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

My mother told me about it several years ago. she knew a co worker who had the surgery. I toyed w/ the idea of the surgery for a few years before becoming serious about it.

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

I was very lucky. I had great ins. coverage. They approved my surgery the first time it was submitted. Although I backed out and did not have the surgery the first time, it was still approved a year later. They only required an updated physcial from my new doctor. I have North American Administrators.

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

My Doctor required that you take a free informational seminar before he would see you for a consultation. I guess to kinda let you know the high and low points of this surgery and all of your risks and options. The doctoer and his entire staff were there at the semiar. He has a whole team to help you. Anutritionist, an excersice phisiologist, a physcologist, etc. They all spoke and then hung around after the seminar to answer questions. They also gave you a free infromational hand book about the entire surgey process before and after. It was very informative and helpful.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

Thats a good question. I think it took me so long to actually do this because I was not only scared of the pain but I was really struggling w/ actually giving up my best friend, food. But after watching my best friend (who had the surgery the same day I was scheduled to a year earlier) and my aunt, become small and healthy. I knew I had to bite the bullet and do this for my health. Chicken or not. It is so strange I was more envious of my friend being able to paint her own toe nails than her physcial appearance. lol

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

The first time I was supposed to have this surgery I was to have it open. But I was not very impressee w/ that doctor. so the second time around a co worker of my mother's had it with Dr. and had it lap so I decided that would be the best for me. And after meeting w/ The doctor I was very impressed w/ him and felt he was very competent. Most of his surgeries were lap.

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?

As i stated before I am the worlds biggest chicken. Not only of pain alone but of needles. I struggled everyday w/ anxiety and fear until I let go and let god. I could never have had this surgery amd came through so well w/ out him. I was scared of dying also. Especially the night before surgery, Nut I just prayed that god would give me courage and peace, and he did.

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 husband was always supportive. He has always been the type to support anything that makes me happy. My parents were also supportive. My father very much so, my mother was but she also had the feeling that if something happened to me she did want to be the one who told me to do this so she left it up to and supported my decision. My aunt was another story. She had had the surgery 1 year beforeme and had a real scare in the hospital w/ alot of bleeding. So, after that she swore she would never encourage anyone to do this. She told me alot of things that scared me, and even tried to tell me god had come to her and told her I would die if I did this. That alone really upset me. I struggled with that alot. I did not want to go against god but I did not feel it was wrong. Eventually i decided if it was wrong god would let me know. i prayed and then made up my mind to have it. I then told my aunt lovingly, but firmly my decision and she was very supportive after the surgery. I was very blessed with wonderful support from family and friends. I could not have done this w/ out my best friend who had the surgeey encouraging me and going w/ me to all of my appointments etc. She is one of the main reasons I went thorough with it. she assured me it was the best thing she had ever done for herself and that once it was ocer and the fear was gone I would feel the same way. And even though I am Only 2 months post op I have lost almost 40lbs and I am already thankful I did this.

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

I am not employed so I did not have any of those problems.

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

My stay in the hospital was relativly comfortable. My doctor required no bowel prep before surgery, and you had to have a bowl movement before you could be released from the hospital. So, the worst part for me was the suppository the day after surgery. They told me it would only make me pass alittle mucas which would be enough of a bm to ley me go home. WRONG! I felt like I was in hard labor for about 2 hrs while havinng diareah, Then I finally passes a huge bm before it was over. I went in the hospital on a Wendesday and came home on Friday. I could have come home the next day but after the bm thing I was exhausted and was not up for the 2 hr drive. I would tell everyone to take your own night gowns, slippers and chap stick.

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

I did not have ant complications from the actual surgery. My sugar was going up very high and I was taking alot of insulin in the hospital.When I came home I was allergic to my pain meds, So I had to call the doctor, he told me to take liquid tylenol. So, I don't know if it was the sugar in it thatcaused the dumping syndrome or if it was my sugar itself. All I know is I got very sick , pouring the sweat. froze to death etc, I really can't explain it except that I thought I was dying. my sugar was 300 then I took a small bite of an insulin pill and It went to 48 In about 5 mins. My friend drove 45 mins to be with me at 2:00 am b/c I knew I was dying. It pretty much lasted all night. The next morning I went to my familt Dr. who put me in outpatient for IV fluids for dehydration and I have done pretty well ever since.

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

I felt anxious , but as I said earlier I just prayed that god would give me peace and he did. Sure I would get very scared spells from time to time, but I would just pray about it.

