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

My primary Dr. suggested it.

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

I have Medicaid and there was no problems.

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

Get as much information as you can gather. This is still relative new and you need to find out as much as you can about what to expect.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I have had 15 abdominal hernia surgeries. It was to a desperate situation.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Dr recommended.

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 didn't experience this fear. I guess because I have had so much surgery I am getting to used to 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?

Necessary. Very suportive. This is something you need when you first come home because of the every 15 minutes needing to drink one ounce. Maybe with only the bypass surgery it wouldn't be as much of a problem. But for me because of the 7 hernias that were repaired also I would have had a big problem if not for the support of my 16 year old male nurse (my grandson).

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

I am disabled so work was not a factor.

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

I had a problem wakeing up from surgery so I slept most of the first and second day. Then I was given koolaid that caused the dumping syndrome. No fun. Most important to take to the hospital. A list of what you can drink. When the order is sent to the kitchen for liquid diet the will send you jello, broth, soda, tea, coffee, etc. You need to find things that have no or very little sugar in them. My origanial list said I could have carnation instant breakfast, boost, boost plus, ensure. and some others. I found out the hard way that all the above caused the dumping. Carb solutions, Glucerna, and powdered whey protein mixed with skim milk have been ones that I have tolorated well. Take some with you in case your dietary department does not have what you need. And a good book and comfortable pjs.

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

I had the dumping syndrome untill I got the food worked out. At week 5 I have had to go back to day surgery because the small intestine where it conectes to the stomach closed. This is said to a common problem. If you feel like your food is not going anywhere call you Dr. I was vomiting 3 days before I had sence enough to figure out there was a problem that the Dr. needed to know about.

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

My surgery was done in a week after the first discusion.

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

There again I had a lot of other things to deal with so I am not the best for this information.

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

Down the street. Half a mile.

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.

Have been able to eat Carb Solution, Glucerna, Whey Protein powder mixed with skim milk. Low fat sugar free Jello. Baby food meats. Cream soup blended. Sugar free drinks. could not tolerate. Boost, Boost plus, Ensure, Crystal Light, I was adding to on schedule until the closing to the intestine. So my progress I hope is not the normal.

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

Not being able to eat BarBaque.

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

We are just organizing a support group. Will be meeting 4/26/01 for the first time. There is a lady at the hospital who is organizing all this. She is the support at this time.

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

Ugle and yes it is exactly what I expected.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I have had another set back with the small intestine closing where it is attached to the stomach. The first time was 3/22/01. Now again 4/8/01.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Other than they notice that I have lost weight and are congradulating me no.