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

I found out about the surgery when Carnie Wilson had her's done. At first I thought she was crazy, but when I saw how it worked and I started looking it up on the internet and reading about it, I started to change my mind.

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

I've been on everything from Weight Watchers to the Beverly Hills Weight Loss Diet, which was mainly a starvation diet. Getting my insurance to approve the surgery was fairly easy considering I had tried everything else. My doctor kept notes on everything I had done and after a consult with two surgeons I was approved.

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

The first surgeon I went to advised me agaist the surgery because in his words he would have to put me so far under that I would probably die. He had the attitude that he didn't want to do my RNY surgery because he likes to go the "easy" way and do the laser surgery. He came me the impression that he really didn't care. My sister suggested her breast cancer surgeon and she helped me set up an appointment with her. I really loved this doctor. She took the time to answer my questions and she saw me as a human being and not just as another fat person. The only thing I can say is ASK ASK ASK questions. I went into the consult knowing alot already about the surgery but I still took a list of questions that were nagging at me. This is your life. Find a surgeon that you really feel comfortable with and ASK those questions! I really recommend Doctor Roxanne Davenport of Roanoke, VA. If you want her number email me at [email protected]. I'll gladly give you her number.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

When I could barely walk across a short parking lot with out getting out of breath. I was sleeping and tired all the time because my blood pressure and blood sugar were so out of whack. I knew that if I didn;t do something and soon I was going to die.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

After my first surgeon said that I wasn't a good candidate for the laser surgery I talked with Dr. Davenport about the RNY. At the time I weighed 365 lbs and that was on a 5"4' frame. I am also short waisted and all my weight seemed to be hanging in the front. She expalined everything to me and then the surgery was set.

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?

My first big fear was having something go wrong on the operating table and not waking up but I knew that I had to do this. I'm telling you from experience that I was terrified but the surgery went great. I had some pain but I was determined that I was going to get through this and I have. I'm glad that I found the ObesityHelp.com website because it gave me an outlet and I found people that were going through the same things that I was. Find yourself a support group and don't be afraid to speak up. We're all in this together and I'll help any way that I can.

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 sisters were all for it. My mother was dead set against it. She's about 69 now and pretty set in her ways. Her biggest fear was that I was going to die but after the surgery and she saw how well I was doing, she changed her mind a little. She still sems to think that I'm going to backslide into the old routine but after she witnessed a couple episodes of the "dumping syndrome" I think she changed her mind. I tired to tell her that with the new pouch it was going to be hard for me to overeat or eat sugar and I think that she's beginning to understand. My family has been very supportive. My sister goes with me when I have follow up visits with my surgeon and if theres anyting to tell she tells it. LOL

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

MY boss was all for it. She was the one that actually clipped out articles on the surgery and gave them to me. My mother used to baby sit her children and since we've kept them so long they are just like my kids too. We are a seasonal business and I had my surgery during the months that we were closed so everything worked out pretty well. I am supposed to be out of work for 6 weeks. I have one more consult with my surgeon and then I will know when I can go back to work.

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

I can't say enough about Carilion Roanoke Memorial. The staff that took care of me were just great. I was in the hospital for 5 days and they were the nicest group of doctors and nurses that I have ever seen. They treated me like a human being and not just another patient. That to me, was the most important thing.

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

The only problems that I had in the hospital was that my blood sugar was staing high and I had a rapid heartbeat. By the time I was released those problems had been taken care of and I am now feeling fine. After I had my staples removed there was one spot that hadn't quite healed but it is nearly closed now.

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 sore but I felt really good. I don't feel depressed and though I may still get a little tired I know that its because I'm getting up and exercising and eating better and more healthier. I'm still basically on a liquid diet but gradually moving up to a little more solid food. When I saw my doctor just a few weeks after surgery and I hadn't lost any weight I got a little discouraged. The nurse explained to me that most patients actually gain after they have the surgery because of all the fluid that they give you while you're in the hospital. I took her advice and tried not to think about it and sure enough I waited another week or two and when I weighed I had lost almost 25 lbs. I was estatic because I was begining to think that I had done the wrong thing.

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

I was extremely sore and I had to sleep in a recliner because it hurt too much to lay in a bed. Expect to be tired but make yourself get up and move around, even if it is just a trip to the bathroom. I made myself get up and walk through the house as much as possible and if it was pretty I took short trips outside, even if it was just a short walk across the porch. The more you move around the better you will feel. Also expect to feel a little sick to your stomach at times. I'm 5 weeks post op and I still get that feeling. Make sure you don;t overload your pouch either. I was able to eat egg substitute but apparently I didn't chew some of it very well and I experenced the "dumping syndrome". Not an experience that I want to repeat. If it does happen to you then let it happen. After you throw up what ever is stuck the pouch you will feel better.

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

Probably about 20 miles. The hospital and surgeons office are fairly close to where I live. I'm just glad that they are so close.

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.

When I was in the hospital and the first 4 weeks I was on a basicly liquid diet. I couldn;t have anything that wasn't pureed. I had a little trouble with the 1% milk so I decided to lower the amount from 1 cup to a 1/4 cup and then try adding a little more as the weeks passed until I was finally able to tolerate a cup of milk. At first I could eat egg substitute but now I seemed to have trouble with it. Even the very taste of it seems to make me sick. Breads, sugars and any solid foods have been totally off limits to me. Since this is my 5th week I can how try 2-3 crackers and some cottage cheese. I am tolerating these pretty well but I am still on the liquid diet. The one thing that I have trouble doing is getting in all my fluids. I keep a 32 oz. cup of either water or diet soda and I sip on it all day long. I haven't tried any of the dark colas like Diet Coke or Diet Pepsi yet. It almost seems that I am eating less now then when I came out of the hospital. I have to eat something, stop for about 15 minutes and then I'm able to eat again. The pouch seems to be getting fuller faster. Even after just a 1/4 cup of cottage cheese.

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

In the first couple of weeks after surgery I didn't do very much moving around. After my staples were taken out I could move around more freely and I began to take longer walks. I still get tired but not as often.

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

I take my protein drinks and just started on my B-12 and Iron pills. I also take 2 childrens chewable vitamins and 4 Tums EX for the 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?

I have nausea nearly all the time. It seems to get worse when I know its time to eat. After I do eat the feeling goes away but pretty soon it comes right back. I've only vomited twice, thank goodness, and that was caused by the dumpig syndrome. I sleep fairly well through the night and as for hair loss I'm having some but nothing really major. Right now I am taking this just one day at a time.

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

Waiting for the bills to start coming in.

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

I have my family and friends and this wonderful website. I also found a group on Yahoo that I interact with. They have a support group at the hospital where I had surgery but as of yet I haven't been able to get to the meetings because I haven't been able to drive. As soon as I'm released to get bhind the wheel I'm determined to go.

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

Its a pretty long scar. Its pretty much what I expected. I had hernia surgery a couple of years before so now I basically have an upside down T on my belly. LOL

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

None so far.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

I've gotten some strange looks but after I tell them about my surgery they seem really interested and more talkative.