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 the hospital that I work at started to do the surgery. My impression was apprehensive at first, but when I started to see these patients come back for their follow up appointments, and the change that had transpired in just a short time, I was ready to sign up.

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

Insurace approval was not a real headache for me. A couple of people that work in the same facility that I do had the surgery done before me and I would guess that forged the way for me to get approved quickly. The weight loss center I went through took care of all of this for me.

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

My first meeting with the surgeon was very informative. He sat down with me for quite a while and went through step by step what would happen and what to expect and what he expected out of me.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I decided to have the surgery the day that I spoke to the surgeon and had all of my questions answered.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I decided to go with the Ruen Y because that was what they were doing at the hospital that I worked at.

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 was really fearful about blood clots. I had talked to some people who had pulmonary embolisms and they had a hard time for a couple of weeks. The doctor that I used does everything he can to prevent this by giving heparin shot 3 times a day while you are at the hospital. Luckily I didn't develope this problem.

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 thought that I was crazy, but they are all very supportive. My mother and sister would have this done if they had insurance.

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

Everyone at work was very supportive and came and visited me. I expect to be out of work for 4 weeks.

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

My stay at the hospital was wonderful. All of the staff did everything they could to help me. I was there 3.5 days. Most important to bring is you toiletries and as a respiratory therapist don't forget your incentive spirometer.

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

I did not really have any complications, just the pain that you would expect from being cut open. The doctor prescribed enough pain medicine to have the pain under control and managable.

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

So far I am 2 weeks post op and I just keep up with the pain medicine to manage pain of the temporary g tube, the other incision does not hurt any more. The rest of the day I am continually keeping myself busy by counting and measuring food intake.

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

The first week people should expect to be tired and a little in pain. The more you move around the better it gets. Make sure you take time for yourself and take nice long showers, do something to make yourself feel good.

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

I traveled 45 miles one way to get to the surgery center. I prearranged for my family doctor to help in my aftercare incase something would happen to arrise that I could not get back to the surgery center to be cared for.

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.

The first two weeks post surgery so far, I am eating an all liquid diet that consists of soup, jello, yogurt, bariatric shakes,sugar free popcicles and sugar free kool aid. Off limits are all processed sugars and carbonated drinks and caffeine. On 6/30 I get to go for the puree foods! Can't wait, meat!! 8/26/02- Have been on solids for a little while and just now learning when to stop pushing the food in. So far the only thing that I can't eat is red meat. Red meat just feels like a rock in my stomach and then I get nauseated and it comes back out.

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

About the third day after surgery I felt good enough to get out of the house and go places. 5th week after surgery, I was back to work.

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

I take 3 Flintstone complete vitamins a day, 3 tums at night and up to 3 bariatric protien shakes a day.

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, but I thinks so far this is from anesthesia. The first 2 days after surgery I felt bloated from trying to eat too quickly. 8/26/02 still having the hair loss, but depends on how much protein I have eaten in the days surounding the hair loss. Some days its hardly none, other days its handfulls.

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

The worst part of the surgery process so far was drinking the gastrographin to detect any leaks. This was so gross.

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

The weight loss center conducts monthly meetings, but they are usually on days that I am working, but family, friends, and coworkers have been very helpful.

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

The scar is a little larger than I expected. I thought it would be shorter. Also I've never really had anything this large done so I didn't know that I would keloid so bad.Right now it is still red and is raised, also touchy.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

So far no plateau has occured. The weight loss is still on going but as to how much each week depends on how much I have exercised.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Some people treat me differently. We recently had a raise in our insurance rates at work, and one of my coworkers have mentioned that it is due to people that work there having the bariatric surgery. She has also stated that she thinks that the hospital should screen people before they are hired. Meaning that they should not hire obese people. I think she is kind of prejudice.