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

In 1998 & had it done wa pleased with my weight loss but not the band closing up so may time & having to go back in to have it dilated 5 times. So I had it removed & look at me now. But had I keep it I would not be typing this right now are watching my littles ones & grand children grow up. I need reconstructive surgery. I have been told that my esophagus at the bottom going into my stomach will in time close off. It is the size of an ink pen at this time. Although I am 220 I still throw-up. It is the tinks I eat that keep me fat.

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 3 days. It was not bad at all. The worst come as I got home & the weeks pasted. Then I had to start having my pouch dilated . The DR said that he had used a new band different from the omne he had used in the past. After I had the dilating 5 time he wanted to put the old type band back on. By this time I was so weak & sick my family & I said NO. Now I I wish I had. I have gained almost all my weight back. Now I am having other problems. I need reconstructive surgery SOON or I could die anyway. The bottom part of my esophagus going into my stomach is closing off. i have been told by a DR that in time it will close off altogether.

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

Yes, I did & I had to have it undone. The band keep closing off. Had it dilated 5 time. I wa svery sick & weak.

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 NO anxiety. I was happy I was getting it done & was very much looking forward to the weight loss. I did lose the weight looked good for a while then to much weight came off due to all the problems & then I had to have it undone with made me ver depressed & more so now that all my weight is almost back.

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

You will need help & you will need a buddy to talk with that is going through the same thing. After you can get up & around good go to support groups & even find out at the groups who maybe having surgery soon & go to the hospital & visit them I did it makes them feel good & you too.

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

I had it done in my home town so only had to travel 10 miles.. Getting in out of the car was the worse but it passes soon. Had a friend the same day that had to fly home. She was in hospital 3 days a motel 2 day & off she went. TUFF.........

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.

Was on a liquid diet for 3 weeks. Then started eating very small bits of different foods. You can never eat much at anytime. But, then I started having problems & could not even keep water down. My band keep closing up. After 5 time being dilated I had to have my band removed. It was killing me. The Dr said it was a new type band & that he could put the old type on after the 6th go around. I was so weak & sick at this point I said No.

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

You just have to take one day at a time & you will get there. I know many people that have done very well on this program. I just happen not to be one of them. I guess I just did not have the right DR. So please do a lot checking & make sure you have to top DR to do your surgery.

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

You really need to drink high protein drinks & take all the vitamins you are told to take so you hair does not fall out. I had hair loss due to my pouch closing. Most people do well I was not one of them & I ish to have reconstructive surgery to fix mine.

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?

Nausia was everyday for 2 years.Vomiting was everyday for 2 years. I sleep fair. I had hair loss but it was mostly due to the fact I was not getting my pills down. My pouch keep closing up on me & when I would have it dilated all my meds what ever was in my pouch went into my system. That made me very ill.

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

Having to have it undone due to the band not being right in the first place. The rest I handled fine. Not getting to eat like a pig made me feel GREAT.

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

I went to support group once a week & it really helped. I just did not like my DR not always being there to answer questions. We'd have them on Sat. so he could be there for us. I needed more answers to why I felt so bad & was throwing up all the time. The other's that had the same band as I lived in different states. I could not & did not know who they were doing. It is very important to have support groups. You get good ideals on what you can eat & keep down.

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

My scar is not bad & who is going to se it anyway. The worst was having to have it reopened after only 2 years to have the band removed. The DR did not drain it first so the pouch was full & all that went right into my body. It was done so fast & I was sent home 2 hours after my surgery. That was awful I was so weak & past out in the chair as I was leaving. Made them no difference they told my husband DT T. Scott said I was to go home.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I was very happy with my weight loss. But I was very disappointed with the fact I was not give the band r=that was to be used. I did not like being used as a experiment.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Everyone was happy with how I was looking in the being. But as I started having problems & getting wealer & turning yellow they were worried & scared I was going to die. My children & husband could not stand to see me like I was. I lost to much weight too. I am 5'10 weighed 248 & lost down to 127 in 8 months.