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

I knew a woman years ago who had surgery and lost a lot of weight but she wasn't happy. Last year a woman I had gone to weight watchers with had abdominal surgery and her doctor "offered" to do the bypass while he was in and she agreed. She looks great. I was scared to death of the surgery and scared that it wouldn't work for me. After all, 20 years of different diet programs hadn't helped me. I thought I could not be helped. I started searching the net and found hundreds of people just like me who are totally committed to WLS and through them I am finding courage to "stay the course".

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

I had no trouble with approval and this was due to the diligence of the staff at Images, the clinic in Lubbock, Texas. They took care of everything.

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

Dr. Hall has a group consultation with all of his surgical patients for the week. He spends 4 - 5 hours detailing the surgery, post op diet, lifestyle changes, emotional expectiations, support and every other related topic. Then he sees the patients individually for an exam. He was blunt about my heart condition but said I was a candidate for surgery. To get the most out of this meeting, do your research and write down your questions. Chances are he will answer your questions before you ask. He did mine.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I felt that I had exhausted my options. 25 years of dieting and I hit 40 and thought "I've lived over half my life and if I don't do something about this weight, I won't live that much longer."

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I chose VBG after reading dozens of website testimonials from post op patients. I didn't want the "dumping" associated with bypass and I didn't want to suffer from eating "hidden" sugar. Also cheese is like a lifelong companion of mine and I understood that bypass patients could not tolerate dairy products very well.

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 was very afraid of dying. I have a heart condition and I was afraid I would not make it through surgery. Dr. Hall calmed a lot of those fears when he said that in 4000 surgeries he had only lost one patient and he explained that death to my satisfaction. I recognized that he was going to guide me through this and that he was going to do every thing in his power to impress upon me the need to follow directions and follow the program. If you were having any type of surgery- gallbladder,appendix, whatever, you would run the same risk, but most folks think this surgery is more dangerous because it is elective. He calmed me a lot with that analogy.

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 mom has worried about my weight for years. My brothers thought is was great and that I was very brave. My sister was angry that we would not be able to have the same kind of fun times because our trips would no longer be about food. She later came around and is on a diet of her own because she doesn't want to be the "fat" sister. When my cardiologist would not give me clearance, my older brother did express his opinion that he would kick my butt if anything went wrong. I went to another reputable cardiologist who ran every kind of test imaginable and pronounced me clear for surgery. My kids are great. They help me by not eating pizza at the house and by not complaining that the chicken is "grilled" again.

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

I am self-employed and my mom works for me. She was great to cover for me. I went back to work the 6th day post op, but the anesthesia played hell with my concentration and my memory for about 3 weeks.

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

I stayed at Highland Medical Center in Lubbock. A very nice facility. There were about 5-6 other VBG patients while I was there. We formed our own little support group. I was there 5 days. I took books and books on tape and a cell phone which were of no use because I was drugged on morphine and felt too bad to use any of them. I used the hospital's gowns because it was easier. Good houseshoes were helpful because I was forced to walk up and down the hall so often. I really wished the doctor had left the epidural in more than 1 day. Day 2 and 3 and 4 were days straight from hell. Day 3 I stopped the morphine so I wouldn't sleep in the chair during the day. My bed was not made up in the daytime so that I would be forced to be up and walking. I hated it at the time, but saw the need. I'm just glad that's all behind me!

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

Absolutely none. I followed directions, blew in that hateful little breathing apparatus in the hospital-even though it hurt like hell, because my doctor said it would help prevent pneumonia. I coughed for him, even though it hurt like hell. I got up faithfully every 30 minutes and pushed that IV pole down the hall and continued walking every day since to avoid a blood clot. I elevated my feet above my heart on my way home and got out of the car and walked around it 10 times every 30 minutes all the way home-even though it was 30 degrees and I was wearing a loose dress. I'm scared of complications so I have tried really hard to follow directions. Hope this doesn't jinx me!

