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

I first learned about bariatric surgery through my sister. She told me about it like in 95. and I been gradually researching on it till I finally got it done in 2001. I was suppose to get it done in 99' but I chickened out big time when I went on my first evaluation. The doc told be how deep he would have to cut me and it delayed me a whole two years :) But i'm glad I took the extra time to find out everything I can possibly know about it before I actually did it.

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

My experience with insurance approval was surprisingly good. I thought that medical would not approve it, but they did. Only advice I have is if you have medical then go to your doctor first to get reffered for the surgery, then if he/she feel it is neccesary then they wil reffer you to the hospital and doctor that accepts medical, and from there you just wait till you get your evaluation appt. if you got that then most likely you approved. took about 2-3 months for the appt.

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

My very first visit with my surgeon was alright untill he told me how deep he would have to cut me. like I said earlier it delayed me for two years. When I decided that I wanted to pursue the surgery again, I had to be evaluated again, so this time I was more prepared, because I did lots of research so I knew what to expect. He tell you all about the risks and the Benfits of it all. This is the time to ask any kind of question you are curious about.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I finally decided to have the surgery after the fact I knew I was gaining weight every year, and was going to continue to gain every year if I didn't do anything about it. Also in knowing that my health was going downhill and that I would die at a young age if nothing was done about it.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

The proceedure that I wanted was laproscopic. but when I went to my first appt. the surgeon just told me he was doing RNY, I just left it at that I didnt even ask about the laproscopic. I might be wrong, but I think at my weight at the time (522) they couldnt perform that particular proceedure.

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 had major fears about dying from this surgery, because it is not a minor surgery, its very major. but I had to make a choice, die not trying to do anything about my weight, and continue to get worse in health or die trying to do something about my weight, and hope the outcome is great. in which it was! so far... I only can tell you to do what you really feel YOU know is best. Its a decision only you have to make, because YOU is the one thats going under surgery. I feel that you should reallllly make sure it is neccesary before going through with it, because in my opinon if your reason for doing it is as minor as "because I want to look good" then its not serious enough to have this surgery. Dont get me wrong, that is a good benift, but not when it comes to a situation when you have to decide to take major risks.

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 was very supportive about my decision to have this surgery. My father and sis was a lil skeptical because they heard all the talk shows when people had bad expieriances, but they came around and supported me through it. Some of my friends was totally against it, most was for it. and i'm glad that I did go through with it.

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

I went in the hospital July 16, and they did the surgery on the 18th. I starded my prep wich was liqueds on the 14th and 15th. so on the 16th was suppose to been my surgery date, but they had cancelled till the 18th, so I thought good! I can go eat something because I was hungry mannn... but come to find out I couldnt, or i would have to start the prep over again. sooo I went four days on that liqued and broth ugh... before having the surgery. But the people was very helpful and kind. One lady was too nice, she got on my nerves. I was there for like 8 days because of the two extra days.. they just went ahead and admitted me. The most important thing to bring is some house shoes... make sure you get them before you get to your room because I had to wear they lil shoes wich tore because they paper. but some shoes and a gown to leave in. because all while you in the hospital you have on the gown they provide for you and the shoes, thats it. I didnt get dressed till the day I left, and I had packed everything. gown, slippers, undewear, pillow, book to read to keep me company, but didnt use any of it. but my gown and slippers and that was the day i left. Because you gone be too sore to move to put anything on, and reading a book was out, because I was out... off them drugs they give you for pain haha..

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

fotunately I had no complications... during or after the surgery. i do expieriance irritation like itching from the cut though, and when I first came home i couldt lay on my side, that was very irritating because I couldnt sleep

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 I went to my first appt. they scheduled me for surgery not even a week after the appt. So i had no time to think about anything but packing. I was ready to go!

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

My first few weeks home was kinda difficult. It was better getting up and down in the hospital beds because you can postion them the way you need. but when I got home, gettin in and out of bed was a task, because of the pain, and i thought i would bust my stiches. I had to lay on my back, and that got tiring, I couldn't lay on my side, it felt like my stomach was falling out. It took a good month and some weeks before i could lay on my side, and get up and down withough discomfort. My cut still hurt sometimes if i lay on my side too long and its been five months. but the first few weeks out be prepared to give orders because you not going to be able to move to much. I had to have help sitting on the toilet because i didn't want my stomache to bend any kind of way it hurted! but pressing a pillow against your stomache helps you to get around better.

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

I traveled 300miles it was a 2hr drive from where I live. The ride wasn't too bad.

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.

When i first came home the first week i couldnt eat anything but liqueds like the first 3 weeks. I tried the shake and the smell made me sick so I just drunk apple juice and orange juice and water. I was scared to consume too much of that, because it seemed like i couldn't get from unthirsty so I ate ice. I soon started craving food, I cooked some nachos, but when i smelled it i couldn't even bring towards my mouth. I started to worry about my health because i wouldnt eat anything, and I refused to eat jello like they said I could because I had too much of it in the Hospital, it still sickens me. I didnt follow the diet plan too much, like the stages they give you to follow to know what to eat and when, like pureed meat, i cant do it. My sense of smell has been inhanced like 50% because everything smells too strong to me. One week I can eat the next I can't thats the stage i'm currently at. So I basically eat anything that I can tolerate. I tried eating an apple, it made my stomache too full after two bites and i had to throw it up, but on the other hand i can eat an whole breast and be cool. I dont know whats up. I use to not be able to look at sweets, but now I can eat them, alot of my old habits has came back since i first got out of surgery, so i'm fighting not to start alot of my old habits back since i think my appetite has came back. Beef and Eggs are off limits for me though, it totally makes me sick. Whatever I eat though it comes right out within a couple of minutes,so diharea do be in effect!

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

My activity level the first couple weeks was very low. I stayed in bed. like the 3rd week i had to move though, so i left, amd went places and did lots of movement. I think i did too much because my cut started to come open and it set up infection. they told me not to move as much because the inside is not healed but the outside was. So dont move too much! even after several months you still dont be healed all the way in the inside.

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

I took flintstone chewables and calcium after surger, but i havnt been taking them. you suppose to have b12 shots too but i havn't started them. but its very important, it just slips my mind

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 lots of nausia, because I wasn't eating enough. currently i expieriance the dumping syndrome because of food i cant tolerate, thats the worse for me... the swetting heart rate increase, and you get totally tired for a couple a mins.

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

The worse part about the surgery for me is craving for food, and cant eat it. I mean the smell of it is just bad, but you crave it. but atlast i can eat chickin so im cool :)

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

I havn't attended any aftercare programs

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

My scar looks good, not as big as i expected it to be. Its widened where it sat up infection though.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I think I plateaued like the third month, then I drop alot again, now i think i plateaued again in the fifth month. I haven't weighed since the the third week of surgery though so im not sure

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Everybody notice i lost a lot of weight, and want to compliment me alot more, that's the only difference, and I haven't lost half yet