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

I had a friend who had WLS done 7 years ago. She almost died twice, and she told me to never go that route. My twin had the surgery 2 and1/2 years ago, and did beautifully. She had absolutely no problems at all. At first, I would wonder why in the world someone would put themselves through that. And then I realized it could be a very valuable tool to a very obese person who truly wanted to be healthy and take control of their life.

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

Insurance approval was easy. All I had to do was get letters of recommendation from all my doctors, write my own letter to the insurance company explaining why I felt I needed this surgery, give all the letters to the person in charge of insurances at my doctor's office. I also had to submit a diet history, showing how many diets I had been on, for how long, and how successful. Approval for the hospital came first, and a week later, approval for the doctor to do the surgery came. Not too difficult. All on Aetna HMO

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

The doctor was pretty cut and dry and to the point. I had been required to attend 3 group support meetings before I could see him. He answered any questions I might have, and described in detail exactly what he would do, why, and how long. The best thing to do is to go prepared, doing your homework ahead of time and RELAX.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

My weight kept going up and up and up. My energy level kept going down and down and down. I love my job, teaching music in an elementary school. I could see my career ending before my eyes. I just didn't feel like I was ready to give it up. I wanted to be all that I could be for these kids.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

My twin sister, who had this surgery 2 1/2 years ago insisted that I have the RNY. She explained why it was the very best--it helps weight loss in two different way: by creating a 2 oz. pouch and by by-passing the small intestine low enough so that sugar and other foods are not absored so readily.

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 did not have too much fear going into the surgery. There was a little tiny inkling of the idea, "what if I don't make it through?" But I have a strong belief system in my heavenly Father, I prayed, and found peace going in. For others having fears, I would recommend that each person do a thorough investigation of what this surgery is all about. Also, make sure you know your family's medical history, such as a history of blood clots, etc. Knowledge can help a person make a very sound and secure decision.

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, except for my husband and children and my twin sister, knew nothing of the surgery until afterwards. My mother is a "worry-wart", so I didn't want her to be alarmed. My other sister and brother would have tried to talk me out of it. I only told a very few friends. One tried to talk me out of it, one was very supportive, and another was very closed-mouthed. After surgery, my family has been very supportive and very glad that I went through with it. One friend who tried to talk me out of it compliments me when she sees me, and one friend tried to ignore the weight loss changes. She even commented that "you sure get sick alot now." ( I had a stress fracture, and I went out to eat with her one night when something I ate for lunch wanted desperately to come back up.) The one who was very supportive from the beginning is still very supportive. Another friend, who had surgery 7 years earlier, was very supportive before and after. When I had several complication and almost died from a pulmonary embolism, she felt like it was her fault, because she had encouraged me.

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

I am employed by two different people: the principal at my school where I teach, and the minister of music at my church where I serve as Children's Choir Coordinator. The minister of music knew only that I was going into surgery. I did not tell him what kind, and he did not ask. (What a gentleman!) I told my principal, because I felt like she had a right to know. I told her why I was having this surgery done--so that I could continue teaching, the love of my life! I told both employers that I would be about about 4 weeks. I was out 7, due to complications.

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

My hospital stay lasted 5 days. I was in SICU for almost 2 days, mostly because it took the surgical floor a while to find a bed for me. I had been given a list of important items to bring, many of which I did not use. I never felt like reading, so there were 3 books that stayed in my suitcase. A back scratcher is invaluable, not only for its named purpose, but also for reaching items, etc. Chapstick is a must for those dried lips. The anesthesia really dries out your mouth and lips. The hospital provided large-size gowns, but you may want to bring your own. Bring a robe and slippers, because you will definitely be expected to move around and walk. Personal toiletries are a must, of course. I brought the whole regiment of make-up, hair items, etc., and never used them once. I just didn't feel like messing with it all. Showers are not allowed yet, but sponge baths are, and they feel wonderful. Your doctor's phone number is a wise thing to bring along. For those of you with long hair, a cloth headband will bring you sanity. Bring a small clock or watch, as the clocks in the hospital are never right. I also took a Travel Yatzee game, and a miniature deck of cards to pass the time. Time in the hospital passes more slowly than anywhere else in the world!

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

Complications began when the surgeon opened me up. He was shocked to discover that my anatomy was not in the correct places. My spleen was on top of my stomach and had to be moved in order to perform the surgery. When he touched it, it began to bleed, so he had to take it out. My liver was wrapped around my stomach, so the surgeon had to move it to its rightful place. The epidural never worked, so instead, I was put on a PAC, which was wonderful. I am now experiencing pain to the right of the incision, and I believe that my liver has been put back in its correct spot, and was perhaps bruised a bit in the transfer. I also find it difficult to stay in one place long enough to sleep. Either I begin to cough, or my buns begin to not only go numb, but begin to burn and hurt, and I have to move. To me, this is the worst side effect of the surgery. Update: A week after being home from the surgery, I was readmitted to the hospital for fluid on my lungs. The doctor performed a procedure which was very painful to drain the fluid. Two days later, I experienced a pulmonary embolism. For 12 hours, I received morphine every hour, and my blood pressure monitored every 10 minutes. My blood pressure dropped to 20/40, my heart beat fluctuated up to 210 per minute. The next day, my kidneys began to fail, I became very swollen, and the doctors were very concerned. My veins collapsed, so I had to have a central line put in my neck. The first try did not work, because the doctor tried to insert in the same vein that I had had a central line in during surgery. It developed into a huge hematoma, and took 6 weeks for the swelling to go down. The site where the doctor finally put the central line in would not quit bleeding, because the doctor had put me on stronger blood-thinning drugs. Eventually, my kidneys returned to normal, my blood pressure returned to normal, and my lung capacity returned to normal, and I was able to go home after 11 days.

