juiwanna P.

  • BMI 27.4
  • VBG on

Obesity & Me

Describe your behavioral and emotional battle with weight control before learning about bariatric surgery.

I had tried everything known to man to lose weight including a balloon in my stomach, with which I gained 3 pounds. I attended a 6 week inpatient eating disorder therapy program. I was obese since the age of 5. I yo-yo dieted all my life from the age of 10. At 10 years of age I was placed on amphedemines for the first time and spent a large portion of my life addicted to legal and illegal speed. There is no diet that I have ot tried.

What was (is) the worst thing about being overweight?

Depression and not fitting in to society. Even now when someone starts making fun of "fat" people I tend to get upset. But now I will give them a piece of my mind.

If you have had weight loss surgery already, what things do you most enjoy doing now that you weren't able to do before?

I have always loved to dance and now I can. Just being able to reach all areas of my body when I shower make me feel like I am blessed.

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

A friend had this surgery and did well. I initially thought it was drastic but knew I needed it.

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

I had no problems. Clinic handled it. I did have to document all the weight loss programs I had tried

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

Informative. Write down all the questions ahead of time in case you forget.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I decided before I had any information that I was tired of being fat.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Based on my friends good results and the fact that I did not want to have dumping syndrome I elected for staples and banding. I also knew I did not want it to ever be removed. I still can handle vomiting much easier than having a bowel movement at very short notice. I carry cans with me for emergencies

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 am always afraid of dying with any surgery. I probably know more of the risks than non medical people, as well as mistakes. I feel the benefits outweighed the risks.

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?

Everyone was behind me, my husband told me He loved me even without the surgery but he also knew I would be happier.

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

Employer was not in a position to react, I just took a medical leave. I was out of work for 6 weeks because my job involves a lot of lifting, running and pulling.

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

Stay was normal. Be prepared for surgery, surgery hurts. Bring comforable slippers that go on without bending over.

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

no unforseen 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?

I was very anxious that the surgery would not work because everything I had tried all my life had not worked. I just told myself to try, and maybe this me it would work.

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

Expect to be home and recover. All surgery has at least a 6 week recovery time if not more. Being overweight and having surgery made it a little harder to move a lot after.

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

I flew to Iowa from Michigan. I had to arrange for personal therapy. I cannot emphasize enough the need for therapy. Some of my previous behaviors tried to undermine my good results and if I had not gone to therapy I would have gained all 100 lbs back. Also I know of people who did not do therapy and are as heavy as they were prior to surgery

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.

I ate baby food at first (pureed) now after 8 years I eat very little beef or pork. The most I can eat at one time is half a sandwich. I eat every 2 hours while awake. I still cannot eat first then drink fluids after. I still throw up if I eat greasy foods or too much at one time. Fast foods do not sit well on my stomach.

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

I always take a multivit. (now with no iron since menopause). And I assess my protein intake daily and if I feel I have not had enough I drink a protein drink. Ensure etc.

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 still have N&V. I carry around a disposable vomiting container. I do not eat foods that will make me sick when I have plans or have to work. My hair is thinner but now I blow dry it!!

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

I miss beef and onions sometimes. I miss tomatoes a lot. But I do realize that these foods also made me nauseated before my surgery but I ate them anyway. One of the hardest things was adjusting to a new body size. I had to get a full length mirror and look in it everyday to realize I was not fat. Even now I allow more space for my body to move then is required.

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

I am not in any program. After 8 years I am pretty much normal again except for the things I have adapted to.

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

My initial scar went from my breastbone to my naval. Now it goes from my breastbone to my pubic bone because I had a tummytuck. It has faded to white, but that is OK because my skin is pale white too.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I plateaued when eating icecream. There are a lot of calories in icecream and it can be eaten without filling you up, so a person could eat a gallon at a sitting and revert bac to bing eating.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

People treat me as if I have always been thin. Usualy this is OK, but I still have problems with fat bashing. Just yesterday people were talking about a heavy patient. any how could he let himself get that way and I became angry. I will tell people now just how uncaring and rude they are now. When I was fat I would have just held in my feelings and been hurt.
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