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

I first found oput about bariatric surgery from my two Debbie friends. My initial impressions were of scepticism, doubt, fear. 10/6/01 Update: I have made the decision to move forward with getting the necessary approvals from my PCP, and then the insurance company. My friend Deb, who had the surgery years ago, said she will be there for me on the day I get the surgery, God willing. She also said that the same Doctor that I want to see is the very Doctor that did her surgery. Boy, did I feel better! So far, it seems as though everything is falling into place already, but we shall see.... 10/13/01 Saw my PCP yesterday, and he agreed to help me get the surgery! Yeah!! I am excited, nervous, apprehensive, and a bunch of other emotions as well. Monday I talk with my PCP's #1 office person to have her get all of this started. Oh boy oh boy oh boy oh boy. 10/18/01 Gave a letter yesterday to my PCP stating why I need this surgery; will send with request for referral. Also saw dietitian associated with Medical Group, gave her a copy of the letter; she conducted a 30-minute interview with me; stated she would write a report for my PCP to give to the Medical Group to assist me in getting approval for WLS... Oooooohh, getting nervous now...!

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

As of April 1, 2002, my family and I are now with Blue Cross, and I have changed MY medical group to one that does not hold back on people needing the WLS. I am also with a new PCP who has actually done a ton of research on this subject, and she is not afraid to refer people for this procedure. I don't even go in to see my new PCP until May 9, when I get a complete physical, and I ask her for the referral. Tuesday, April 9, 2002: Just today I have sent my request for medical records to be sent to my new PCP, but I do need to request these records from my most recent PCP, Dr. S. I will do that tomorrow or so, as I am fighting a nasty back-end of a cold (coughing my brains out!!) At any rate, part of my work is done, now just to hurry up and wait for my complete physical 1 month from now, and to ask new PCP for the surgery. <<<<<nervous>>>>> 05/09/02 Went to new PCP, she is already getting referral process started! I have my UGI, CXR, Mammogram, Psych Eval, & Labs scheduled! 05/30/2002 ***ALREADY HAVE REFERRAL FOR INITIAL CONSULT!*** Initial Consult w/Dr. Sanderfer is on June 17th! It's utterly amazing that it is going so smoothly this time! Praise God! 06/18/2002 Consult w/Dr. Sanderfer got bumped and chopped: Video; insurance packet; schedule EKG, blood work, gall bladder ultrasound on June 24;; meet with Dr. Sanderfer on July 18. Had psych consult on June 15th, did NOT go as expected, has me on mood stabilizers and diet pills, NOT WHAT I WANTED. He says that I have two contraindications and one non-contraindication for surgery: in other words, kind of like two strikes against me. ~~10/29/2002 Finally! Just this past Wednesday, Dr. Sanderfer's office submitted the request for approval for the surgery! I cannot get anywhere, however, with the insurance, as I have an HMO, and must talk to the medical group... Have not done that yet, must remember to do that tomorrow!

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

First visit with Dr. Sanderfer was non-eventful. He is nice, knows his stuff.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

Friends who have encouraged me, have seen how miserable I am with all this excess weight, who love me unconditionally and want me to be happy, but most of all healthy. Thank you to Debbie, DeeDee, Michelle, Roxanne, Dr. Laughlin, and Debi at Dr. Sanderfer's office!

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I have researched this method of weight loss since October of last year, and with my research have found that the RNY is the best for me for a couple of reasons. First, this surgery is my best bet for my body kicking me in the butt if I go off the "straight-to-be-narrow" (just a little pun!) path by giving me Dumping syndrome if I eat garbage, and for the fact that I tend toward binge eating. The other procedures simply do not address the issues of sugar/carb addiction and binge eating; RNY does.

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?

None, really.

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?

Actually, my true friends and family were very supportive of my decision, and now they are very proud of me.

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

My stay was fine, I was there from my surgery on Jan 7th at 2:40 pm until Friday, Jan 10th in the afternoon.

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

No complications to speak of.

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 clammed up, did not really talk to anyone, became a hermit.

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

First 3 weeks or so was just getting used to eating little, tiny amounts of food, and learning how to move around without herniating myself. All in all, I did not have too many problems.

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

Only 17 miles.

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.

Ok, well, first of all, in the 3rd week post-op, I tried drinking tomato juice. It was too old, and too acidic, and I got really sick from drinking it. That spawned a possible marginal ulcer, and I was on Zantac, 150mg/2x daily. That helped for a few weeks, but then I began experiencing more vomiting, and the inability to keep down even my protein shakes. So the doc put me on Nexium, and that also helped for a while, but again, I began throwing up most of the foods that I had previously been able to eat. As the months passed, I found that I could tolerate only about a half dozen foods without getting sick, literally puking. Also, I began having what I thought were very serious and painful gas attacks, putting me in bed for one to four hours at a time. At the end of August, 2003, I had another very serious "gas" attack, and was in bed for 4 hours. After this episode passed, my abdomin was very tender to the touch, as it had been for nearly a week. I called my surgeon and my PCP, and they both told me to go to the ER, as my surgeon's office said it sounded like gall bladder problems to them, and my PCP was concerned about possible post-op complications. I did not go to the ER until the following day, when the ER doctor found gall stones. All this time I thought it was just HORRIBLE gas, but it was my gall bladder! I had it removed on Aug 29th, and I am feeling much better now. I am still not really hungry since the GB removal, but I am doing much better. I did throw up today, but that was after I had some chewable calcium citrate wafers... I have had problems with those before, but I am sworn off of them now forever! Yikes!

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

My activity level was close to zero the first week at home, but I expected that. By the 3rd week, I was wondering what on earth my DH was doing wasting his time at home! I very carefully began cleaning my house, and I have been doing fine ever since, except when I was puking.

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

Four 30-gm/shake protein shakes; AM-1 iron, 1 C; Mid Morning-1 multi, 1 zinc, 1 dry E, 2 dry A/D, 2 Calcium Citrate Caps, 1 Hair/Skin/Nails tablet. I repeat these doses one more time to complete my regimen.

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 throwing up was the worst, particularly as my gall bladder began screaming at me in the later months. I am now 8 months out.

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

The gall bladder going bad.

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

On line with Gastric Bypass Information Central - EXTREMELY helpful, and the live support groups which my surgeon's office hosts, and I attend, also extremely helpful.

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

It's about 3/8" wide in some places, is fading, and is almost flat. I did not know what to expect.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Um, for me a plateau is losing only 2# in a week.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Absolutely! Like a human being