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

My ex-husband approached me and suggested I have lap-band surgery and we went to a seminar about it. I really was not interested in the time and he was not a candidate for it. He then looked into Gastric Bypass RnY and decided to have the surgery. I was behind him 100% to get the surgery because I had seen the great results other patients had experienced. I still did not think it was something I wanted to do.

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

I have United Healthcare and they had approved my ex for his surgery so when it was time to have mine approved, it was approved on the first letter sent by the doctor. Patients need to contact the insurance company regularly if you are pending approval. I was approved on the first letter, but I had to ride the process through to be sure it did not sit somewhere and get bogged down.

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

My first visit with my sugeon was great. I was confident and ready to have the surgery. I was very enthusiastic. I was very knowledgeable about the surgery and after-care so I was very confident about my outcome. People need to be very knowledgeable and aware of what the WLS entails and be willing to ask questions. Having a great surgeon is really the best thing you could ask for. Mine was.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I had lost 45 pounds after I left my ex husband and was continuing to lose. Then I started gaining the weight back and added an additional 15 pounds to it. I knew I had to do something. My diabetes was getting worse and I was just feeling drained all the time. I decided to have the surgery in 2003, but wanted to wait until after my divorce was final. I did not know that it would take until May 2004 to finally get divorced, but it did. I had already started the prelimanary testing and was complete with that. I waited until my final divorce decree and told Dr. G I was ready to schedule the surgery. The rest is history. Surgery done 7-7-04.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

My ex-husband had the RueNY procedure and it worked wonders for him. I researched the lap-band but was not satisfied with what the information told me concerning results. I knew the RNY would give me the results I wanted.

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?

Everyone is going to die one day, sooner or later. You have to take the chance. You are at this point for a reason, you can not do it on your own. Would you rather chance the surgery and have a life, or not chance it and know the life you are living is not what it should or could be. Go for 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 family and friends were scared for me, but happy that I had made a decision to change my life. I waited to let everyone know after I had a confirmed surgery date, I did not think it would do any good if I told them during the process, there are too many ups and downs. I would not have changed the way I told anyone. My boyfriend and best friend where there for me everyday, before, during and after the surgery. They were my biggest supporters. My work family were very supportive. My family has been very supportive also.

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

My supervisor was very happy about my decision, she knows how I have struggled with my weight and health because of it. I told her that I had decided to have WLS and had chosen a time when our workload was not so hectic. She and everyone I work with were very supportive and still are. I have not returned back to work, but will do so on Aug. 16. I will be off work 5 1/2 weeks.

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

My stay at the hospital was great. The staff was fantastic. I was there for 4 1/2 days. Really I did not have to bring anything although I did bring books, CD player, music, etc. but I never used them. The hospital gave me everything that I needed.

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

I had a slight fever that developed day 2, but I was given liquid tylenol and it went away. No other problems.

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

When I first came home I spent all of my time in a big recliner, napping and sleeping there at night. I had to take my pain medicine for only 2 days after leaving the hospital. My incisions were not sore. About 5 days after my surgery I started having problems sleeping. I tried sleeping in my bed, but just could not sleep through the night. I just was not tired. I started taking my pain medicine again to help me sleep, because it had Hydrocodene in it and it made me groggy. It has been over 4 weeks now and I am sleeping well and have no discomfort.

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

I relaxed, took naps, long naps the first week I was home. Now at 4 weeks I am exercising at Curves and not taking any naps. I have so much energy. Just take it slow, your energy will increase as the days go by, do not rush it, you will be sorry if you try to do too much to soon.

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

I only had to travel about 25 miles into Houston. I live in the metro Houston area but in another city.

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 2 weeks were full liquid diet, stay on it, beleive I tried to speed things up with soft foods. No go, I got sick. It was so hard the first week at home because of the food ads on TV, but I turned to my ObesityHelp.com family and they got me through the "head hunger" and I was able to overcome my cravings. I am now on soft/pureed foods and I am so glad I did not rush it. Sometimes I do eat something that I should not try yet, and I do get sick (chest pains, sweating, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, etc.) but I soon go back to a liquid diet for a day to help me sooth my aggravated pouch and I chastise myself for trying to move too fast. After those episodes you learn fast you don't want that experience too often.

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

First 2 weeks, I just napped and gradually started going on a few car trips here and there, but I would get so tired so easily. On the third week I started having some energy and wanting to do more. Begininng the 4th week I decided to join Curves and I have been working out everyday since I joined 3 days ago. I am only doing 1 round of machines and working myself up gradually to 3 rounds. I feel great.

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

I take 2 Flintstone complete vitamins everyday. 1 Citrate tablet a day. I make sure I get the necessary protien and water intake each day. I am no longer on anti-depressants and/or diabetic medicine since my surgery.

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?

Sleep disturbance was the hardest to deal with, but that has past after about 2 1/2 weeks. Dumping has been an experience. I find that sugar is not my friend and it will let me know it if I have something that contains sugar. That is OK I can live without sugar. My dumping episodes only last about 1 hour but they leave me drained and glad that I lived through them, again...

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

Having blood taken and living with an IV. I hate needles. Other than that everything was fine. Oh having to drink the nasty barium for the leak and digestive tests. Nasty!!!

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

My sugeon has a support group through his practice, but I have not had a chance to attend any of the meetings (conflict with another committee meeting I attend). Patient forum group is set up and I coorespond with many of his post op patients via e-mail. My biggest support has been the members at ObesityHelp they have been angels. Everyone wants to know that they are not alone in this struggle and you know you are not with the patient forum and ObesityHelp.

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

I have 4 very small incisions and 2 a little larger ones. Only one ever gave me any pain, but that was only brief. Otherwise they have all healed and look fine. I have had laproscopic surgery before so I knew what the scars would look like. No surprises.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Since I have started eating soft foods and exercising my weight loss has slowed down. I think it is the change from liquids to foods and exercising to tone up that has slowed down the process, but I am confident that if I stay on this path I will begin to start losing steadily again.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

My boyfriend is more attentive, but then again he has always been wonderful. I really have not seen anyone new that has not seen the change in me, only via phone and e-mail to catch up. When I return to work that is where I will see how people react. People are happy to see that they can already see some positive results.