tamra H.

Obesity & Me

Describe your behavioral and emotional battle with weight control before learning about bariatric surgery.

i have been heavy all of my life and yet it seems like i have been on a diet for most of my life. i have lost many pounds over the years and i have found even more. i have been over 300 lbs now for maybe 5 years and it is taking its toll on me.

What was (is) the worst thing about being overweight?

i cant keep up with my husband. we have always enjoyed walks and bike rides and canoeing also dancing and all of that has changed. now it seems like we talk about the fun we used to have and i can hardly dance two songs in a row. its sad when you have to live your life around your weight. worring if you can fit in a booth in a resturant or the arms of the chair cutting into your legs.....it's sad and i'm tired of it.

If you have had weight loss surgery already, what things do you most enjoy doing now that you weren't able to do before?

i am able to walk on the trails. i have to almost run to keep my heart rate up. i am able to get into clothes that i havent been able to wear in years. i havent had to take blood pressure meds since surgery. i have lost 7 inches around my middle and i can already fit in booths. lol i know its the little things.

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

my husband and i saw a commercial on television about the bariatric center in cleveland. we sent for the information. when it arived i felt that it was too serious and dangerous. in fact i threw the info away. it scared me.

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

we were unnerved waiting for approval. just make sure that when you submit the forms that you have all of the forms and information required at that time. because approval does not begin untill you have all of the forms complete.

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

i thought he was nice but business like and that is how it should be. he answered all of our questions. and he spent a fair bit of time with us. we did not feel rushed. i think you can get the most out of your meeting if you do your home work first. do research. have your questions down on paper before you go see him. and write down his answers. take notes. now that i look back i was not informed at all before our meeting. i wish i knew the differences in the many types of weight loss surgeries before mine.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

i had to have my gallbladder out as soon as possible. also i was put on high blood pressure medicine and i have sleep apnea and a machine now. my family doctor suggested weight loss surgery. she said that they have come along way and they may be able to do it at the same time i have my gallbladder out. so we contacted cleveland for the bariatric information again.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

i didnt. i let the doctor decide. i didnt know there were different proceedures. i wish i knew about the different surgeries available.

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 was aware that i could die in surgery or from complacations from surgery but in my case i had to have my gallbladder out. i was suffering with it for two years. also i was watching my health go down hill. now with high blood pressure i was afraid of a stroke or heart attack. my father had his first serious heart attack at 32 and im 38 and much heavier.

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?

alot of different reactions. alot of support from my husband and twin sister. alot of support from friends and even from family. my family still thinks that i could have done it on my own. and they hope my twin will have the surgery next yet they also think she could beat me to a goal if she dieted really hard.(THEY DON'T GET IT!!!!!!) they seem proud of me and they are begning to understand that the surgery is just a tool.

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

in my case i took an unlimited leave of absence. my job would be too dangerous for me now..i dont think im going back. im going to look for a job in a few weeks.

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

i was in the hospital 4 days the first time and then another 3 days. the staff was nice. the food was liquid diet, i expected that but no protein, i was suprised. i received as a gift a neck pillow. its like a 1/2 ring pillow filled with buckwheat. that was the greatest thing i ever could have had at the hospital. also some lipstick and breath spray and perfume. made me feel human.

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

the day after i was released from the hospital i pulled a muscle in my stomach taking care of bathroom duties. that was friday. by monday morning 5am i was in alot of pain. my husband had to take me back to the hospital. i was in pain the whole weekend and so i was taking pain medication and it was making me sleep. i didnt get in enough nurishment and i was dehydrated pretty bad.

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 feeling better in two weeks. i was excited. i enjoyed learning about the changes that i would soon be experiencing. i was thrilled over every pound i lost. it was very discouraging the different comments i would hear. "your eating too much" or "shouldnt you have lost more than that by now?" there are still certain people that seem to feel that if i am successful in loosing the weight that im going to gain it all back because they know of people who have. i did go through depression,i was overwhelmed....i saw my doctor about it!

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

i was tired quite a bit. i got my days and nights mixed up. seemed like i wanted to sleep all day and watch tv at night. but im getting that strait now. i had alot of help around the house. friends came over and helped clean up and also with laundry. it was great! i am still careful, my husband takes the heavy laundry baskets up stairs. and i just dont lift anything over 15 pounds.

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

we had a 45 to 1 hour drive depending on the time of day. it has been hard being that far because i have not been to a support group meeting. i think that would help alot for me. i need to bounce my feelings off of someone that is going to be supportive. someone who knows what im going through. i would be much more involved if i was closer to my doctors.

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 was on liquids for 2 weeks. then i started to add things. like taco bell pintos n cheese...i added boiling water to thin it way down like soup. also cottage cheese. potatoe flakes and gravy. and spegeti o's.

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

i just walked around the house and yard. i didnt go any place untill i got my staples out. my mother took me to a resturant after my staples. i had 1/2 cup of cream of chicken soup. i did a dish or two here or there but i didnt do much for the first 2 weeks. i could have i was milking it! lol!

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

every day i take a 100% whey protein drink sometimes i drink 2 a day. i take a one a day maximum. also two- b12,calcium,iron

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 had problems in resturants at first. i realized that when we were going to a resturant i needed to eat a bite or drink a small glass of milk before we went out so i would not get sick. i found that i was too hungry by the time my food arrived. also i am still working on slowing down to eat. thats usually why i get sick when i do. i still have problems with red meats and bread.

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

waiting.... waiting to be approved. waiting for a surgery date. waiting for the pretesting results. waiting to see and feel results........but its worth the wait!!!!!!!

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

i have not been to a support group as of yet. i am going to one this wednesday. i have missed out on support groups and i feel like i have needed them. im sure every thing im have been feeling and worring about could have been put to rest if i had been able to share these things with others that had been there before.

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

its about a foot long. its raised up and bright pink. i knew it would be long but i didnt know that it would raise up like a night crawler under my skin. i have no problems with it.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

i have already hit a plateau. i was stuck at 280 for 2 1/2 weeks. i became stricter about adding up my calories and i found that i was getting about 1300 cals a day. it adds up! also i was not drinking enough water. i was drinking too much gateraid(sugar) so i cut that out. started drinking water and started walking 1.5 miles a day untill i sprained my ankle. but my plateau was soon over. can start walking again in a few days.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

i have lost 46 pounds and people are treating me better. even strangers. maybe because im feeling better about myself already and it must show.
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