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

I really don't know when I first heard about bariatric surgery. I have known about it for a long time but it was only recently that my insurance covered the procedure. My sister did a lot of research and had an open RNY done 6/18/02. She recommended I do some research of my own. I immediately knew this was the answer I was looking for.

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

The procedure was easy for me. I made an appointment with Dr Roye and he submitted the paperwork. Two weeks later I was approved.

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

Great. Dr Roye had a wonderfully calming manner. He explained the procedure and the pre-op tests I would have to have done. I felt I was in very capable hands and that he was the surgeon for me. I was prepared with some questions but he answered them before I got to ask them.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I do not view this procedure as optional. It was necessary if I was going to be able to have any quality of life. My confidence in Dr Roye helped allay any fears I had.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

The RNY is the procedure performed by Dr Roye and my research informed me that this was the surgery that would best meet my needs.

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 tried not to focus on this. If I had complications then I would deal with them as they arose. There was nothing I could do to prevent or prepare for them. All surgery is a risk but it is important to go into this with a positive attitude. You are going to need it as you go through recovery.

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?

I think they were scared. I know when I first saw my husband's face after the surgery there were tears in his eyes. He had been terrified I might die. Through it all he was supportive despite his reservations. After the surgery he has been wonderful. He goes with me for my short little walks. I want for nothing.

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

I had the Lap RNY surgery on a Thursday morning and found myself in recovery around noon. My surgeon, Dr Dean Roye, was there when I awoke and let me know I was fine. I was moved to step-down at 5 PM but don't remember too much about being there. I on a self dosing Morphine IV so was pretty much out of it. 5 PM on Friday I was moved to a surgical ward and I stayed there until Monday noon. So my stay in the hospital was 4.5 days. The nursing staff were wonderful. Very responsive to my needs and always cheerful. The only thing I really needed to bring with me was a pair of shorts for getting up and walking. The first day on the surgical ward I was up every few hours walking in the the hall and found my inner thighs very chafed.

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

I had no real complications from the surgery. I had a g tube which was still in place when I went home so I had a visiting nurse come daily for 1.5 weeks until Dr Roye removed the tube at 2 weeks post op.

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 very excited when I got my surgery date. I had a little anxiety a couple of days before the surgery. After 25 plus years of dieting and feeling bad about myself because I couldn't lose the weight, I knew this was the right choice for me.

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

I felt wonderful for the first 2.5 weeks. During week 3 I suddenly felt very tired. Had absolutely no energy for about 2 weeks and spent most of the time sleeping and lying on the sofa. At 4.5 weeks post op I began to feel more alert. I started my Social Work intership at week 6, working 24 hours a week. I think if given the opportunity it would have been better if I had stayed home another couple of weeks. I found myself pretty tired after a couple of weeks. At 3 months post op I was feeling good and at 4 months I felt great. I do not find myself restricted in my activities and can do pretty much anything I want. For a brief time after the surgery I was struck by the enormity of what I had done and I was a little scared. The feeling lasted only a few days. I think the one thing people can do for themselves is to take in easy. Don't expect too much from yourself. Everybody's experience is different. Allow yourself as much time as possible to heal.

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

Did not have to travel. Rhode Island Hospital is only a few miles away.

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 was restricted to liquids for 8 weeks. This included pureed soups, jello, sugar free popsicles (these were life savers, and I still love them!) Pureed Black bean soup or split pea soup were my main stays. Lots of flavor and satisfying. I also pureed veggies in broth. At 8 weeks I began adding beef and chicken to my diet with no ill effects unless I forget and eat too quickly. Today at 4 months I can eat 1/2 a chicken breast with a few veggies. I eat fruits for snacks. Once in a while I will have a few bites of a cookie. The one thing I find I can't eat more than 1 oz of is regular cheese.

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

By day 3 I was walking up and down the halls. At two weeks I was walking about 1/4 mile. At three weeks I could do 1/2 mile. 2 months I could do 2 miles. 4 months I started to go to Curves 3-4 times a week. Need to increase this.

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

After surgery I was taking Flintstones chewable vitamins but now I am on a regular vitamin. I am also on Vitamin E, Calcium capsules and iron.

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 have had few problems. I only had a couple of incidents of nausea and vomiting. On a few occasions I have found myself overwhelmed by tiredness. This is a result of eating something with too many carbs which I shouldn't have eaten anyway.

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

I can't think of one negative thing about the surgery process.

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

I use this web site and one other support group at OSSGYahoo.com

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

I have 5 small scars after having the lap. One is from the Jackson Pratt and another is from the G-tube. I was scheduled for a Lap but was told that there was a possibility of ending up with an open. I was delighted to find Dr Roye had managed to do the Lap.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I have hit several plateaus but this is the way I tend to lose weight anyway.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

No, I have not noticed people treating me any differently. Sometimes in a restaurant when I don't eat much the waitress will ask if everything is okay. After explaining that I had the weight loss surgery I have found people respond very positively.