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

I saw a commercial on the t.v. for Bariatric treatment Centers 10 years ago. I thought I got myself into this mess i can get myself out of it. I was so wrong. The more I found out about it the better it sounded. When I received the video tape of other people who had had the surgery, I knew it was the only way I was going to be able to take back my life

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 problem with my insurance company. They were wonderful. I had already had knee surgery and am facing having my knee replaced at some point. They had no problem determinig that this surgery would be medically necessary. My advice to people is it's your life, fight for it. If the person you are dealing with is giving you a hard time ask for a supervisor, keep fighting

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

It was ok. They asked me about my medical histroy and gave me information about the procedure and what to expect. I actually met with some one who had had the procedure. She also anwsered all my questions

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I was just so unhappy with my life that I figured something needed to be done. I was going to die without the surgery.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

The center that I went to only did the open Roux-en-Y procedures. Being a nurse, I wanted to go to a place where all they did was gastric by-pass surgery. I felt more comfortable that they would know what to do if something went wrong, because that's all that they do. If I had to do it all again I would still have the procedure, but I probably would have done it at a facility closer to home, and possibly have chosen to have it done Laparoscopiclly, maybe not.

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 had the fear that I would die during the procedure and not see my family again, but my fear of having a stroke was much greater. I had lots of people call me and tell me not to do it, that if I really wanted to loose weight I could do it with out the surgery. Right, like i loved being as big as I was and feeling as awful about myself.! I felt that with each surgery I was increasing my risk of having a bad outcome. This was not the first surgery that I have had. Once the decision was made to do this, I would wake up every night praying that I would live to have the surgery. I was a nut the day of surgery. I kept telling everyone in the pre-surgical holding area not to let me die. I tell people that are contemplating the surgery that there is no sure thing, and if they aren't willing to deal with possible complications or willing to accept the risks, not to have the surgery. There are more health risks associated with being overweight than in having the surgery.

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 husband was very supportive. I was a little angry at him at first because my husband has always been thin, and has always made an issue of my overeating and weight. He kept telling me that he wanted me healthy, so we could have a long life together, but I wasn't buying it. I have 4 boys, who thought it would be great, but then my youngest cried and told me he didn't want a new mom, he liked me the way I was. I had to sit down and have a heart to heart with him and explain that he wasn't getting a new mom, I would still be his mom, just an improved version. My mom did not approve but she supported me. She was afraid that there would be a negative outcome from the surgery. But I give her a lot of credit, she flew out to be with me and stayed with me for two weeks after surgery. She now worries that I will never be thin enough to satisfy myself, but she was great. She even came back a year later to help me through my hernia surgery, that occured as a result of the bypass.

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

My boss was not happy. She said she was worried about me and didn't want anything bad to happen to me. It got to the point that I threatened to quit if I wasn't given the time off to have the surgery. The amazing thing is, i am still the same nurse I used to be, that hasn't changed, but I received a promotion and am more respected because I'm thinner. I feel that I am a little better at my job because I have more energy and am more satisfied with who I am.

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

I was in the hospital for a total of 4 days. I don't remember much of the first two days because of the morphine pca pump I was on. I slept through much of it. I think the most important thing I brought was my hairbrush and slippers. I used a hospital gown as a robe, and was too tired to read the book I brought. They gave my a toothbrush and shampoo etc. so I really didn't need anything else.

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

I developed pneumonia two and a half weeks after surgery, because I went to work too soon, and caught it from a patient. That was hard to get over because the mucous I produced filled up my pouch and made me sick. I had a real hard time learning to eat, and taking small bites. The gave me a baby spoon which I thought was nuts, but it really wasn't. Once I learned how to eat all over again I did much better. I did develop incisional hernias that were repaired a year later, but given the fact that I lost over 100 lbs in the first year I figured it was a fair trade off.

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 afraid that I wouldn't live to see my surgery date. that i would die from a stroke or heart attack. I couldn't wait to have the surgery once I decided to do it. It was especially hard the night before surgery. I went to work which was good and bad. It kept me busy, but I was definetly preocupied with the coming surgery. I did ask for something to help me sleep, which helped. I journeled and talked a lot to my mom and my husband about my anxieties which helped

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

The first week was tough. I din't feel good enough to deal with my children or handle the day to day chores of being at home, such as letting the dog out or anwsering the phone. I didn't sleep well the first few weeks that I was home, and I'm not sure why that is. My mom came and stayed with me for the first two weeks, which helped a lot. I still remember walking around the block feeling sorry for myself and wondering what the hell I had just done to myself. It was hard having company , and after surgery everyone wanted to come over and see how I was doing. I remember trying to be cheerful and upbeat but all I wanted was for people to leave, althoug I do appreciate their caring and concern. I was done for the day around 4-5pm. ANd although I didn't go to sleep, I went up to bed and stayed there until the next day. Showering wore me out, and I would have to rest after each activity.

