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

20 years or so ago I knew a young woman that had some sort of a proceedure, and her weight loss was dramatic. At the time I was thin, I wonder what 2 week period of time that was in my life?! Then about 5 years ago a lady friend of ours had VBG and once again her success was,and is great, but she paid out of pocket for the surgery. Then 2 years ago there was an artical in the Cedar Rapids Gazzette about a woman in her forties who had had VBG 6mos. earlier and was doing great, and that her insurance paid for it, I started making calls the next day!

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

Two years ago when I initially tried for insurance approval I went directly to my surgeon, Dr. Breiling. This year I started with my primary care physician got his endorsement and then went to the surgeon. I really feel this made a big difference because they worked together to get my approval, and it came in just 2 1/2 weeks! So my advice is get as many Doctors on board as you can BEFORE you seek approval, get letters from your Podiatrist, Orthopedist, Primary Care Physician, Chiropractor, etc.. Document your attempts at weight loss, even the successful ones because if you're still fat they were'nt successful! Good Luck

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

He was great. He made me go through a series of three appointments, each one going into the proceedure with a little greater detail. Ask questions, ask questions, ask questions!!!

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

My seemingly healthy father was 54 when he died, I was 18. This devistated me. When I am 54 my youngest will be 12 and I just can't do that to him. I need to get healthy.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I honstly feel that if I'm not hungry I won't eat. I have always had good luck with dieting but once I stop letting myself feel hungry constantly I start packing the weight back on, plus the VBG is a much safer cleaner operation with many fewer side effects.

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?

Any time you go under the knife there is the risk of complications. Of course as the surgery got closer I got scared but it was a risk I HAD to take because my fat was killing me, slowly, but killing me all the same.

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 has been mostly supportive, my sister even flew up from Houston to help my wife and kids while I was recouperating. My older, athletic, slender brother did remark that it was great that there were proceedures like this for those people who don't have the willpower to do it on their own,Screw Him!! My best friends were worried because they know that I have always said I live ot eat not eat to live, but they mostly just want me happy.

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

Very supportive. I was out of work 2 weeks and I had actually made the possibility of this surgery a condition of my employment.

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

The stay was great. The nursing staff did a fine job. I was there for 1 day pre op and 6 days post op. bring loose fitting pajamas, I never wore the top but I was thankful for the bottoms as I shuffled up and down the hallways. Bring slippers and all of your usual toiletries, You will find cleaning up painfull but rewarding. Bring some magazines, no heavy books because you will be weak for a few days and the books will make you tired, also the pain meds make you kind of spacey so it's hard to concentrate on a book.

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

None

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

Excited, scared, excited, scared. I ate anything and every thing I wanted. One last hurahh so to speak!

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

I over did it and got tired. I learned to pace myself for the long haul. I got very, very bored, and started working half days a week early.

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

17 miles.

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.

No lettuce, and only ground meats so far. I'm 11 days post op and I have found that 2 bites of anything even remotely solid is all I can tolerate. I've only spit up twice but that's all it took. One key for me is going to be learning to eat slowly, very slowly!

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

So far I only walk a couple of blocks at a time, but I have been out shopping at the supermarket and the mall and when I get tired I go home.

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

I'm taking 2 Flintstones vitamins a day per Drs. orders and one baby asprin a day. My 3 year old delights in this and now takes his vitamin daily too!

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 have "thrown up" twice now but it was more like spitting up and I learned from the experience.

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

The worry before hand. The asking my self why me.

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

Well I am still meeting weekly with my surgeon, and I have you, WLS.

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

The scar is still alittle tender, about 13inches long, and actually very neatly done. It's really not as wide or grusome as I had expected!

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

None yet.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

It's still too soon to tell.