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

My daughter called me one day and talked to me about it. She lives in Southern Calif., and knew several women who had had the procedure done. I was open and receptive to it.

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

Dr. Oakley, my surgeon, wrote a letter to my ins. company (First Health) and I picked it up and mailed it overnight express. I then called the ins. co. to verify they had it and received approval in about a week. My Dr. only had one opening in Dec. 2003, so I was in a hurry to get the approval and have the surgery because my deductible was increasing after the end of the year.

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

I took my daughter with me to the first visit because I was nervous. Dr. Oakely immediately put me at ease and his staff was wonderful. I had done a lot of research on the Web and read everything I could find on WLS. Dr. Oakely could tell that I knew a lot about it and after questioning me, gave me the thumbs up.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

A client came into our office (I am in the insurance business) and she was 2 1/2 post op and had lost 65 lbs. She told me she had the surgery done because her back ached all the time and she couldn't stand up to sing in her church choir. I immediately related to this problem and seeing how well she had done and how positive she was, decided the time was right. My mother was terminally ill at the time and I was spending most of the time with her at her bedside. I felt that if I was going to close one door, I would open another and change my life in a positive way.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I left that decision to my surgeon. He explained what he wanted to do and that I was an excellent candidate for it.

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?

Dr. Oakley was highly recommended by my ENT Dr. Wurster. Both have impressive credentials and I had read many reports from former patients of Dr. Oakley's and I had no fears about him doing the surgery. I definitely wanted laporoscopic surgery and that was what he recommmended. I felt like I would die an early death if I didn't have the surgery and wasn't worried about dying. I promised Dr. Oakley that I would follow his instructions to the letter and therefore, I didn't have any complications.

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 was extremely supportive of my surgery. I have struggled with weight for so long that this felt like being given a second chance on life. I wouldn't do anything differently. It seems like everyone who knows I had it done knows someone else that has had it done (including the care nurses at the hospital).

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

I work with my husband so it wasn't a problem. He gave me the entire month off to recuperate from the surgery and from my mothers death. He was very supportive.

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

I entered the hospital the morning of my surgery, Dec. 9th, 2003. I was immediately taken to pre-op after pre-admitting. I met with the anesthesiologist and my Dr. I was taken in for my 4 1/2 hr. surgery, and do not remember even being in recovery. I was put in ICU right after surgery. I had my uvula removed from my throat at the same time as my WLS by my ENT Dr. The uvula surgery was so painful that it completely took my mind off of my WLS surgery. I was hospitalized for 4 days.

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

My only complication was the throat surgery. It was awful and the pain was incredible. Thank goodness for the morphine drip. My pain medication had to be changed several times before I was really comfortable. I slept a lot and the nurses let me sleep. I didn't have any problems at all with the WLS surgery.

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 only had about 9 days to wait for my surgery and in that time my mother passed away so I didn't have time to reflect on anxiety. I was trying to catch up on the work I had missed from the previous month I had been away from work while caring for my mother. I worked at a fever pitch trying to have as much done as I could before leaving my job for another 3 wks. to recover from the surgery.

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

The pain from my throat surgery was so intense that I barely felt any discomfort from the WLS surgery. In the hospital, the night after my surgery, the nurses came in and laid hot towels on my entire body and gave me a bath. I can't begin to describe how wonderful that felt. Because of my sore throat, it was almost impossible to eat anything because everything I tried (jello, applesauce) stung my throat. I mainly drank protein drinks, ate sugar-free popsicles and drank herbal tea. Other than walking, I rested.

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

My surgery was near my home so I didn't have to travel.

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.

I could only tolerate popsicles, herbal tea and my protein drinks for several weeks. I tried to eat a piece of fresh bread once on Christmas Day and quickly learned it wouln't go down. In weeks 3-6, I have been eating soups and soft eggs. Meats are definitely off limits.

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

The first two weeks after surgery I walked around my house, but mainly slept a lot. My throat surgery kept me in pain and the pain medications made me sleepy. I gradually stopped taking the pain meds and began increasing my activity level.

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

I found a bariatric vitamin (chewable) that was recommended by the hospital dietician. My husband compared it to every other vitamin and found it to be the best. I am also careful to have at least 40 gms of protein a day.

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?

I still do not sleep as well as I want to. I am used to getting up at all hours from when my throat kept me up, and I haven't been able to get into a sleep pattern yet. I will keep trying. I haven't had a dumping experience yet. However, whenever I eat, as soon as it begins to feel uncomfortable, I immediately stop eating.

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

I think missing food that has always been a comfort to me.

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

Dr. Oakley has a support group that meets once a month. I will be attending it.

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

I have five one inch incisions. It's what I expected.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I haven't had any plateaus yet.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Everyone is telling me how much better I look.