Now I drink milk daily. I can go days without food, but I have been trying to make myself eat more. In three and one half months I have lost 84 pounds.

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

I was suppose to excercise but I did not. I did not really excercise until I went back to work. I do a lot of walking.

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

For the past 3 and ahalf months I have been taking two children's multivitamins, three extra strength Tums. I was taking B12 pills but my levels were twice the normal limit. So I stopped taking them. By discontinuing the B12 pills, food taste better.

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?

Vomiting was a very big problem for me for about two months. It has greatly improved without any intervention.

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

The long wait before and the Pain afterwards. Despite all the pain and nause, I would do it again in a heartbeat.

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

I wish I could go to an aftercare support program, but I cannot find the time due to my schedual.

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

My scars are healing fine.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

My first plateau lasted a week.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

YES, YES, YES. People are always commenting on how good I look. People talk to me more. Men are beginning to stop me and ask me my name or what I do for a living.