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

I had heard mostly negative things about weight loss surgery--but really didn't know much about it. What I did know was largely stuff from the procedures they did years ago that didn't work. One of the girls in my office announced that she was going to have surgery and I started listening. I work at a hospital and found out about the support group here. I also had an upcoming appointment with the clinical nutritionist who happens to be the one who works with my surgeon. By the time I got in to see her (I made an appointment in Aug for Dec), I had just about decided that this was what I wanted to do. At my first visit to her, I weighed 244# and was taking 50 mg a day of Cozaar for blood pressure and 2000 mg a day of Glucophage plus Avandia for diabetes--which was still running around 160. With Dr. Alger's guidance, I started a protein sparing diet the day after Christmas. (My surgeon won't even see a patient who hasn't lost at least 10% of their weight first). I also began going to the weekly support group meetings and reading reading reading. I had my appointment with my surgeon on Feb 26 and had my surgery date set for March 20, 2003. By the time I went into surgery, I was completely off diabetes meds and weighed 300#.

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 problem with insurance at all. My surgeon's office staff sent in the forms and the request was approved in about 2 weeks.

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

My surgeon schedules initial meetings with a group of 3 to 6 patients. For about 2 hours he talks, draws pictures, and explains both the positive and negative sides of the surgery. He starts with possible complications, including the worse, " this is major surgery--and you could die!!!" He emphasizes that this surgery provides us with a tool that can help in weight loss--if we learn to use it and make a commitment to a life style change. He also says, "I can operate on you stomach--but not your head." Dr. Rosati is a very caring man who really wants to help people. After this group meeting, on the same day he meets with each patient individually in an exam room. Where we spends another 45 minutes or so. He does a physical and talks--and listens. At that point he took me out to the secretary to find a surgery date. I had already been working with a clinical nutritionist. I had had a physical, a psych eval, EKG, etc., and I had lost 10% + of my start weight. I had also started doing 30 minutes a day on my recumbent exercise bike. I had also read 3 books on weight loss surgery and tons of stuff on line. I had been going to the weekly support group meetings for 4 months. To get the most out of this meeting--prepare and educate yourself. Read, talk to people who are post op, find out what changes you have to make in your life. Go prepared to listen and be able to ask questions.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I have worked in the health care industry all my adult life. As miserable as I was with the discomfort of obesity, it was being diagnose with diabetes that shook me up. I have taken care of people who died of complications of diabetes--and it was horrible. I also knew that I wasn't able to maintain any kind of weight loss on my own and that up and down is even more dangerous. I want to be around for my grandchildren.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I had an open RNY proceedure for a number of reasons: 1) My reading indicated that it is concidered to be the "gold standard" of bariatric surgery. 2) It was, at the time, the only procedure done by the doctors in this hospital. (One now does the lap band as well) 3) The surgeon I like best, only does this procedure by the open incision method. I had already had 3 prior open abdominal procedures (2 C-sections & an open gallbladder surgery), so I didn't mind.

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 frankly had more fear of what was going to happen to me if I didn't lose weight and keep it off and I didn't know anyother way to do this. I had tried it all.

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?

At first, while I was in the process of research and trying to decide, I only told my adult children and my sister. They were wonderfully supportive and good listeners to my ramblings of why or why not. When I decided to go for it I told 2 of my 3 brothers--the other one I just didn't catch up with. I waited until I had a surgery date to tell my parents. They were worried, but supported me. After surgery everyone was great. My son in law took time off from work to watch the kids so my daughter could come here to be with me. My sister, my niece, everyone, was great. Also my women friends at church have been great. The people I work with were good too. I work in an office of six women. One of them had her surgery 11/02, I had mine 3/03 and a third on had hers 7/03. We have our own mini-support group in the office.

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

My employers were fine with my decision. I was out for 6 weeks.

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

1) My surgeon follows up a couple of weeks after, 6 months after-coming up in a couple of weeks, 1 yr out, & 2 yrs out. Is very accessible if needed in between. 2) My clinical nutritionist saw me a couple of weeks post-op, at 3months, 6 months(coming up soon), 9 months, 1 yr, 18 mo, 2 yrs, then annually forever. Oftener if needed. She orders a ton of blood work each time. In my case, after losing 100 lb, I discovered I had a 3mm malignant breast tumor on a routine mammogram. I really believe it might not have been seen if I had not lost weight. My clinical nutritionist help me make adjustments to help me get through radiation therapy. I am more than half way through now and am still working, continuing to lose weight and feeling great. 3) We have a wonderful weekly support group that is led by a registered diatician and provided by my clinical nutritionist and the 2 surgeons who do this procedure here. I learned so much from that group and the people in it. I had very little trouble adjusting to my new life style--but I was able to avoid a lot of problems by listening to others at the meeting when I was still pre-op. My theme song to anyone concidering surgery is educate yourself thoroughly. 4) Our support group has an online support. We e-mail each other a lot with all kinds of questions and suggestions 5) This obesity.com site is wonderful

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

My scar is about 4 inches--it is actually the smallest of my incissions. The gallbladder incision is huge and gave me a lot more trouble. Of the 4 surgerys, this was the least painful and easiest to recover from.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I weigh myself once a week on the scale at my clinical nutritionist's office--our support group meets in her waiting room. I have lost every week since surgery except one. At 5 months, I had one week where I stayed exactly the same, but I lost 4 lbs the week before and 3 pounds the week after. More importantly, I know what I am eating, how much I am exercising, and I know I getting better all the time.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Oh wow, yes!! My family and friends are so supportive and helpful. My dental hygenist didn't recognize me. My grandson (5 years old) was cuddled up to me on the couch watching tv, when he said, "Grandma, you used to be fat, and now you are so pretty!" That's priceless.