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

Well, as I said I had lap so my recovery was not as long as the open. I was not really in alot of pain but just discomfort. I walked alot for fear of blood clots and I think it helped the soreness b/c I did move around alot. Now mentally was another story. For some reason I become very depressed I creid constantly and did not want to be alone at all. This lasted about 4 days after coming home. Then the head hunger set in. And I thought I was starving. I was on complete liquids and I creid when i saw food commercials and when anyone ate in front of me. This for me was the hardest thing. But once i was advanced the the soft phase of my diet and I could actually eat somrhting I was fine. I would just go into this knowing that you will think you are hungry, but as the saying goes this too shall pass. I think I was grieving for the loss of my best friend, food. And when the grieving period kinda ended I was ok.

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

I traveled 2hrs away for all appointments and surgery. I still do for my follow up visits.

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 am still pretty new at this so I can remember all of this well. I done great with the liquids. I had sugar free popcicles, crystal light, broth, sugar free jello etc. I then advanced to the soft foods diet and was able to try wendy's chili w/ sltine crackers. (you would have thought this was a royal feast, It was soooo good after all liquids I savored everybite) , saltine crackers w/ cheese (swiss, cheddar etc) and soup, oatmeal, eggs etc and did very well with all of those too. I then advanced to regular food, which is what I have just started last week. At first I was not doing so well. Nothing made ne sick to my stomach, it did not make it that far. It felt like it was getting stuck in my chest. I felt like I was having a heart attack.And then the foamy vomit come. I was convinced I had a stricture so I went to my family Dr. She order an upper gi and it showed no blockages but alot of irritation and acid reflux. So she gave me prevacid that you mix in water and I have done great ever since. I have tried pizza, taco bell , chicken , pork, hambureger, veggies, pasta etc and done great. Just a note, I had quit smoking 3 packs of cigarettes a day 5 months brfoe surgery. When I come home and could not eat I picked up where I left off at 3 packs per day. Not only was this risky b/c of blood clots and pneumonia, but It kept my esophagus irritated and made me vomit also.

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

My activity level was pretty much normal. I did tire easily sometimes. But most of the time it was ok.

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

I take Bugs Bunnt complete chewable vitamins 2 times per day and I am supposed to drink 3 protien drinks per day but I usually only got 2 in. And I am ashamed of myself, but since starting to eat i haven't been doing any at all. I will be sorry when My hair falls out.

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?

The worst thing for me was when I got the stuck food feeling and the awful vomiting of foam. As I said you will think you are having a heart attack. But after the prevacid that you mix w/ water and quitting smoking it has almost completely stopped.

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

I think It was the emotional part. Really having to say good bye to my crutch, FOOD! But it gets better. I think I had the worst time b/c it was memorial weekend and everyone was cooking out etc. I felt like I was some kind of freak. but as soon as I started soft foods (about 3 weeks out) i started cooking again. I would grill pork chops or chicken and grind then in the blender w/ chicken broth and i would cook vegetables, such as squashw green peppers and onions and cheese, brussel sprouts, green beans, peas etc. Then I could eat what everyone else ate and I have been fine ever since.

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

My doctor requires extensive follow up care w/ his team of nutritionist, excercise physiologist, psycologist etc. So I have had alot of follow up care. Also his patients have a great support group. I live to far away to attend but, they have a meeting on line once a week and I chat w/ them and it helps alot.

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

I have 6 very small incisions from the lap procedure. They are completely healed and are just alittle red . As i said I am only 2 moths out and they are ahrdley noticable.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I am not that far out to give a very good answer to this question. I have been discourage b/c I read everyones profiles and feel I am losing slower than most. But they say the bigger you are the faster it comes off. i thought I was the biggest person in the world but after talking to others I am a light weight they say! lol imagine that, I sure don't feel light weight! But I have lost 37 lbs in 8 weeks. I guess thats good, considering it has beens years since I lost and did not gain.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

I am not there yet but I will be soon. I talked about this surgery for so long, it seems almost sureal to me that I have done it and it's over and I am on the other side. I know alot of my family and friends amke comments about the weight I have lost so far and it feels so good. i know this sounds strange, b'c I am still so big, but I already have more confidence. I guess not only b/c I have lost a few lbs but b/c I am proud of my self for having the guts to do this and knowing that I will be going down in size instead of hating myself for gaining more.