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

My mother actually had a gastric bypass done when I was not even a year old, one of the first groups to have the procedure done in California. What I remember is her being deathly ill when I was 7. In talking with her as an adult, the illness actually came after having had the bypass reversed and complications that developed as a result. For the 7 years that she'd had the bypass, she was actually quite happy with who she had become and the life she'd achieved for herself. Hearing this from her brought me such a sense of peace in the decision I was making for myself, and actually firmed my resolve to have WLS. When I went to her to tell her of my decision on having the surgery, I fully expected her to try and talk me out of it. Surprisingly, what I got instead was her full support and love (which I know I've always had).

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

My best advice on getting insurance approval is BE PERSISTENT. This is YOUR life they are dealing with, and if you give them an inch they'll drag it out into a mile. Stay on top of everything going on, even call the insurance company yourself if necessary.

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

My first visit with Dr. Newhoff was... surprising. I'd read some people's comments that he seemed a bit arrogant, but I found him to have a pleasing sense of humor and seemed quite laid back. He did ask that no questions be asked during his seminar which made me bristle a bit, but by the time he'd finished speaking I found that he'd already answered most of my questions anyways! :o)

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

When I called to schedule the initial appointment, I had already made up my mind that WLS was the road for me. Talking to my mom about the procedures she'd undergone really opened up my eyes and encouraged me to seek this path.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I've decided to have the Open RNY with Dr. Newhoff, rather than the Lap RNY with Dr. Simon. Some research I've done indicates that Open post-ops tend to lose weight quicker than Lap post-ops. Not sure of the physiology behind that, but that's what I've found when comparing post-ops.

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 don't really have a lot of fears about complications. I guess my overall attitude is that anybody could walk out the door tomorrow and be hit by a car. Yes, there certainly are complications as with ANY major surgery. You can't try to fool yourself into thinking that nothing will go wrong. I'm just trying to educate myself as much as possible on the pros and cons, and am trying to prepare myself emotionally and physically. Talking to several people who are Post-Op has done a world of good for me, and I highly recommend this to anybody considering WLS.

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?

While still pre-op, my family and friends have been 100% supportive right from the very beginning. They know that I'm doing this to try and better my emotional and physical well-being, and while some have expressed some negative opinions on the matter they still love me and want what's best for me - and trust my judgement in figuring out what that might be.

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

I haven't fully explained the procedure to my manager, but he knows I'll be having surgery soon and that I expect to be out of work for about 2 weeks. A coworker or two know of the procedure I'll be having, but I haven't exactly stood on top of my desk and made an over-all announcement.

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

My surgery was at 4pm on 12/19/02, and I was discharged to go home around 1 or 2pm on 12/23/02. I was at Good Samaritan, in Phoenix. I really didn't take much with me, the hospital pretty much provided everything I needed. I did take my own pillow, and some slippers. I took a bathrobe, but found it more convenient to cover up with a second hospital gown. Everyone else up and walking around shared the same attire. The nursing staff was great. They kept a close eye on things they thought were important, and always tried to make sure I was as comfortable as possible.

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

I really was very fortunate that I didn't have any complications from surgery. I didn't drink enough fluids beforehand though and was very dehydrated, which didn't bode well for my kidneys and veins. I developed a bladder infection, and had lots of problems with my veins when they tried moving my IV to help keep me hydrated. That was definitely NOT fun.

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

Once I got my surgery date, I was absolutely ELATED!! I couldn't wait for my date to arrive. I was ready to move on to the next chapter in my life.

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

At the moment, I'm only 9 days post-op. At first, I had a lot of discomfort from gas pains, but found that a lot of that had to do with my Lortab elixir. I quit taking that, and the gas pains vanished. Go figure... It's very difficult dealing with the whole 'head hunger' feeling. You want something you see that you know tastes good, but if you honestly listen to your body you will find that you truly aren't hungry. Having WLS doesn't change this. You still have to battle your food demons.

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

I didn't have to travel far at all, maybe 20 miles or so. It hasn't affected my aftercare much, but for some reason I always wind up leaving my surgeon's office with a massive headache. Not sure if it's due to tension from downtown traffic or what.

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.

There really hasn't been anything that I haven't been able to eat. Fortunately (or unfortunately?) I don't dump, so have never had to deal with that one. I have had some problems where I've eaten something too quickly. I didn't throw up, but was left feeling extremely uncomfortable for quite awhile.

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

My activity level was slow in returning at first, but certainly perked right up. Lately, I haven't been getting in as much protein as I should and I've noticed my energy levels dying back down.

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

I usually take 2 children's chewables, 2 Viactiv (calcium supplements), and usually drink my protein shake.

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?

Only recently have I begun to deal with my hair thinning out. Definitely notice more of it washing down the drain each day. I try to not think about it, but have a hard time not beating myself up over it. I know had I been drinking my protein shakes like I was supposed to I probably wouldn't be losing any, or at least not as much.

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

I think the worst part was the NG tube. That was so uncomfortable, and the only time I've thrown up since surgery was when they removed mine. I don't do well with IVs and had some trouble with mine while in the hospital. That wasn't much fun either.

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

Occasionally, I attend the support meetings offered through my surgeon's office but am usually too busy to make it all the way downtown for them. I've met some wonderful people throughout my journey, and they're extremely supportive. I think it's very important to surround yourself with positive, supportive, loving people. If they exhibit negativity, this will only drag you down and make your outlook negative as well.

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

Because I am short waisted, I think my scar is longer than most. It's pretty much what I expected though. After having a c-section, I'm not overly concerned with the appearance of my scar. Losing the weight and feeling healthier is more important to me.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I seem to be on a plateau right now, and boy is it frustrating! It's my own fault though. I'm not doing any of the things I should be doing, and it's amazing how quickly your body sort of shuts itself off. I'm working on getting back on track though. Most of the time I'm not hungry, so it's easier to let the good habits fall by the wayside and just truck along without eating/drinking/exercising. If you hit a plateau, ask yourself honestly if you're doing all of the things you know you should be doing. Am I eating the right foods? Am I drinking my fluids? Am I getting enough protein? Am I exercising like I'm supposed to be? Am I taking my vitamins? It's amazing how even that one little thing, vitamins, can affect your overall weight loss.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

I don't think my treatment is much different, but people that know about my surgery are incredibly supportive - especially those that I work with. One thing I've noticed is an increase in attention from men. That's something I'm still learning to deal with comfortably.