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

My gyn. recommended it to me about 5 years ago. She gave me a pamphlet and told me I should look into it. I didn't because I had heard horror stories about people gaining all their weight back afterwards and I couldn't handle that kind of failure. The 2nd time was when I saw a woman who was 370lbs. and she had lost about 65lbs at the time I saw her. I asked what she was doing and she told me about the surgery. It was then that I really started to look into it and decided that it was the answer to my prayers.

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

My 1st try was with coventry healthcare of Louisiana. They were horrible. They would not consider it at all. I was starting the appeal process when our company switched to Oschner POS. I didn't think they paid for it but one day decided to send them a packet of the documents I had from my first try with coventry. I sent it on a Friday and I was approved 2 weeks later. No problems at all with them. My advice would be to give them ALL the information you can. I sent them all my labs and test results from my previous try, diet history, family history of diseases, letters from my gyn.-chiropractor and family doctor in support of the surgery. I also sent them a letter from me documenting all my medical problems and what they each are and how my obesity caused most of them. The more you send the more info they have.

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

The 1st visit with my surgeon was a little short but I liked him immediately. I had a list of questions but he recommended I go to one of the support groups. I did and all of my questions were answered plus ones I didn't even think about. Just relax and remember these guys are on your side. They do this because they want to..not because they have to.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I was out of control and did not know what else to do. I had many health problems, I felt horrible every day, I was depressed and I knew I would die if I didn't get it done. Yes, there was a chance I could die during or after surgery, but if I didn't at least try...well, I couldn't have lived or died without trying.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I decided to have the Open RNY because that's what my doctor does. They just started doing the LAP procedure but it takes 5 hours for lap compared to 1 hour for open. He was more comfortable doing open, so that's what I went with.

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 think it's natural to fear any operation. I feared dying every day before surgery. I would ask people What do you think your life expectancy is right now? I would ask them If you had a heart attack would you not want open heart surgery if it would save your life? There is risk with EVERY surgery, not just this one.

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 was supportive to my face, fearful behind my back. I am finding out now that they were very worried for me. I think now that they see I'm going to be ok and it IS working, they are better. I told everyone I knew I was having it. Now I wish I hadn't because I am constantly having to answer questions like "How much can you eat?" "Can you have this or that?" and my favorite "Well, was it worth it?"

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

I don't work

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 4 days. The most valuable item I brought was CHAP STICK! It was wonderful! My hospital stay was yucky. My back hurt the bed was terribly uncomfortable and my butt was killing me. Of coarse, I just had surgery so I don't think I would have been comfortable even in a penthouse suite!

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

I had no complications.

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

The moment they gave me my date I shook. I wasn't scared, I think that I had been working on getting it for so long (1 year) that I never really took the time to realize that I would ACTUALLY get it. I hope that makes sense. When I would get anxious I would pray and it helped alot.

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

The first week I was Hungry. Yes, I was. I went from eating 2000 + calories a day to liquids. How could someone NOT be hungry. Week 2 and 3...I slept. I was exhausted. I would get up for 2 hours and have to take a 3 or 4 hour nap. I couldn't think or concentrate. I thought I'd never feel normal again. I Knew deep down I would but it was tough. Week 4--Energy returned and so did cognitive brain function. Life is much better. Week 5--I am in week 5 now and it gets better every day!

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

I had to travel 2 hours for my surgery but it has not affected my aftercare at all.

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 1st week was liquids only. 2nd-4th week was full liquids which included thick soup and mashed potatoes. 4th week to now is pureed food. No fried food, sugar, not many fruits or vegetables. I am craving veggies now.

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

My activity level was terrible until week 4. Now I am doing everything I used to do except lifting.

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

I take a multi-vitamin, 2 calcium pills, an iron supplement and proteinex liquid protein 2ce a day every day. I tried several protein drinks but could not tolerate them. I now put the proteinex in a small amount of orange juice 2ce a day and that's my 60 gr. per day.

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?

I have slept better since the surgery than I have in the last 12 years. I haven't had much nausia or vomiting, but some. Water mostly. Really I haven't had many problems so far.

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

The pain from my back right after surgery was terrible. I would say that and the 2 weeks of ketosis when I was tired all the time. That was the worst.

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

My surgeon has a support group that meets in the New Orleans area 2ce a month. I usually go to the last one of the month because I am more familiar with the people there. It is EXTREMELY beneficial to have a structured aftercare program. There are people there who have gone through the same thing you have. Some of them have alot of problems some have none. It's just nice knowing you aren't going through this alone and maybe something you say will help someone else get though it.

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

My scar is 5 1/2 inches long and it is alot smaller than I thought it would be width wise as well as length wise. I think it is beautiful. It is very thin and in a year or two be hardly noticable. I call it my lifeline.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

At 3 weeks and 7 weeks I had a plateau for about a week. I'm going through the 7 week one now. I'm not weighing myself until next week. I find it helps me not obsess about it. It's gonna happen and it will pass.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

I find that when I look at someone they catch my eyes alot more than they used to. I'm only down 35lbs. I'm not used to that yet.