Donna M.

Obesity & Me

Describe your behavioral and emotional battle with weight control before learning about bariatric surgery.

I had been on every diet there is and I would lose weight but would just gain it right back and then more pounds on top of that. It was very upsetting to me.

What was (is) the worst thing about being overweight?

I couldn't do things I wanted to do. I would get tired so easy and had trouble breathing when walking even if I would go shopping. I had trouble sleeping at night and would wake up and couldn't breathe right.

If you have had weight loss surgery already, what things do you most enjoy doing now that you weren't able to do before?

Going shopping for new clothes that are smaller. Walking around site seeing different places.

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

I read about it in the sunday paper and I called thier number to get information about the surgery. They sent me a tape and the information and I was very pleased with it and went to a semitar and talked to them and called hospital to get appointment to talk to Dr Fabito.

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

The nurses and everyone at the hospital was really nice to me. I was in the hospital five days.

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 felt real anxious to get my pre-op done and my surgery date set. my pre-op was done on 4/04/02 and my surgery was done on 04/11/02

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

I done real good. If I felt tired I would lay down for awhile and rest. I was little sore from the staples in my stomach but I had them taken out three days after I got home from the hospital.

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

I live in IL and the surgery was done in St.Louis,Mo.It takes about 45 minutes to get to the hospital.

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.

The only thing I have found that I couldn't eat was Salmon it made me sick. As the weeks go by I was able to eat what I wanted too.

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

My scar is normal and yes it is what I expected. I hope it will tone down some though it is fairly dark and you can see it real plain now but it should fade as time goes on.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

have had a couple plaateaus which I think everyone has. I try not to get discouraged and I start loosing again .

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

No
show more answers

ARE YOU READY TO PAY IT FORWARD & SHARE YOUR JOURNEY? Your journey will help highlight the many ways weight loss surgery improves lives and makes a difference in our families, communities and world. EACH JOURNEY COUNTS as a voice towards greater awareness.

Share Now
×