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

The hospitla I had the surgery in was an hour away from my house. Which wasn't a big deal to mke then, but now, having to go in for follow up visits every year, the distance seems to get longer and longer.

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 couldn't do the pureed part of the diet. I ate pretty much mashed potatoes and baby food for that part. I had a very hard time with eating chicken. It didn't matter how I cooked the chicken, it would sit in my pouch and feel awful. I could eat steak and pork ok, but I had a hard time with ground beef. I could eat fried eggs and hard boiled eggs, but if I tried to eat them scrambbeld, I would get sick. I had a hard time with peanut butter and with nuts, but as time passed, I learned that part of th problem I was having was because I didn't chew my food up well enough or take small enough bites. I still can not eat soft tortilla shells, but I can eat the hard crunchy kind. I don't eat much pasta or rice, because sometimes they don't sit well in my pouch. The only thing that I still have to be careful with is making sure that I eat protien with any carbohydrates. I went out to breakfast with my husband and ate 3/4ths of a pancake for breakfast. About three hours later I got very shakey and had a hard time thinking or talking. I had a hypoglycemic reaction to eating the pancake. SO I have learned to always have some form of protein with each meal so that this doesn't happen again

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

The days after surgery I didn't have much energy at all. It gradually got better until I noticed that I had a lot more energy and the desire to actually want to do things. I had an open gastric bypass so it took me about 6 weeks to feel like I actually had energy. Now, two years later, when I am tired I am tired, I don't have the reserves that I used to, but I am much more active now than I ever have been in my life. I run, I play soccer, I take the stairs at work. I can go out with my husband and dance all night if I want. I really enjoy life now.

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

I take two multivitamins a day. One in the morning and one in the afternoon

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 worse for me was the hair loss. I would be in the shower washing my hair and huge clumps would come out. I had very long hair when I had the surgery, and use to put a plum colored rinse in it to give it a purple hue. My hair fell out for about two months and then gradually stopped. I din't go bald, and it all grew back. Since the surgery I have cut it short and stopped dying it plum. It is now back to it's natural color, and I add blond highlights. I ahve only dumped twice in the two years since surgery. Both times were by accident and trust me, it was such an awful feeling that I have avoided anything that could remotely cause a problem for me. When I go out to eat I ask what the sauce has in it. I usually tell the waitress/waiter that I have a very bad allergy to sugar, so I have to watch what I eat

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

I don't really know. I had periods where I would throw up if I ate too quickly or had too a big of a bite. That took a while to get over but it wasn't terrible. The pain wasn't too bad either. I think that now, for me the worse part is how I look with my clothes off. My husband tells me that the hanging skin and wrinkles are much better than all the fat use to look like, but I don't know. I just feel very awkward. But again the trade off, I can go into a store and buy what I want instead of what fits, is wonderful. That I can do things with my kids and keep up is amazing to me.

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

I have a support group that meets once a month, and then as part of my job, I run the support group for our Bariatric program. I think that attending the support group has helped me greatly. It is nice to know that you are not alone, nor are you weird when something happens to you, that a lot of the people that have gone throught the surgery fell and think the same way you do. The support groups have been very helpful to me.

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

My scar is actually very nice. I had an open procedure and am very lucky that I don't form keloids. I remember when I was going throught the surgery I made the mistake of asking to see one of the nurses scars. It was horrible. I burst into tears when I got home and told my husdand how awful it was. Most people when they see my scar are amazed at how nice and thin it is. But it is very long, it goes from my sternum to my belly button. All in all it is better than I expected.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

The first time I plateaued, I had lost about 65 lbs. I freaked out and thought that the surgery didn't work. I only plateaued the first time for about two weeks. The second plateau came after I had lost 105 lbs. That plateau lasted three months. I am now where I am for the last 8 months. I would like to loose another 10 lbs, but I don't care if I reach my goal ot not. I am the lighest I have been in 20 years.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

I am much more acceptable now than I have ever been. I got a job promotion, people that would have nothing to do with me when I weighed 300 lbs now talk to me and want to be my friend. It's not fair but it is the way it is. This past weekend I went out to eat with a bunch of my girlfriends. We were sitting at a bar, when the bartender came over and handed me a beer that I didn't order. For the first time in my life a man was hitting on me. He came over and told me how beautiful he thought I was. At first I had to look around to see who he was talking to. I almost fell over when I realized he meant me. I would love to go home and share this with my husband but he wouldn't understand.