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 petrified. My knees turned to jelly. I had my will updated. I set my affairs in order. I ate steak every day with my favorite desserts. One week before surgery I gave up coca cola. That was traumatic! I suffered a setback when I was told I couldn't have my original surgery date because I was 30 minutes late getting my cardiac clearance. I had to postpone the surgery a week. That was hard on me because I was already in a room with a hospital gown on when I was told the anesthetist had already left and wouldn't come back so I had to reschedule.

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

I had to sleep on the couch because I couldn't get down to my waterbed. It is low to the ground and it stretched my stomach too much to try to get down in it. It was nearly 2 weeks before I could get into my bed. 4 weeks before I could sleep on my side or my stomach. Thank God for sugar free jello. I ate it every day. I concentrated on eating tiny bites of turkey or chicken and a few green beans and I tried hard to get in water. I worried that I was losing too fast and before I could exercise. I lost nearly 25 pounds in 2 weeks.

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

I drove 150 miles. Several of the other patients had flown in from all over the country. I had my teenage son pick me up. The ride home was long because I had promised the surgeon I would stop every 30 minutes and walk around the truck several times. Did I mention I have a pickup truck. I didn't think a thing about it until I opened the door and stared at it, trying to figure out how to get in without pulling my stomach muscles. The end result was "grin and bear it". By the 4th or 5th time I had to get in and out, it wasn't so bad. I was just glad to be getting to go home.

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 been told that the white of a boiled egg was an excellent source of protein and that I should take an egg with me when it wouldn't be convenient to eat whatever was being served. I tried it twice. Never again. I swelled up like a toad and had to walk for an hour both times. I have been told that 50% of patients cannot tolerate red meat. Yes! I can. I started with 1/4 teaspoon of hamburger meat and now I eat chili and have had roast beef and ham. Fish is highly recommended by my doc, but it hurts me the same as a boiled egg. I love chicken legs, but both times I have tried have ended up not as well as I'd hoped. Nothing got stuck, but both times I think I was lucky because I had that "stuck" feeling for a few minutes. After 4 months I have found that chicken and fish "hurt" me. Ground beef is wonderful. String cheese is a good snack. Sugar gives me diahrea. I have only thrown up twice. Once I ate taco meat with shredded lettuce and chopped tomato. I think the tomato got stuck. The other time I swallowed a green bean without chewing. Throwing up is not as bad as I had imagined but I am still trying to avoid it!

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

I attempted to go to my office right away, the first day out of surgery. The anesthesia kept me "addled" for about 2 to 3 weeks. I could not concentrate. Honestly, it was like a miracle when I woke up at 4 weeks, and felt "normal".

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

I take Flinstones Complete chewables twice a day. I have a prescrip for a "spastic colon" medication which I normally took for indigestion and/or diahreaa. I did not need it until about 14 weeks out and I had a small colon spasm. I cannot have chocolate so the protein bars are not on my list. I bought several different brand that said honey peanut thinking they would not be chocolate, but I found different. Guess I'd better do a better job studying the label. Protein shakes make me quiver with nausea. I am using string cheese as a protein boost right now.

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 had trouble sleeping for nearly 4 weeks. I slept maybe 4 hours a night. No other problems other than trying out different foods. Really missed my spices. At 4 months out I am beginning to lose some hair.

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

Losing the epidural after 1 day.

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

I have not gone to support yet, but my clinic in Lubbock offers support on the first Saturday of each month. I fully intent to go this month. I'm having trouble because I figured out over Christmas that I CAN eat a lot of foods that I wasn't supposed to be able to eat!

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

My scar is about 8 1/2 inches long from my navel up with polka dots where the staples were removed. It is not so hideous and I expect it to fade. It looks kinda like a zipper!

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I sat at 220 for about 10 days and now I have sat at 213-215 for over a week.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

I love hearing "I didn't recognize you!" My entire family is very supportive. But when I weighed less than my older brother, the skinny one, it was so much fun to let him know.