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

The hospital I work for has a bariatric surgery program. I watched this program for several years and realized the outcomes from this surgery was very good. As I supervisor, I was privileged to know any and all complications associated with patients at our hospital and know that the complications were rare.

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

The hospital I worked for are self insured. My surgery was denied they said based on ERISA laws. They never gave me a letter of denial. I had the surgery as a private pay patient. I paid for the surgery by barrowing from family members, putting some of it on credit cards and a payment plan with the hospital.

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

I already knew the surgeon and had researched most of my own questions prior to this meeting

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I had severe gastroparesis and reflux. My gastroenterologist told me that I needed to have a gastric pacemaker and the Nissen procedure to correct my gastric reflux. Having these 2 surgical procedures would do nothing for the underlying condition of obesity. Having the gastric bypass would correct the gastroparesis and reflux as well as all my co-mobidities. For me the choice was obvious.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I had the procedure the surgeon does at the hospital where I work. He does the RNY laproscopic 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?

Of course, I knew the complication rate at the hospital I was having the surgery was low. However, I still had fears that something might happen to me. However, I had passed all the preliminary work-up to try and identify possible complication. I had to just have faith that I would come through the surgery without complications and I did.

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 children were very fearful at first and against me having it. However, they came around as they became more educated about the procedure. My mother how was fearful even when I went into the hospital. I'm her only daughter and my brother had passed a year ealier from heart disease. She is now very glad I had the surgery. In fact, she would like to be able to have surgery, but is not a candidate because of health issues related to obesity.

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

My employer was very supportive. They knew of all the stomach problems. They helped me make arrangements for the payment with the hospital after a downpayment was made. It was Corporate that refused the surgery.

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

I went into the hospital on a Tuesday and was released on Thursday.

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

I did not have any complications from 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 had trouble drinking the protein shakes my surgeon wanted me to drink for the first 3 weeks after surgery. The shakes made me sick after drinking them. My HR would go to 130 and my BP would elevate after drinking the shake. I have since found out that I can't tolerate the amount of carbs or lactose in the shakes I was trying to drink.

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

I felt bad after every shake I drank. I had very little pain. I took pain medication only about 2 days after I got home from the hospital. I started swimming in the pool the day I got home from the hospital. I found that I did better when I pureed chicken in broth to get my protein.

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

27 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.

I have to be leary of anything that contains over 15 grams of carbs. I love crab, but found that crab meat makes me vomit. I can't eat pork and have only recently been able to add steak into my diet. Before surgery, I liked all chicken pieces and especially the dark meat. I now stick to white meat of the chicken as I think the breat is earier to chew up in small pieces. I try and make sure that I chew everything very well. On rare occasions I have forgotten and not chewed my meat well and this has induced vomiting. I struggle daily to get 75 grams of protein in and try to drink a liter of water a day. The only protein supplement I have found that I can tolerate is Designer Whey that I get from Walmart in the diet section. I find that I don't get many vegetables in because I have to get the protein in first and then I'm full and can't eat the vegetables. I try and eat fruit daily. I can tolerate 1 or 2 bites of desserts after dinner. I have no desire for more dessert than the couple of bites. At 6 month post-op - all my vitamin levels are within normal levels.

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

My activity level has been very good. I think this is due to my hemoglobin and Hemadicrit being good and my vitamins levels are normal.

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

I don't tolerate vitamin supplements very well which has been a long-standing problem. I'm supposed to be taking 2 Gummy Vits a day. I have to confess that I frequently forget to take them.

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 had some hair loss. My hair has thinned out a little bit on the top. I really hate to vomit and try and chew everything well to prevent that problem. I also have problems with dumping if I eat a lot of carbs.

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

Having to drink the protein shakes.

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

I attend a gastric bypass support group monthly and haven't missed a meeting. I find this very helpful since we talk about the things we are experiencing.

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

I have only 6 small scars across my abdomen.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

My weight loss plateaus freqnetly. I loose 4-5 lbs at a time and then will plateau for a while (usually 2-3 weeks). However, during the time the scales don't show a weight loss, my clothes continue to get baggier.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Everyone thinks I look so good now and say that I look much younger. I no longer define myself as being "overweight" I consider myself to be normal weight at this time. I interviewed for a new job recently and it was very nice not feeling that I might be judged based on my weight. I got the job by the way.