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

I heard about this from a friend of a friend, Researched about it online. It sounds kind of scary but worth the risk.

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

Do alot of research, hand deliver documents if needed, never give up. Make calls to the hospital and insurance until you get answers. They sometimes sit on your paperwork for several weeks for no apparent reason.

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

I liked him. He was friendly, open and honest. Ask alot of questions. Check out questions from other links so you know what to ask. Ask how long your common channel(75-85cm)for the DS will be and your elementary limb.( about 250)for a 5'5" female. Take all chart notes from all doctors from the past 5-10 years. Take your diet history and test results from current blood work. This information will assist your surgeon and help speed the process.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I decided this is not living. If I do not have this surgery I will surely die. It was my light at the end of my dark tunnel.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

study, study, study. Decide what is best for you. Talk to your surgeon. It is your body, your life, you make the choice. I found the DS to fit best into a normal life style.

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?

The fear of dying of course. I am afraid I won't be around to see my grandson grow up or to be there for my family. For me it is worth the risk because life for me right now is poor quality.

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?

Some are supportive, some ignorant and others against it. I feel if they love me they will support me regardless of their feelings. They are not living in this body.

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

They are curious about it. I have told them very little. It is none of their business.

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

I was at OHSU for 7 days the first time. 2 days later I was back in the hospital. Total stay 36 days. The doctor was hard to pin down to get answers to our questions. After calling the patient advocate things were much better. The nursing staff were unbelievable. What wonderful, caring and attentive people. I loved the staff.

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

After the initial surgery part of my intestine died and had to be removed. I had peritonitis as well as cellulitis. Complaints, tests and medication.

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 excited. I viewed this as a chance for a new life. I never thought I would almost die. Before the 2nd surgery I was terrified. I cried and insisted the hospital allow my husband and sister to stay with me until I was wheeled into OR.

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

Very weak. Just walking to the bathroom was a huge effort. I was unable to sleep in my bed. I slept in my reclinner. I could only eat about 4 tablespoons at a time and was usually never hungry. Do not expect to feel good for quite awhile.

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

I had to travel about 30 miles. It was not a problem for me.

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.

In the begining a hated anything sweet. I could not choke it down. No juice, fruit, pudding, yogurt etc. This lasted about 8 weeks. I ate cottage cheese, avacado, tuna, mashed potato. I could only eat about 1/4 of a cup at a time. Meat did not appeal to me. Now at about 10 weeks post-op my favorite things are steak, crab and shrimp. I hate eggs but really didn't care for them before anyway. I can really eat anything. Greasy foods go straight through me.

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

I just walked around the house and in the yard. My husband and daughter in law did the house work for me. I rested alot but slept very little.

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

Multi-vitamin and mineral. Calcium with Vitamin D.

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?

Nausea was horrible for about 6 weeks and vomited every morning upon rising then it tapered off. I had hair loss and still do but it is not extreme. One thing that is annoying to me is I have 8-10 bowel movements per day. YUCK!!!

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

My scar is so ugly and my hernia is the size of Texas.

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

I have my on line support group and some barriatric friends. I find at this point I am not too interested in the computer though.

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

It looks like a centipede. The first surgery it looked fine but by the third time wow- UGLY

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

On a plateau for about 30 days. I have lost as of 8/3/01 53lbs. As of 8/1/01 I am down to 208, I have chronic pain from a large ventral hernia, a 3 cm hopening where my liver is protruding through, large fist sized calcifide masses and my ribs were fractured upon retraction and have healed with a false cartiledge and hurt when I do anything. Especially take a deep breath, cough or sneeze. Sleeping is uncomfortable as well.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

My family is more helpful because I still have a great deal of pain. I think due to the hernia. People who have not seen me for awhile comment on how much better I look. At a year + post op I think most people expect me to be well. It just isn't happening. My insurance, Regence BC/BS will not pay for the repair needed so I can get back to living.