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

From watching two co-workers have bariatric surgery. They went from obese and meek to healthy, strong, high energy dynamos! I knew that I wanted, no needed to, go through this transformation. My health was rapidly deteriorating and they helped me to come to the best decision I had made in decades.

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

It was a very slow process. I was treated with respect, but had to go through several weight loss programs to meet the policy requirements- which of course I failed. These failures made my sense of self worth even lower-so watch out for depression and get it treated. My advise is to be well informed, persistent, but remain polite. Stay motivated. It seems to take forever, but be patient. If you start to question if this is for you, it only makes it more arduous.

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

My surgeon is incredible. If he was the first doctor I had to deal with through this process I could have dealt with the wait a whole lot better. When you see your surgeon, be HONEST about how you feel about yourself. I mean all the ugly stuff. Have a list of all the programs you have gone through, all the diets you have been on, a medical history, list of all your co-morbidities, all the medications you are on. Be well informed about bariatric surgery. It will let him/her know that you are serious and have been preparing for this. Be involved in a support group BEFORE you go. Find out how other people approached their first meeting with a surgeon. Bring your significant other. They can help the surgeon understand things about you you might not be willing to admit. It also shows the surgeon you have emotional and physical support.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

When I was diagnosed with extremely severe sleep apnea and spondylothesis

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

It is the only one my insurance company does. I would have prefered to have a more radical procedure, but Group Health has a very conservative and would not remove as much small intestine as I requested.

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 had fears. Some fear is healthy any time you have major surgery. I knew the risks. I lost a classmate in nursing school to complications from bariatric surgery back in 1979. My husband's ex-sister-n-law had major complications following an open RNY but is well now. Even with them, she said she would have the surgery again in a heartbeat. There is risk in life. I was getting sicker and facing a miserable mid-life and early death being obese. I have STRONG faith in God. He saw me through this surgery and is with me during the recovery and the weight loss down to health. IF God is with me, what can stand against me? If you are afraid, talk to your doctor or see a mental health professional, see your pastor or spiritual counselor, talk to friends, but don't keep scaring yourself with what might happen. Tell your family and friends how much you love them and allow yourself to feel their love back. You will want to have the surgery, scared or not.

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?

Very positively! They have all been WONDERFUL.

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

THey thought it was great and wondered why I had not done it before. I told my boss straight out what I was doing. He congratulated me on my intelligent decision. I was out of work 4 weeks, returned part time for a week and am back full time at 6 weeks post op.

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

For the most part, my stay in the hospital was very good. I had a bariatric bed-WONDERFUL. A bariatric wheel chair, big room furniture. I had to have a flouroscope of my pouch to make sure it did not leak. The machine was to narrow and it really hurt my stomach and the incision to squeeze into it. My incision was hit my a swinging lead filled apron. About made me pass out. The radiologist and his assistant were quick to assist me before I fell on the floor. Thankfully they were strong enough to keep me from going down. The surgeon was incredible. The surgical team was superb. My dr was great. He was extremely protective of me. The only trouble was with one nurse on the staff. She was what was called an "agency nurse" a rent-a-nurse, so to speak. She made several unprofessional, down right ignorant statements about me and the procedure. She said I was unmotivated and should have tried dieting to lose the weight first. Right, like I had never tried to diet before. She made a snide comments about my "fatty" stomach. Gee, I did not have my brain removed. She also would not help me move to the bathroom because I was "too obese". She also assumed that I had my stomach removed, and said I was foolish to have done that. I complained to the night nurse about her. The next day she was not there. I was interviewed by the head of nursing and my Doctor was a tyrant with the staff. I felt so protected. Dr Stephen Bock, Eastside Hospital Group Health Seattle WA is my hero. I have frequently read of injustices posted on this site and had a hard time believing them. Then something really injust and painful happened to me. Surgery Friday morning home Tuesday noon-four days. Bring something loose to wear home and loose slip on slippers. Don't forget deodorant, it is not provided. Bring a camera, take pictures, have your family take pictures. My family took pictures of everything, some of them looked really scary after the fact; especially right after surgery when I was all tubed up. Have a list of phone numbers of friends and family. I wanted to call people but the nice pain medication muddled my memory a little.

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

Nope

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 was really excited at first. Then the anxiety set in. I almost talked myself out of it. Then I looked in the mirror at my naked self. I looked at my ankles swollen thicker than my calves. I looked at my high blood pressure levels (180/114) and the diabetes that was just starting on the scene. I thought about it everytime I strapped on the CPAP face mask at night. And how many times I smelled of urine and feces because I had pressure incontinence from all the adipose tissue pressing on my bladder and my rectum and from poor perineal care. Then I knew it was going to be okay. What I did was go on a strict reducing diet. Gave me something to concetrate on. I needed to increase my lung capacity so I started walking. I knew I would have to do it after the surgery , so why not start practicing. Once I was resolved to my new life the excitement and joyous anticiaption returned. I practically rolled my own cart to the surgical plorr . Kidding!

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

I had an incredible support system from family and friends. My mother and husband were home and I was never alone for the first two weeks. I was sore. Do not expect to sleep much at first. The first two weeks was filled with trying to get in the fluids and the liquid diet. I spent a lot of time in a reclined postion. I took lots of little walks and angst over the bathroom. Expect discomfort, anxiety, weakness, short sleep intervals, and struggling to get down all the meds and vitamin supplements. It can be a challenge.

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

I had to travel about 95 miles. Not so bad unless you get stuck in nasty Seattle/Tacoma traffic. The ride home was incredibly exhausting. It is a drag to go back for followup.

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.

NO sugar. Extremely limited fats. Bread is a big gagger and beef is difficult. Chicken made me throw up violently for the first 9 months. Even at 13 months post I have trouble with it. Believe it or not Sweet and Low gives me stomach cramps, terrible gas and runny stools. At about 12 months post I was able to eat a lot more. That is scary, also I started craving carbohydrates. They are easy on the pouch and boy can you get a lot of calories in a day that way. My advice, stay away from pretzels, crackers, and pasta!

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

Increased steadily. Have never been really able to get up to a great deal of excercise due to severe arthritis and spondylothesis.

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

B-12, iron, multi-vitamins with minerals, calcium

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?

Vomiting-still after six months, still after 13 months Dumping became a problem when I added fresh fruit which surprised my nutritionist-atill have this problem at 13 months post. Hair loss was at its worse by month 7. I had a bald patch. By 12 months post it has started to come back very well. I still have problems with nausea if I eat something to fatty or if I get something with hidden surgars.

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

Ignorant peoples comments, other obese people telling me I was stupid to do it or that I was copping out, cheating. Oh, and the scar.

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

Nutritionist Friends

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

Big, long, red and raised. I make keloidal scars I discovered. It is really ugly. I show it off with pride. It embarrasses my daughter when I do. I am hoping it will fade in time.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

HAd a 6 week plateau at the 10 month mark. Drop 20 pounds over a course of a week when it finally let go. Started another plateau now at 13 months post. Am confident it too will pass.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

YES! So much better. It really stinks, when you think about it. Extremely different now that i weigh 141 pounds less. I don't get treated rudely anymore. Store clerks actually talk to me now. It stinks when you think about it. My money was just as spendable when I weighed 350 pounds!