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

One of the nurses where I work started giving the classes about 4 years ago. She was telling me about her new job and was very excited about it. She never said a word to me that I should have it or anything, but she planted the seed in my mind. At first I just couldn't understand why anyone would have this kind of surgery and pushed the thought out of my mind. Then the thought resurfaced and I started to see people around that had had the surgery and saw how good they looked and felt. I started to think more and more about it as I gained weight and was miserable. I decided then to check into it and am so very glad I did.

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

My first meeting with my surgeon was very good and positive. He sat me down and talked, eye to eye, with me. He is very calm and has great eye contact, and never made me feel rushed or that I didn't matter. I had a list of questions and he was very serious about answering every one of them. How can people get the most out of this meeting? Research very carefully all the information you can and make a list of what you don't understand or doesn't make sense. If your Dr. doesn't like your list, find another Dr.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

Seeing the people who had had the surgery. They looked so good and had so much energy. And they looked so good in their new clothes.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

My Dr. only does one procedure. There was no deciding, but it feels right.

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 don't have any fears about the complications or even dying from the surgery. My only fear is failure afterwards. The thought of going through this surgery only to fail this too. But I have come to the conclusion that as I lose weight and gain in self esteem, that my out look will improve and I will see myself in a different light. After being fat all of my life and seen as such a loser, the thought of failing this is my worst fear.

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 haven't had surgery yet, but I don't want to tell anyone about it. I have told the people I work with and several close friends. I see them roll their eyes and it is beyond their comprehension why someone would do something this extreme. Several have tried to talk me out of it. I haven't told my mother either. I don't want to hear the put down from her. She has already told me I am a loser. My sister is pencil thin and my husband is a real charm. He is very supportive and is as excited about it as I am.

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 is great. They ask me lots of questions like are you sure this is what you want and what if it doesn't work. I just flat out told everyone. There was a girl that worked there before that had had the same surgery and so they know what I have ahead of me. Since I haven't had the surgery yet I was told I would get 4 to 6 weeks off of work. Just depends on how I heal.

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

I was in ICU for two days. I had problems with my blood pressure. My hospital stay was ok, nothing to complain about. My very first meal of sugar free clear liquids I developed dumping syndrome. My surgeon wouldn't let me go home until we found something I didn't throw up or get diarrhea from. That took six days. What I think is important to take is personal items, tooth brush & paste, brush & comb, kleenex, stuff like that. I couldn't really concentrate to read so I didn't take anything to read. Took a small radio, slippers & socks, house coat.

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

The only complication from the surgery was part of my small intestine started dying during the surgery, so I ended up with a bowel resection. There were no problems with this. I did just fine. Also, had problems with my blood pressure after surgery so the surgeon put me on another bp pill.

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

My surgery was scheduled in a slot for another woman who couldn't keep the date so I was called at 3:00 on Monday afternoon for surgery on Wednesday morning. I really didn't have much time to be anxious. I barely had enough time to get to the hospital.

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

Well, I developed the dumping syndrome on the 4th day post op, my very first sugar free clear liquid. I had diarrhea and vomiting at the very thought of putting something in my mouth. There was just too much sugar even in the sugar free liquids. I dumped with the artificial sweetener too. After I would throw up and have diarrhea I would sleep for two or three hours, was very cold all the time and was so thirsty. All I could drink was to suck on ice chips. Literally I did nothing for the first several weeks. My advice to anyone about the first several weeks, is to expect nothing. Just play it by ear and accept whatever happens. Everyone is different.

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

About 6 miles.

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 had the dumping syndrome from the very beginning. I tolerated nothing. I lost 45 lbs in the first three weeks, so my surgeon told me to eat anything I could tolerate and that it would be trial and error. He told me to eat soft bland things. Mashed potatoes, refried beans, oatmeal, cream of wheat, baked potatoes, pretzels. I read the nutrition label and look at the sugars. I can't eat anything over two or three grams of sugar and watch out for artificial sweeteners. At the end of the third month I have been able to add more variety. I haven't dumped for several weeks now, but I am still very careful about what I eat. I found I can drink ice tea, water and flavor water if I sip it slowly from a straw. I still get very thirsty at times. I don't tolerate meat yet or anything greasy or fatty, or rich flavors.

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

At first I just slept and watched a little tv. I walked around the house but that was all I had the strength for. Now, three months out from surgery, I do anything I want. I have lots of energy and I have been wanting to do more things outside and go shopping.

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

I eat one Flintstones complete chewable childrens vitamin and eat three Tums a day. I also drink one sugar free carnation instant breakfast a day. It still gives me loose bowel movements but I don't dump it anymore. I drink it for the protein it has when it is mixed with skim milk.

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 think the nausea and vomiting were the worst. The sleep disturbance was because I was so hungry. I didn't know I couldn't sleep because I was so hungry, (because I didn't know I was hungry) but when I got to where I could eat a little, I started to sleep better. So I think that is why. I had dumping for the first three months. I just tried to let it pass. When I started to eat a little, it got better.

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

The very first four weeks when everything I ate or drank, I threw up or got diarrhea. I was wondering just what had I done! This was so permanent, I couldn't go back and undo it. I thought I had made a huge mistake. Everyone I talked to had done so good, no one dumped. My Dr. had no answers for me either, none of his other patients had dumped like I was. I got very depressed thinking it was always going to be like that. But now four months out, I am so happy I did it and I have had great weight loss. I still have to be careful about what I eat, but nothing like it was.

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

We have a support group at the hospital where I had my surgery. It is ok. But I have gotten better answers here on ObesityHelp.com. I think for me it isn't all that important but I can see it really does help some of the people that go to the meetings.

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

I have a nice scar as far as scars go. It is a thin line and it is fading in color as time goes on. I expected a bad scar, much worse, so technically, I am happy with how it looks.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I had one plateau so far. It lasted about four weeks and the scale didn't budge. I knew my body had to catch up with the weight loss so I was expecting it, but it really is a drag to get on the scale and not see any loss week after week. I stayed at 203 all that time

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes! They look AT you, make eye contact. Like I'm not so disgusting anymore. They talk first and more people are saying things like good morning, can I help you? and how are you?