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

I attended several "open" support group meetings as well as contacting a few people who already had the surger

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

I fortunately had no problems with approval. I contacted my carried first and requested information finding out that if it were medically necessary due to medical/health issues my insurance would cover it. The more co-morbity issues that you have seems to better your changes. Of course the minimum critera was being 100 pounds overweight

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

Very informative and reassuring. He explained things and said they would submit the paperwork and that it could take up to 4 weeks to get approved. I was approved within 7 days.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I was as close to death as I could be weighing 395 and being 5 foot 3 inches. Walking was a chore. Activities of dailly living was a struggle. I was on more and more medicatons to control everything.. and felt like I was sprialing out of control

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

My surgeon at the time only performs the "open" procedure. He did not do the lap-banding (which was considered experimental by my insurance carried) nor the laproscopid procedure.

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?

Fear of the unknown.. But I was ready to die attempting to be healthier.. Become knowledgable. Atttend as many support group meetings prior AND after your surgery as you can. The folks that "have been there and done that" have invaluabe information and can help you each step of the way. They become more like your extended family

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 scared and concerned. I was a high risk patient. They had witnessed my continuing health issues and struggles and realized that I was willing to take the risks to become active and healty I wanted to "participate" in life. Not just sit and watch the world go by.

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

NA I was already disabled and could no longer work.. due to degenrative joint disease, lupus- mixed type

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

I was told I would be in the hospital a full week. I came home after 5 days.. If you have any medical equipment, ie sleep apnea machine.. any informational booklets, dietary manual you have been given in the pre-operative phase.. Comfortable loose fitting clothes to go home in.

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

no. two months our I thought I was having "hugar pains" after being questioned by the office nurses they had me return to undergo a gastroscopy to which led to a diagnosis of an ulcer..

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

Like I had been run over by a mack-truck.. re-read my informational packet and just took it one day at a time..

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

They will not feel perky and full of energy. This a major surgery and it takes time. Don't try to overdo. Have your friends and family come and help with housekeeping chores and whatever needs to be done. Be kind to yourself.. Continue to look at that light at the end of the tunnel. Treat yourself to a new outfit, but don't trade one bad habit for another. Sometimes we got so enamored with our new looks you become a shopaholic. Go to consignment store, gageage sales, or clothes exchange with your support group.

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

over 200 miles. It's a committment. My surgeon follows each of his patients for a 3 year period.. But I feel that if he is going to be present at each and every support group meeting them I am going to honor him with my attendance. Plus if we miss an appointment without calling his staff are on the phone and wanting to know why you didn't show up.

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.

in the hospital liquids and ugh pureed foods. At home I was on my protein shakes and whatever I could tolerate as long I chewed and chewed and chewed I was allowed to eat more solid foods. There was a honeymoon phase where I could actually tolerate a few bites of "real food" but it was short-lived and all their information turned out to be true that what worked one day you may not tolerate the next. The most important aspect during this stage was staying HYDRATED. I remember being instructed if I couldn't eat think drink drink drink. Stay away from carbonated beverages, high sugared foods.. 15 months out I still have not a carbonated beverage and I would still LOVE to sit down and have a Diet Pepsi.. I try to stay away from high sugared foods and processed food. I try to shop the perimetef of the grocery store for fresh fruits and vegetables and fresh meats. I have learned that sugar will give me extremely uncomfortable and horrendous gas. I still rely on my protein shakes of a morning for the "energy" my body requires and I always have a protein bar in my purse, car in case I can not find anything on a menu that I feel like I can have. I also ALWAYS carry botteled water with me. You can add the Crystal Light flavorings. but read the directions.. I was adding the whole packet and it's actually one-half packet to so many ounces of water.. I actually freaked out when I thought I was getting 25 extra calories a day from this product and over time I didn't find them very tastey and have just switched to plain botteled water. I was sent home with a dietary manual telling me what I could make choices from during each stage of my recovery.

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

walking, walking, walking.. even sitting I was working with smaller hand weights eventually graduating to the rubber band. For every 15 min of tv I got up and walked a lap inside my house. 8 weeks post surgery I was going to our rec center and just walking the track.. I would do a round and then sit and rest and get up and do another round. Now I go to Curves 6 days a week and during the summer months I do water aerobics three times a week.. I do try to continue the water aerobics in the winter months I travel 27 miles one way to the nearest center that has an indoor pool and try to maintain two to three times a week.

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

I took the Hair Skin and Nail vitamins available at wal-mart and Walgreens prior to surgery and post-op and am happy to report that I have had NO hair loss whatsoever... Post of I take a chewable calcium tablet three times a day. A prenatal vitamin (follow the directions on the bottle some are daily some are twice a day.) If you are taking more than one a day take them at different times.. your pouch can only absorb so much at a time.. it won't be utililzed or absorbed.

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 only occured if I ate too large a quantity. Immediate post op I was only taking 3 ounces per feeding 5 yo 6 times a day. Dumping only happend once. Once you experience it you NEVER want it to happen again and will do most anything humanely possible to avoid it.. By taking the hair, skin and nail vitamin pre-operative and 6 months post op I have had no hair loss. My biggest problem home from the hospital I could not lie down flat in bed. I lived in my recliner for the first couple of weeks then I purchased a WEDGE pillow from a medical supply store and was able to gradually wean myself from it the more my incision healed and by 6 weeks post op the pillow was history.

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

Bein expected to walk 6 times a day while in the hospital. I was trying to keep up with all the others untill it was pointed out that some of them were HALF my age and didn't have my health issues.. RULE TO LIVE BY. Never judge you progress or lack of progress by what someone has done.. We are all individulas with our own medical issues.. Don't try to catch up with someone else or say gee at 3 weeks i had only lost 35 pounds but suzie from support group said she had lost 50 pounds by then.. Your body determines how much and how fast you will loose.. You may loose and then plateau, loose and platueau.. If you chart your progress it may look like stair steps..

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

All of my physican post op appointments. Monthly support group. Grinnell actuallty has 3 different support groups on 3 different days.. One has dietary people there to answering questions. there is a social worker/mental health professional to help answer questions you may have abut interpersonal relationship problems that may be occurring and just recently they started one that is patterned afterthe 12-step program for those who are gaing weight or may be suffering from anorexia.. I could not have done this without them. To think that you can do this on your own is absurd..

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

Mine is about 5 1/2 inches long. From the bottom of my breast down to about 3 inches above my belly button. Remember if you are a long-torsoed person you may have a longer incision..

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I am just entering my 15 month post op.. I have not plateau. The least I have lost in a month is 5 pounds. I currently have lost 158 pounds and over 70 inches.. I strongly urge everyone to weigh and mesure before surgery as well as taking pictures monthly post-operatively.. If you think you aren't doing anything look at your photo album from the very beginning. I have seen albums where they had the surgical nurse take pictures in the operating room and every phase of their recovery. For those who have had their tummy tucks or belt lipectomies I have seen pictures where they have taken pictures of the skin that was removed. Whatever your personal preferences are. You may want to warn the person looking at your pictures if you have any you might think they would find offensive.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

From all the folks I exercise with to my church family they have complimentary and excited for me as I make this journey.. Spiritualizm can't hurt either..