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

Two years ago my PCP suggested that I have weight loss surgery. I responded by saying I will take my chance on dying fat than to die from having that surgery. And I still feel that way on all WLS except the mini gastric bypass done by Dr. Rutledge in Statesville, NC. Then in Oct. of 02 my PCP said I have someone I want you to talk to about WLS. One of his patients had it done in July 02. I called her and I decided this WLS is the one(MGB)

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

Just sent in first letter.

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

Dr. Rutledge holds a clinic on Tuesdays from 9:00 to 11:00am. It is a time that you can ask questions, see old patients and see the new patients that had surgery the day before on they're way home. My husband was very impressed with Dr. Rutledge.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I liked the recovery time for this surgery and the fact that it is reverseable. I felt like my health was getting worse and God just worked it out so that I found out about the MGB.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

everything about the laparoscopic mini gastric bypass is so much better than the other types of WLS to me.

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 no fears because I felt that God had a hand in this decision so I just felt a calm come over me from the time I decided to have it done. If you pray then pray about it and if it is what is to be then you will not have any fears.

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?

everyone I told was supportive once I told them that the MGB was not the same WLS that they have heard about. I showed them the facts from the manual. Everyone is enjoying seeing me get smaller day by day.

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

my Postmaster said she thought I was brave in making a decison like that. She supported my decision. I was out 2 wks. and 3 days. I could have gone back sooner but my children were on spring break that week so I stayed home with them.

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

I have a needle phobia and the nurses at Davis Regional Hospital were so nice, they numbed the area where they were going to put the IV. I have had plenty of IVs in my life and NEVER had any other nurses or hospital care enough to do that for me. I had surgery at 1:10pm and was released the next morning I was home by 12:00pm. Gatorade is the most important thing to drink after surgery.

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

No, I had no complications at all. I was up walking the hall 30 min. after I was put in my room. My surgery only took 35 mins.

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 had a calm about this surgery. I never felt nervous.

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

I felt good. I could only sip gatorade and broth and some well chewed saltines could not drink alot. I couldn't sleep on my sides for about a week only because it felt funny. I went back to work in two weeks( I'm a rural mail carrier). you will feel a little weak because of just having liqiuds for two weeks, but that is all in my case.

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

I live in GrayCourt SC and it took two hours to drive to Statesville, NC. If you live within two hrs of Statesville you could go back home so that is what I did. I didn't need any 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.

For 10-14 days after surgery I only had juices,gatorade,broth,yogurt,and well chewed saltines. I craved V-8 and still do. 10-24 days after you can add mashed potatoes, applesauce, runny oatmeal, soft foods. Really no foods are off limits except coffee, tea and sodas.

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

11 days after surgery I joined Curves for Women. I feel wonderful!!

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

I take vitamin E,OneSource Multi,Tums,Pepto-Bismol,Citrucel,Creatine,Glutamine, Flax oil tablets,and ZMA Fuel.

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?

so far dumping has been my worst expirence. I just take a little bit of something new and wait a few moments to see if any thing will happen if not I'll try again.

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

I would say the IV process since I hate needles!!. Every thing else so far was a piece of cake.

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

we have a support group in Greenville, SC. It is good to have a support group so that you have someone to talk to if there is something that you have a question about.

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

I have 5 1-inch incisions it was just like my gallbladder surgery. the scars will not be bad in a few months.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I have not had any yet

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

not yet