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

Watched a co-worker go from 320 to 180 in 1 year. I gave myself one last diet chance. I went on Dr. Atkins diet for 7 weeks. Absolutly no cheating. I lost 15 lbs the first 2 weeks and then not another ounce. Five weeks with no results left me with the "no other route" solution. I was nervous and excited. It made so much sense. Being in the medical profession, I feel I was taken advantage of for so long, because my PCP never suggested it. I think they are afraid they will loose a few bucks when you no longer need HBP and arthritis meds. You won't need to see them as often.

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

I did not have a real good experience. It only took one letter, but many many phone calls. I got the run around and it took a lot longer than I thought it would but they did approve it after 3 months.

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

He was very nice and made sure that my daughter and myself understood everything. I was not intimidated by him. Make sure you have all your questions ready when you go to see him.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

When my last diet failed.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

It was the only one I was aware of.

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 to the point that I felt it was O.K. if I didn't make it through the surgery. Besides the weight, I have many other issues with my life. If I continued to be obese I would never have the backbone and stamina I need to concer the other issues. I didn't have a death wish, I just knew that I had to do it. I was more worried about complications. So far I haven't had any thing serious.

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?

Older daughter was supportive, but she is a teenager and as long as it doesn't interfer with her busy life it was o.k. My younger daughter didn't even care too much. She is also a teenager and wrapped up in her own life. I have no husband. My mother was nervous, but as supportive as she could be.

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

Since a co-worker had it done in 98 and they saw the benefits it was o.K. Supervisors promised prayer and support. I told them even before I was sure I would have the surgery. They helped me by explaining all about short term disablity and the way I could use my vaction in conjuction with STD to continue to receive full paychecks. I plan on being out of work for 6 weeks. I may go to do some volunteer light duty at 4 weeks.

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

I was in the hospital for 4 days. I did have the best experience. I was scheduled for the first appointment of the day. I had to be there at 6:30 AM. I had request to be the last surgery of the day. I had to get up at 2 am in order to get there on time, since I live almost 3 hours away. I had my surgery during the hottest spell of the summer. The surgical technicians were complaining about the humidity in the operating room and said it was unacceptable. They did my surgery anyway. The rest of the surgeries were postponed until the air conditioner was functioning properly. When I woke up I was being put in my bed in my own room by 2 nurses or aids that were unhappy about working contitions. They were complaining to each other about so and so didn't do this or that and how they were not happy with their jobs. This upset me. I did not want unhappy people taking care of me. When I was allowed to take a shower on day 3 the aid took me to the shower area and left me, no help. I was not pleased with the day shift of workers. It is sad that they left this impression with me, because the PM and Midnight shift of workers were very nice and helpful. The day I was to leave the head nurse on the midnight shift helped me with a shower and even washed my hair for me. She said she likes to get everyone a shower before they leave. I told her that I wasn't going to take one because I got so tired the day before showering by myself and she said she would help me. She even put lotion on my legs. The PM shift was also very nice. I hope since my surgery the day shift people have found a profession they like better and have left the facility. I took a casset player and books to read, but with the medication making me sleepy I couldn't read more than a page before falling asleep. I used the TV that was in the room. It was very hot in the hospital room and they did not have a very good air conditioner and only a few fans. I did get a fan for a while. If you have a small box fan take it with you.

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

When I came home I had diarrhea, I called BTC and they told me to get liquid imodium. I took one dose and was cured. No other complications.

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

The first week was very hard. I was in a lot of pain. I got tired of the liquid diet, then as I went through the full liquid, pureed, & soft food phases, I also couldn't wait for real food. I feard the "dumping syndrome". Did not cheat. No sugar. Low fat. I became obsessed with reading labels on everything that went into my grocery cart. I even caught myself looking for the ingredients on the package of toliet paper I bought. I was afraid I would have problems when I went back to work with both my activity (fairly active job), and my eating. We eat at a lot of fast food restaraunts and have people cook for us for lunch and I don;t know what is in the food. (if sugar is used, or how much fat is used). I did, for some reason, have alot of elbow pain. Never have figured out why. I had been on arthritis medication pre-op and quit before surgery. I still have it a little but while I was off work it was very bad. Think it had to do with inactivity, possibly.

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

Could not sleep in my bed for the first couple of weeks. Painful if I tried to lie down. Slept in a recliner. Very tired. Allergy to codiene so liquid tylenol was the only pain reliver I could take. It didn't help much. I was week for a couple of weeks. It was not easy. I used to love to drink water by the glassful. After surgery I no longer enjoyed water and had to force myself to drink it. Was not getting enough water or protein. Used the internet as a source of information. So glad to find so many sites dealing with weight loss surgery. Wish I would have found them before surgery. I was back to work at 6 weeks. If I would have had a desk job, I know I would have been back to work at 3 weeks. I was getting bored being at home.

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

I traveled just over 2 hours (if no or little traffic), to have my surgery. But, unfortuanately it takes 3-4 hours if the traffic is heavy (usually), around Chicago. I do not like to drive in this kind of traffic. I'm a country girl and hate heavy traffic. If I would have to decide over I would have gone to BTC in Ann Arbor Michigan instead, it is more miles but less traffic. I will not be going in for my 6 and probably 9 month check up, due to the distance and time it takes to drive. I had to pay for a hotel for my daughters to stay in while I was in the hospital, since it was too far for them to drive each day and they were my only support. This added over $500 to my expenses for this surgery. Since I slept most of the time, I guess they really did not have to stay the whole time and should have gone home after the first day and come back to pick me up on the last day.

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.

This is my guidline set up by the surgeon's dietician. No more that 12 grams of fat per meal or snack not exceeding 48 grams per day. Eat nothing with over 2 grams of sugar per serving unless it is a natural sugar (milk or fruit). Eat 6 times a day. 3 meals and 3 snacks. (A snack can be just a glass of skimmed milk or a piece fo cheese).

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

I was very tired for the first couple of weeks. By week 6 I was pretty much back to what I considered normal. By 3 months my energy and activity increased to well beyond what I had before surgery.

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

I have tried protein powders (hate them). I did the sugarfree chewable children's vitamins for the first 6 weeks, then I went to Centrum (cut in half). Half in the morning and half in the evening (when I remember).

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?

Very little nausea ever. Pain kept me from sleeping in my bed. No dumping (but I have not cheated on my sugars). Hair loss started at 3 and 1/2 months and now at 5 months is still pretty bad. I hate the protein powder drinks and have not been getting in enough protein. I had a lot of hair to start with so it is just now starting to look a little straggley. I am hoping is stops soon, or I will have to force myself to drink that horrible protein powder.

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

The actual pain for the first week post op.

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

The only support is way to far away to drive to. I get my support from the internet WLS and OSSG groups. Wish BTC had one closer.

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

My scar runs from my bra line around my navel and almost meets my C-section scar. It is what I expected. I do not ever plan on wearing a bikini so I am not unhappy with it.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I plateau almost everyother week. I loose 5 pound in one week then nothing for a week. This makes it about 10 pounds a month since the initial large loss the first 8 weeks. I am just a little above the average in the weight loss according to what I have read. I read 30 by the first month 50 by the third month 80 by six months and 145 in a year. I am at 5 months and have lost 80 pounds

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Very much so.