Denys K.

Obesity & Me

Describe your behavioral and emotional battle with weight control before learning about bariatric surgery.

I have had a weight problem all of my life. I was insecure, and my weight has held me back from so many things. I want to take control of my life and my destiny.

What was (is) the worst thing about being overweight?

The limits that other people attributed to me without really knowing what I was capable of.

If you have had weight loss surgery already, what things do you most enjoy doing now that you weren't able to do before?

Wear more attractive clothing (how superficial is that?). Hopefully the rest will come later.

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

I first found out about bariatric surgery when I heard Carney Wilson's story. My immediate impression was, "I have to check this out."

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

I had absolutely no difficulty whatsoever. I never had to deal with the insurance company at all. My surgeon's office took care of the whole thing.

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

Please don't be intimidated. Remember, this person (the surgeon) is YOUR prospective employee. He will be working for you. Do sit down and think about all the things you want to know, and write them down over the course of about a week. My first visit was awesome. I had already attended a required seminar, so most of my questions were already answered.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I knew that there was no other way I was going to lose weight. I had tried everything else. My mother died when I was 20 due to complications of MO, and I didn't want to do that to my children.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

This was the only procedure my surgeon was doing at the time.

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 general anxiety about everything! Although it sounds morbid, the way I got myself through was to think to myself, "I don't want to have a stroke and be a prisoner in my own body for the rest of my life. And, all things considered, there are worse ways to go than in your sleep (if anesthesia can truly be considered "sleep")

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?

Most were not for the surgery. They all had fears, and some volunteer to diet with me, promised me anything if I would just not have the surgery. I don't think any amount of communication would have helped. They all had their preconceived notions. Now they are all very supportive, keep track of my progress, and never fail to tell how wonderful I'm doing!

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

I did tell my employer, and they had no problems with my decision. I was very up front about my surgery, because I figured, at some point everyone is going to figure it out. I was out of work for 3 weeks, and when I went back, I was physically ready and returned with no restrictions.

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 wonderful. I was there for 2 days. I really didn't need to bring anything besides the splinting pillow I received from my surgeon when I attended "boot camp". I couldn't have survived without that!

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

I had absolutely no complications, which is what I was really worried about. I had enough vacation time to cover 3 weeks and that was it. And since my surgery was right before Christmas, I could not afford to be out longer and still be an effective Santa!

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 feel great! My energy level is greatly improved, and I can't believe that 33 pounds can make such a difference! My anxiety now focuses on how much and how quickly the weight comes off. When I feel like I'm not progressing, I go to our website, and ask for opinions. This website has been my greatest source of support.

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

Everyone's different, but 4 days after surgery, I stopped taking the pain medication. It was making it too difficult to get up and move around the way I knew I was supposed to. I was also cooking and sweeping the floor 4 days out. Nothing major, but I was definatley funtional.

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

Not far at all. About 40 minutes away from my home. It really had no negative effect on my after care.

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 am only 5 weeks out, but during the first 2 weeks I was on a liquid diet. Then for the next 2 weeks, soft foods were added. At this point, I can pretty much eat anything. The only problem I've ever had was with mayonnaise, and I haven't tried again!

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

During the first week and a half, I slept a lot, got up to fix dinner for the family, walk around to get everything moving, and that was about it. At 3 weeks, I was back to my regular, full time work schedule, and my activity level is above what it was before surgery.

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

I take Vista Vitamins, and that's the only one I need, according to my surgeon.

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 haven't had any of those side effects up to this point (knock on wood)

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

Definatley the waiting!!!

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

I attend a support group once a month, and I log onto ObesityHelp everyday. The support and information I get from these 2 forums have been invaluable.

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

I have 5 small stab holes. The one where most of the manipulation was done is larger than I expected, but who cares?!

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I ran into a plateau (technically not even a real plateau, since it only lasted about 2 weeks) at 2 weeks out. I was having a tough time getting in all my water. When I started to really concentrate on my intake, things began to move again.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes, I notice people noticing me, in a good way.
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