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

I heard about it initially years ago when it wasn't so safe and didn't even consider it. By the time it became a much safer procedure I wasn't in a position to be able to afford it, until Medicare started wising up. For years they considered it "cosmetic" surgery and wouldn't approve it. Give me a break. But no more. They finally now realize some of us have run out of options. I was excited to learn of the RNY and how low the rate of complications is for it, and when my sister offered to pay my co-pay, I jumped at the opportunity to finally get healthy again.

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

Absolutely shocking. Everyone involved said it would take a month or more to get approval from Medicare. I went to the doctor for my initial consult and they next afternoon I got a call from his office and they had already gotten an approval faxed from Medicare!!! I had a date set within minutes for my surgery, :-))))) My only advice might be to make sure you list every possible thing you have done to lose the weight in the past, no matter how trivial it might seem, and to make sure you list every possible co-mobitity/weight-related medical problem you might have so they have all of the information necessary.

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

Short and sweet. He was friendly enough the first visit, that changed later. He was so determined that I had to have the surgery that he didn't even do any cardiac tests other than an EKG and didn't really listen to some of the things I had to say, like "No, I won't be shopping there, I am going back home after surgery" "no, I won't be able to go to that support group, I will be back in Arkansas by then". I reminded him four times during that initial consult that as soon as he released me to travel, I was going home...he totally blanked me out and later yelled at me for "leading him to believe you are moving here". I did no such thing.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I was fat and miserable and I want to live to enjoy my grandchildren. I was basically bed-bound and tired of it. My family was encouraging me to have the surgery, and my sister offered to help financially and my brother offered to drive from Iowa to Arkansas to get me, and he and my mother took care of me for the next 2 months.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Open RNY is the only procedure that my doctor does.

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 got a little nervous that I might die, I was really big and had respiratory problems, so I was at risk. I got very depressed for about a week, worrying that I would never enjoy a holiday meal with my family and that I could never enjoy going out to eat with my husband again. But by the day of my surgery I was so eager to get healthy and enjoy my family again that the butterflies were pretty much gone. I think it is fine to be nervous and even a little scared, I don't think we would be normal if we weren't. I just think we need to make sure we don't let our fears consume and control us. We need to focus on the final result...a healthier, happier me.

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 family and friends with I think only one exception (and she don't count, lol), have been absolutely wonderful and supportive both before and after. Everyone begs for updates all the time and are so thrilled at the progress I have made and encourage me constantly. I wish I had done this long ago.

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

I have been on disability and unable to work after breaking my back twice in seperate automobile accidents, so this question doesn't apply to me.

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

My first three days and nights in the hospital were wonderful. I was in ICU 2 extra days as a "boarder" because the floor was full. The ICU personnel were great. They answered right away and were very helpful and friendly. The beds were actually comfortable and I didn't have a single complaint. My last night there they had a room open up out on the floor and moved me to the dungeons of hell. The bed was so uncomfortable it was physically painful. I spent most of my time in the bedside chair with my ankles and feet swelling more and more by the minute. The staff was very, very slow to answer calls and completely uncooperative and unhelpful. There was only one nurse there that was even half-way friendly. It was horrible. I was so very thankful when the doctor told me the next day that I could go home earlier than he had anticipated, I could have kissed him!!! LOL

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

Not a single one. I took a minimal amount of pain medication and most of it was for my back and the headache I had. Very little post-op pain, and my scar is healing better and faster than any I have had before.

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 was very excited, but as the date drew closer I did start to feel some fear and anxiety. I got worried I would die on the operating table and that I would never again be able to enjoy a holiday meal with my family. All of my worries have been relieved now, but it was a little scary before. By the time I actually went to the hospital though, I was so ready to begin getting my health back that I was pretty much over my fears.

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

The only support groups I have available here at home are the 3 I have joined online, but I have a wonderful support system at home and my family doctor is absolutely a gem and encouraging and keeping very close tabs on my progress and all my levels. A good support system at home is so very important, but the online groups I have joined are priceless. It helps so much to have others who are experiencing the same problems/feelings/emotions/progress to share with. That support is invaluable.

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

My scar goes from just below my left breast to the middle of my bellybutton. It is healing much better than I ever expected. I normally keloid, and there is only a tiny spot in all of that long incision that did this time. I actually have a couple of spots just 6 months out that are almost completely faded. My husband is putting Mederma on my scars every night and that does seem to be helping a little.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

None so far. I weigh every other week and so far I have lost something every time. Sometimes more than than others, but I have always recorded some kind of loss...so far.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

The only real change so far is that my family is all getting excited every time I share losses, and that my husband isn't always offering me seconds. I let him know from the start that if I needed food I would either get or or tell him exactly how much and what I wanted and not to offer me anything more, no matter what. He took me at my word for once and has behaved himself, lol.