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

A good friend of mine had this surgery about 3 years ago. Being a nurse I was very against it. I'm said to say I was not the best support to my friend. However, she continued to be a good friend to me. After seeing her success I took my head out of my buttock! Did my own research and relly look into the options available to me

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

At Kaiser the process was easy just took time as They require you to under go a years worth of classes and trainging. They set you up with a weight mangement caseworker and you go from there.

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

The is Kaiser so the relationship with the surgeon was on an as needed basis. I have only seen her twice. I meet her in an office visit pre-op and then I saw her once in the hospital post -op The main contact is the weight management team.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

Health! Diabeties and nerve pain, also inability to move without pain. Climbing stairs was extremly hard. I did not wan't to be in a weelchair at 50 because of my weight.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

This was the only proceedure my insurance offered to cover.

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 did worry about death but I learned most deaths occured from blood clots, So I was very aware to get out of bed and move after surgery. Also I saw the death risk was 1% which is low. The other fear was my incision opening up. So, I was careful to splint my self with pillows.

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?

Some were very supporative other not. I told several people close to me and that's all that mattered. I would only include those in your life that you consider to be a support system to you. Other than that you don't need input from strangers and aquaintences.

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

My employer has been great. I work in health care so my employer and co-workers were a big part of my support system as my MD is also part of my working group. I was off work 8 weeks and if should have been longer. Take your time and consider 12 weeks off. This is MAJOR surgery and it does kick your butt!

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 5 days. It is important to bring a small pillow to splint your incision. I can't stress that enough. It is also important to have one key support person that can be with you during the day. Someone you don't feel that needs to be entertained but someone who can help nurse and take care of you. Lip balm is important as well and mouth swabs. Your PJ's about day 2 you will want to shower and wear your own clothes. Sugar Free popcycles and sugar free juice are good as the hospital isn't always paying attention to getting sugar free clear liquids.

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

NO

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

The first 4 weeks were harsh. I was in pain and I could not tolerate eating. I did not have anxiety, However I did not expect to be so weak and unable to resume activity as I expected to do. Plan on LOTS of BED REST with short periods of being up in a chair and walking. I would be up for 30 mins and have to nap for 3 hours. It gradually got to be up for 3 hours and nap for 30 mins.

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

No visitors! They mean well but will zap your energy. If they are not there to help and I mean cook, clean, change the sheets on your bed, help with your hair ect. Send them packing. You can rent movies but will fall asleep watching them. Reading Books you will be to tired. Plan on taking things very slowly. Don't expect to go out even a short trip to the store for juice with be exhausting.

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

25 miles. No this did not affect my aftercare

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.

First all sugar is off limits. You may find milk is too. It only takes dumping once to never and I mean never want to do it again. For the first 2 weeks plan on liquids, be creative as water was hard to injest. Light cran-grape juice was my saving grace and at 40 cals a glass helped me. Sugar free popcycles and sugar free jello, Carnations DIET instant breakfast helped but the I got to where I coould not tolerate milk. Drinking very small amounts slowly is important or you'll feel sick. Buy a strainer to strain soups is a must. week 3-4 you can try yogert cream soups(strain them). sugar free pudding was good here as well. Buy baby spoons use them to eat with as this will help you not take too much at one time. week 5-6 puree foods, applesauce and baby foods. Be sure to look at the sugar content of food as sugar will cause you to be sick every time. after week 6 it is trail and error. It does get better always remember to eat small amount and take it slow. The day will come and you will feel somewhat normal again

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

I had a open RNY bipass along with gallbladder andliver surgery. The first week 5 days being in the hospital were BED REST with ambulation around the unit every two hours. I couldn't sit in the chair for more than 10 minutes due to pain. Due to being uncomfortable I found I need to walk every two hours evern in the middle of the night. Once I got home my own bed was heaven. (But it is high off the floot and it is not a water bed) I also had my husband move the recliner to the bedroom. The next 3 weeks was spent on building my tolerance to being up in the chair and taking walks. It took me 2 weeks to walk to the end of the block and back. PLAN on LOTS and LOTS of rest.

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

I am still struggling with taking vitamins.

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?

Dumping is by far the worse! It can hit at anytime someting does not agree with you new system. You feel faint, severe cramps, unable to get up but needing to get to the bathroom. (YOU WILL NEED SOMEONE TO HELP YOU TO THE BATHROOM) You want to vomit but can't. I don't think words can describe this. In my case it took pain meds and 2 hours for these symptoms to pass. I am now 9 weeks out and this has not happened since week 5. I am very carefull on the grams of sugar in food. YOu will find out by trial and error what to avoid.

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

The First 5 weeks post-op. If you are doing this for vaniety reasons Don't! Stay Fat as it is not worth it just to look good. Make a list of reasons on why your doing this as it will help you through your bad days. Your overall health will improve witht he weight loss but when you are sick you will question what the hell you did. Also prepare yourself never... and I mean never to eat the same again. You can't even if you want to.

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

I have used this web site. I am not a big group person as I am more of an introvert. So, person to person support groups are not for me. It has however been very helpful to read and hear what others have gone through and to know that I am doing about the norm when comparing myself to them.

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

I had 42 stables and it is 9 inches long. It is much bigger than I expected.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

None yet.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes, I must admit it is hard to hear HOW GREAT YOU LOOK! especially when your not feeling great. In the first 2 weeks out from surgery I had lost 20lbs and I might have looked good but I was far from feeling good.