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

I remember reading a true-story in a womans magazine when I was about 11. The story was of a woman who had had WLS, and focused on her follow-up. This woman had several feet of intestines bypassed, as was common practise in the early 70's. Even at age 11, I was envious of her weight loss, and longed to be slender. I cannot remember a time where my weight was not a focus of negative attention from my family. They held very little hope for me, and I was subjected to shrinks, pills, diets, and unkind siblings all in vain attempts by my parents to make me thin. As I matured I was able to take some pride in who I was, albeit quite fat, so did not actively pursue the issue of surgical weight-loss. By trial I knew diets did not work for me, so discontinued them entirely in my early 20's. I never lacked for gentlemanly attention if I wanted it, so even until my mid-30's I did not seriously consider WLS. At 35 I broke my right ankle, and after two months in a wheelchair, found myself eating more and exercising less. 70 pounds later I began to have weight-related BP problems, along with a general lack of stamina and poor sleeping. I began to research WLS then. My research was generally positive, demonstrating new surgical methods and increased patient satisfaction.

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

I had no problems securing insurance approval. I feel some of the ease I encountered may have been from the fact that my BMI was quite high at 52.

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

My first visit was brief, but thorough. I knew the surgeon, and had assisted him many times in the OR where I work. The MD examined me, then we sat and talked together in his office. He did not paint a glamourous picture of the procedure or gloss over unpleasant details.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

Prayer, family support and finances all particiapted in the making of my final decision.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I chose the VBG because I wanted as little intestinal manipulation as possible, and did not want any type of mal-absorption. I want every shred of nutrition that is possible from the small amount of food I eat.

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 have been a nurse for 20 years. I have seen people die from WLS related liver-failure, and complications from emergency surgery to re-connect intestines. These incidents were the results of WLS from the 70's. In 1994 I personally did the chest compressions of CPR on a young woman who threw a clot to her lungs two weeks post WLS. The emergency team was unable to save this patient. With these memories I had great fear concerning complications and/or death as a result of surgery. I called upon my inner strength, my determination to do what was best for me, my beloved husband, and of course, Jesus. My recommendation to others is to marshall your support team, and put your fears on the back burner while FOCUSING on the positive!

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?

I have told very few of my family and friends that I had WLS. They all know that I had the gallbladder removed, and that is why I was in the hospital. Those family and friends that are 'in the know' have been very supportive pre and post surgery.

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

My immediate nursing supervisor was positive and supportive of my decision to have surgery. My co-workers have been friendly and warm. I was out of work for two full weeks. I had surgery in the OR where I as a nurse, so everybody knew!

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

My stay in the hospital was as pleasant as a hospital stay can be. The nurses were attentive and friendly. I was admitted pre-op the morning of surgery, Thursday, and was kicked out the following Tuesday. Bring your Bible and toothbrush!

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

The pre-op abdominal sonogram demonstrated a gallbladder free from stones and of normal size. With this in mind, the surgeon was quite surprised to find a small gallbladder, surrounded by adhesions, showing evidence of chronic cholecystitis and early necrosis. The entire biliary tree was quite friable, and, being conservative, the MD elected to keep the tree drained with a T-tube. I awoke and found myself with the drainage tube in place, "Unlike all my other 1700 patients. You're the first!", said my surgeon. This tube was not painful to maintain, so I did not give it much mind. It was very painful briefly, when it came out ten days later in the MD's office. I did not have increased recover time due to the tube, so now I am thankful the gallbladder was removed. Far better to have a tube for ten days than emergency surgery for a ruptured gallbladder.

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 nervous and jumpy, but was able to hold myself together through husband and prayer.

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

I had to travel from the suburbs into the BIG city for surgery. Roughly 25 miles of city driving.

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

1 Flintstones chewable vitamin in the morning, and 1 Bugs Bunny chewable vitamin at night. I followed this regime for quite some time. I have switched to an adult vitamin for women, once a day, and a homemade protein drink a few times a week.

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?

The only side effect I struggled with was severe nausea. I had a Demerol epidural for post-op pain, as well as an unusual gallbladder drainage tube. These two things combined kept me quite nauseated despite IV anti-nausea drugs. The nausea resolved partially when the epidural was discontinued two days after surgery, and resolved completely when the drainge tube was removed ten days after surgery. I did not physically cope well, retching frequently in the hospital with very poor oral fluid intake. Emotionally I was O.K., my husband comforted me and I was certain once the tubes were gone I would be nausea-free.

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

The retching and nausea I experienced were most unpleasant. I was very sleepy the first day, and unable to interact with my husband. I knew he was there, but could not speak intelligently with him, or pay attention to him. We have only been married a short time, and I regret missing time with him.

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

I have not attended any aftercare support group. The MD has never mentioned one to attend. I am in the ObesityHelp chat room daily. There is a local support group here in Houston, of which I am an online member, however, the group is physically based in an area of town quite distant from my area of town.

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

My scar is what I expected, as I had seen this surgery performed many times before. Now, many months after my surgery, it is still pale pink, and about 7 inches vertical.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Other than a few leers from certain members of the medical staff at work, I am not being treated any different. Everyone at my work knows I had the surgery, so they were prepared to see me shrink. My colleagues at work have always treated me well. I moved to Texas from California. Texas is far more fat-friendly than California. I would like to visit California now and see if I am treated any different. My husband and family loved me before the surgery, and that has not changed.