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

from my doctor when I was 16, I WANTED IT A S A P!!!!

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

My grandmother paid for it, since I was unable to work because of my weight.

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

My doctor REALLY REALLY makes you think about what your about to do, and have taken away, he says to consider our BEST friend FOOD....DEAD.....and that truly makes you aware of what you will be embarking upon....A whole new lifestyle.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I couldnt lose the weight on my own, I had tryed everything and I was literally dieing on my feet, so I took the chance of living a healthier life.....everyone says oooh thats a dangerous surgery, but what they dont realize is that being MORBIDLY obese is more dangerous, So I weighed the options to either have the surgery or die an early death at 21.....My choice was LIFE!!

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

My Doctor chose the RNY (OPEN) because it has the highest success rate.

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?

To look at it at a logical point of view....IF you are seriously over weight and you know that without the surgery you will die an early death.....and you know every diet has failed you,and you know that this surgery has changed so many lives for the better....WHY NOT do it.....Because this surgery can not fail you......Your taking a bigger risk by NOT having the surgery than with it.

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 whole family was all for it, My dad is a preacher and our whole church backed me up on this decision.....AND even if someone didnt want me to do it I didnt care because they were not in my shoes and could never understand how it feels to be Morbidly obese and not even be able to barely bathe themselves....My best friend tryed to stop me but I stopped talking to him until he could support me in this decision...it took 1 day for him to come around....and now he is so happy and PROUD of my accomplishment.

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

I quit an excellent paying job because I couldnt do the work any more, no one that I use to work with Knows....boy will they be suprised!!!

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

My stay in Baptisit Medical Center was very nice concidering the surgery part LOL..... I was in for 9 days because of the narrowing of the stoma, the most important things to bring 1. a long wodden spoon ( to wipe yourself) unless you dont get embarrassed by someone wiping you behine about 9-10 times a day. 2. slippers,3.shampoo,4.soap,5.reading material,6.music (cd player or walkman)....you wont need much because you stay doped up 90% of the time.

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

My second day out of surgery, when it was time for me to have my first piece of ice I started vomiting and vomited for 24 hours straight, so my Dr. ran an upper GI on me and came to the conclusion that my stoma was narrowed, so later that evening he put an NG tube in my nose to get rid of the pressure in my chest and 2 days later I had an EGD to fix the problem.......How DID I DEAL WITH THE COMPLICATION?? I was begging GOD to help me, and I kept questioning WHY DID I DO THIS???? BUT IT WAS ALL WORTH IT!!!!! IM OK NOW AND BARELY REMEMBER IT

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

Lonely, Depressed (because I missed my hamburgers),I did feel I had hope of a new future....when I felt bad and when I sometimes still feel down I write in my journal so in the future I can look at the amazing journey I went through.

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

soreness, misery in sleeping (stomach sleeper)....People should expect to feel ANGER towards themselves because I did and sometimes still do.....because I get angry of hOW I could have let myself get so big that I had to go to drastic measures to save my life.

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

8-9 hours.....from Gray, Louisiana to Little Rock, Arkansas, It does somewhat affect my after care since I have had narrowing 3 time and had to go back each time BUT the care I recieve is well worth the drive becasu my Dr. is an awesome doctor..

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 first few weeks were VERY VERY VERY hard.....everything is BLAND BLAND, but it gets better....Im now 3 months post op BUT evertime I have an EGD to dilate my stoma I would have to start all over again on my diet...I had an EGD on day 2 post-op, 1 month post-op,2months post-op...so everytime I start all over...ist been over 1 month since the last and final EGD and Im now eating low fat sugar free everything.....I use to LOVE red meat before surgery and now I HATE IT!!!

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

low for the firt 2 weeks and high there after, I do have my weak days IF I dont eat...thats the hardest part Im never hungry and I have to force myself to eat.

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

for 2 months I took, flinstones complete (2) calcium 600 mgs (2 times a day) now I am taking b-complex (dr. prescribed) and my calcium

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 hair loss is the MOST HORABLE part becaus I have very thin hair already so thats difficult.....but I do have to admit the physical strain the dumping gives you is the closest to HELL you can get IT IS AWFUL!!!!!!

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

the emotional part of dealing with losing your Best friend (FOOD)...thats the only part I had and still have problems with...but it does get easier

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

I dont have a local support group but I have on from where I had my surgery, over the computer WLSARK...it is VERY importanat

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

BEAUTIFUL, YES I expected it to be longer....many people say ooh I dont want a scar but Im proud of it because when I look down at it I will always remember where I came from....I call it my BATTLE scar and I WON!!!!

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

none yet

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

yes....nicer