Valrie L.

Obesity & Me

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

I was always overweight. I used to tell people that I was born and BOOM, the next day I was 250 lbs. I tried every diet, every gimmick, and even hypnosis. They worked.... for awhile. But then I put on all of the weight, plus more until I hit 311. Finding clothes to fit was hard when I was younger. Now, thanks to Lane Bryant and other plus size shops, heavy people can dress better. I had no energy. It was hard to do any work and then.... I was diagnosed with diabeties. Talk about a blow! Then I heard about bariatric surgery.

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

Finding clothes when I was younger was a nightmare. It's not so bad now with all the specialty plus shops. Being made fun of was no picnic either.

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

Helping in the Haunted Hills. The year before the surgery, I rode in the cart behind the mower and watched everyone else working. Last year, I was able to climb the hill and work!

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

My brother-in-law had the surgery. I thought he was nuts. I mean, what would make someone do something so drastic as surgery? I had already had 3 surgeries and something like that isn't to be taken lightly. You could die! But then I watched his health improve. I wanted that, too.

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 diet was atrocious (awful). But you do what you have to do. I really don't care for the following that were my favorites before: bacon, chhips of any kind, ham, and speghetti.

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

Not a lot because of the gout!

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

I take a womens formular daily vitamin and I take a B-12 pill every 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?

Throwing up was the worst. There was no rhyme or reason to it. I did this for about 6 months after surgery.

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

I don't go to support groups. My family and my friends have all been behind me and I couldn't have asked for any better support than that. Like I say, I'm not a person who gets depressed. I'm never bored and I like to live life. It all comes from within.

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

Actually I have about 5 little scars. I already had C-sections scars, so the scarring wasn't that important to me.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I hit 235 and stayed there for awhile. Then I strarted losing again and i've hit 217. It seems I'm on another plateau. But I'm not upset or worried. I weight 217 and that's the smallest I've been in years!

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Not really. I do think they notice the new found confidence that I have.
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