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

After accepting a teaching job 12 years ago, and stewing over my inadequacies every night, I have learned to make myself not think of anything that might cause me stress. So I just turned it off. I did attend support meetings for pre-op patients at my doctor's office once a month. What a wonderful group of caring, giving, and informative people on his staff!!! I also prayed and asked God to be in control of every level of progress. He can always be found faithful if we call on Him.

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

Pseronally, I do not believe I am recovering quickly, and all people have their own recovery rate. I have to block out all sense of responsiblities as a teacher, and concentrate on me--take the nasty-tasting chewable vitamins, take the sublingual B-12, chew the TUMS, take my prescribed medications, drink enough to keep myself hydrated, make myself get up and walk, do the deep breathing exercises, and cough on a regular basis. You can expect a hibernation time, where your body concentrates only on itself and getting better. After the hospital stay the second time, I was very weak, but so thrilled to have a second chance at life. God is soooo good!

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

I traveled about 20-25 minutes, and this did not affect any aftercare.

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.

Since I am only 6 days post-op, my diet consists of clear liquids only. Sugar-free popscicles have been wonderful!! I also enjoy jello, and brewed iced tea with sweetner. I am laying low on broths, as their sodium content is high, and my legs and feet are swollen at this time. After a month, I am on soft foods. It seems that I can tolerate anything that I am allowed to have--tunafish, baked or broiled fish, eggs, cheese, very finely cut up chicken salad. The no-nos are bread, corn, rice, fruit, and raw veggies. AFter 2 months, I can eat anything EXCEPT: rice, corn, fresh bread, and the peelings of apples. Of course, I try to keep the carbohydrates way down low. Still not a big beef-eater. I did have a few bites of a stuffed green pepper, made with ground beef. I found I could not eat as much as I could with fish. After 4 months, I can eat anything, but choose proteins, (still no beef--I just have no desire for it), and veggies, cooked and fresh. Any carbs I get are from veggies. I do enjoy sugar-free candy, and for Christmas, had sugar-free cheesecake made especially for me.

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

6 days post-op activity level for me consists of getting in and out of my waterbedd--no easy feat--and walking around the house. I find things to have to get up for, and everything needed, I make myself take a tour of the house. After one week, I plan to don street clothes and walk outside up the street and back, or as much as my body can tolerate. Well, that plan wnt away when I had to go back into the hospital. At 4 months post-op, I walk 2 miles a day and love it. At 5 months pos-op, I have a stress fracture, so must stop walking for a while. I can walk stairs without being winded, and without my top thigh muscle hurting.

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

Children's chewable vitamins with iron (nasty), Tums, sublingual vitamin B-12. At one-week post-op, I plan to drink Pro-Complex, a protein drink found at GNC that has 55 grams of protein in one serving, with no carbs, and no fats. At 3 months post-op, I take GNC multiple vitamins for women, liquid calcium, sublingual B-12. At 4 months post-op, I have included vitamins for healthy hair, skin and nails, and 20,000 units of Vitamin A plus 1,000 grams of Vitamin C due to the stress fracture.

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?

Not being able to sleep, due to either coughing or my buns hurting are the worst for me. I just have myself on a different sleep cycle, and I am trying to be patient with myself. In the hospital the second time, and don't care how I feel, I just want to live and go home. At 4 months post-op, I don't dump, really, just have diarrhea the next day. Sleeping is great, now that I don't have acid refulx. Hair loss is REALLY bad! It's been this way for about a month, and I don't see any end in sight, although I know it will eventually grow back.

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

I have had 2 C-sections, and thought I was fully prepared for the pain. Unfortunately, I was not. Some people say that C-sections are worse, but each person is unique in their own experience. Now, after all the complications, the pulmonary embolism was the worst part of the surgery. I thought I would cry when my PCP told me that I needed my gall bladder removed. It has settled down now, and so far, no surgery. Yeah!

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

My surgeon's office has a support group meeting once a month, and I find it very encouraging and valuable to help with problems and to cope with any side effects. His office staff also produces a newsletter once a month, and I find it very informative and helpful. We have a clothes exchange program, and Patient Care Consultant that is ALWAYS available for anything at all. This is a valuable resource for getting through tough times! My twin sister did not have this, and she is a bit jealous that she did not. It is important to remember that "no man is an island." Statistics show that bariatric patients with support groups have better results, both physically and emotionally.

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

The scar, so my husband says, looks 10 times better than my scar from 2 C-sections. The scar begins about 1 inch below my breats, in the middle of my abdomen, down to the the top of my navel. No surprises here.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

At 2 months, I experienced a plateau of over a week. Very discouraging. Then, the weight came off VERY slowly. At 3 1/2 months, I realized how important a role protein plays in losing weight. I began drinking Pro Complex again (55 grams per serving) and cut out carbs. The plateaus stopped and the weight loss began in earnest! I have experienced a plateau now, from Christmas Eve through January 4. I'm sure this is due to indulging in champagne and wine throughout the holidays. All the alcohol is gone now, and I lost a pound today!! No exercising yet, because of the fracture, so weight loss might slow down a bit.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Have not been out, yet. At 3 months, people have commented and noticed the weight loss. Do I feel like people treat me differently? No, because my personality always demanded attention and respect, and I always got it. That may sound a bit vain, or whatever, but I know its true.