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

Being overweight almost my whole life it is something that has come up for years. I began to actually look into it about three years ago and I just wasn't sure if the risks were something that I could accept. When Carnie Wilson did it that almost worked opposite for me. I didn't want people to think I was doing it because a "star" had done it... I am not a follower. However, I really need to make some changes.

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

The surgeon's office put my paper work through. It took me three plus weeks before I heard anything, but I WAS approved.

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

After researching for so long, my meeting was more for my husband. Most of what the surgeon had to say I knew already knew. I did need to get specifics that pretty much applied to his office and how he worked things. My advice would be to be as prepared as you can. Be knowledgeable so that you can ask pertinent questions.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

After talking with my surgeon, regular doctor, cardiologist and family, everyone supported my wanting to do this (except my husband). My cardiologist had been suggesting this for a couple years, because I may need heart surgery in the future (congenital not weight related).

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Whatever the surgeon is experienced in doing. I don't really have a choice. I have to hope that he does the BEST surgery for me.

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 was fearful about dying and even moreso about complications. I am basically a young person and I am doing this so that the next forty years of my life can possibly be better, more activity, more oportunities, etc. We have to decide if we are willing to take that risk. We are willing to get on an airplane the first time, get into the driver's seat of a car the first time, get married, have babies, this is just another one of those very important decisions we have to make in our lives.

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?

Every one except my husband was in favor of this surgery. It is possible, that I could have eased him into this idea a little easier. He was pretty much unaware of all the research I did, dicussions with my various physicians, etc. I pretty much told him this is what I wanted to do and he couldn't change my mind. He was not too happy. I should have been more careful of his feelings.

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

I haven't told my employer. My supervisor knows that I will need to miss a little time at the end of school for abdominal surgery. I am not sure if I will be more explicit when the time gets closer.

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

I was miserable in the hospital. I had severe bloating and water retention. The more I walked the worse I felt, but I understood what the doctor and nurses were saying about how it would help in the long run. When I got home, my back and belly hurt. Sometimes I couldn't sit, but I was physically worn out. My muscles were so sore it hurt to move. Taking a shower wore me out. I started taking it at night so I could then just go to sleep. I needed help with "personal" hygiene. My husband wasn't always home and I had to count on my twelve year old daughter and my mom once. This went on for about two days. My mom got me walking and I have been able to increase it to walking around the block for about 20 minutes. I had a lot of trouble getting in my liquids. Water made me nauseous (which I never expected - I always loved water) and when I was feeling hungry - which was most of the time - Koolaid/Crytal Light did the same. I turned to drinking v-8 after breakfast, Koolaid/Cryal Light mid-day, OJ with water in the evening and milk at bed time. I found that when I was hungry milk helped alleviate the hunger. I know I was getting too many calories, but I needed to be able to get through the day. I started off eating baby food and after two weeks progressed to regular food in small amounts. I was seriously depressed when I was at home. At my four week appointment, my mother told the doctor that she thought I was depressed. He said that was natural and that 95 -100% of his patients feel much better at the two month visit. I did not believe him. However, two days later, I had my first "good" day. Since then things have been much better.

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.

wk 1 - broth and clear liquids in the hospital wk 2 - baby food, by end of week I was trying regular food mashed, if I couldn't mash it I wouldn't eat it. wk 3 and on - Nutritionist told me to begin to increase my amount by a teaspoon per week until I see her again, about 6 weeks - pretty much I eat what everyone else is eating just in a much smaller proportion. Making sure I chewed really, really well. I try to stay away from fatty foods, no chicken skins or fat on meat. Tender cuts of meat are easier to chew and if I find that what I am eating is real fibery, I spit it out into my napkin instead of swallowing. I was doing real well eating only at mealtime, I think up to the fifth week my only "cheating" was I had a bite of Tiramisu three nights in a row and I mean "a bite", hard pretzels with peanut butter (three or four nuggets or small twists) and peanuts. However, I do not consider it really cheating since I stopped at such a small amount. wk 6 - This snacking has probably increased a little bit since this amount. I was never really a snacker before, so it just kills me. I am trying to keep gum with me, maybe it will help. month 3 - still snacking a little. It hasn't really increased. I eat whatever I want, but I do try to make sure I have some protein and then something else. I could eat a sandwich, but I don't want to take up so much of my stomach space with bread, so I usually eat the meat and cheese off the sandwich.

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

Days - not much, I just wanted to sit or lay down. Weeks - little my little, more energy at 4 weeks, 2 days - my activity level is up. I'm feeling good and want to do things. I do get tired though and when it happens, it is sudden. at 3 months - I have very few tired situations - other than what I would consider normal. I definitely feel I have more energy than before the surgery.

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

two weeks: One-a-day B-12 sublingual my nutritionist does not want me to take any protein supplements 2 months: a calcium supplement has been added

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?

nausia - maybe a week or two after surgery vomiting - periodically, usually based on what I ate piece of steak overcooked/tough sleep disturbance - Pain pretty much gone by 4 weeks, very difficult while tubes were still in/taken out at two weeks dumping - only once, I added chocolate syrup to my milk hair loss - started at about 10 weeks

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

I still felt hungry in the first four weeks and don't tell me HEAD HUNGER, bullsh**. I was envious of people who could "eat normally". I also was very bloated in the hospital, very painful.

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

I meet with the: doctor (1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month, 2 months, 5 months) nutritionist (2 weeks, 2 months, 3 months) exercise physiologist (3 months) A group of us started a support group in Colorado Springs. I have enjoyed meeting with them immensely.

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

From my cleavage to my belly button. It is red, about 1/4 inch wide and little dots (staple holes) going down the side. Yes, it is pretty much what I expected.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Every now and again, beginning in the second month. I would have days where my weight went up and down on the scale. When it would go up I would freak a little. I had a period between week 6 and 7 (approximately two weeks) where I lost no weight and I thought I would be the only person this surgery wouldn't work for. But I was wrong and we have to realize the our bodies need time to adjust to the weight loss.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

8/18 - even though I am still obese (BMI 52.8) gentlemen are watching me and smiling, people are talking to me friendlier. Maybe it is more me. I feel like I look great and maybe I convey that in an "attitude" that people read.