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

I knew about bariatric surgery over 10 yrs ago and at first I thought it was a "cop-out" surgery and you wouldn't be dealing with the "whys" of overeating if you just had surgery to lose weight. Boy was I ever wrong.

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

Well, I did not even try to get ins. approval before. I learned by chance that my employer [and my ins. co.] would be covering the procedure this year, so I jumped at the chance and started the process in Jan 2001.

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

My first visit was an "orientation" type visit. The office staff schedules a "consult" and first you have a group orientation, then he sees you individually. Get the most out of your consult by being prepared with any and all questions you may have for the surgeon.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

There was no decision. I knew I wanted it and then when I found out ins. was paying for it, the rest was academic. The decision actually came surely and slowly as the yrs went by and I got heavier with more and more health issues at stake, I knew it was my only answer after years and years of failed diet attempts.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I decided to go with the stapling procedure, gastroplasty, instead of gastric bypass because the potential risks and complications scare me to death. I did not want to deal with malabsorption problems, vitamin deficiencies, anemia, whatever. I did not like the idea of my body parts being taken apart and reattached in a way that they were not intended.

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 did have fear of complications, but not really bad fears. I just thought something might go wrong during surgery. When I woke up I realized all was well. I was not 400 or 500 lbs though, and I think I would have been more afraid if I was very, very heavy. Those folks do have complications to consider, but the benefits outway the risks in my opinion and I would not let it stop me.

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 very supportive and I communicated everything to them and do not regret or feel any changes would take place if I had to do it again. They are still very supportive, maybe moreso, if that's possible.

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 fine with it, she didn't say one way or another anything negative, she was supportive. I was out of work 3 weeks, then missed two additional days. I believe 4 weeks is necessary to really feel back to normal and be strong enough to endure all day long. It was hard going back so early. In the old days, this major abdominal surgery would have had me out 6 weeks.

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

My hospital stay was uneventful. I was most afraid just prior to going in for surgery, but then they gave me the "I don't care" medicine and I didn't even remember anything after that until I woke up in my room. I was in for 3 nights, went home the 4th day. I only brought the bare essentials. I was in a hospital gown for the most part and then on my 3rd day I got up and showered myself, washed my hair and put on some pj's I brought. That felt good even though I was still sore and slow moving.

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

No, none. I did have to have my gall bladder out too, though and that meant more manipulation of my torso wall muscles and caused more soreness than if I had just had my stapling done alone.

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 excited, anxious, scared, eager, ready, not ready, emotional, grieving a loss of what I thought was a friend [food]. I wrote it all down in a journal I started a few weeks before my surgery. That helped the most.

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

At first, I was sore and slow. I eased down to the sofa, eased back up. I had help getting out of bed the first couple days, then I managed moving and maneuvering on my own. With each day the daily activities became easier. There was no surge of energy like some post op folks tell you. I was tired easily and took naps every day, I had pain medicine at night to help me sleep because sleeping on my back was not my choice position. It all got easier though, with each day.

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

I live in a large metropolitan area, I drove from one suburb to another, on freeways it was only 30 minutes. So it did not affect 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.

Actually, I am still in that process now. Liquids for 6 weeks after surgery, then soft, chopped or pureed foods for 6 more weeks, then solids. My surgeon has very explicit instructions on what to eat or drink and when.

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

I started walking in the hospital, short distances and the weekend I got home I started walking in the neighborhood, short distances. I am 6 weeks post op and up to a mile now.

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

I chew a children's vitamin daily, it has 100% of RDA for adults as well.

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 had nausea in the hospital alittle, was given IV medication twice for that. No nausea since. Sleeping was only difficult because of laying on my back until I was able to turn from side to side comfortably. Now that is not a problem at all.

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

The pain. When the respiratory therapist came in to have me do a breathing treatment the muscles in my chest would spasm and cause pain. It was difficult to deep breath the first 2 days, by the 3rd day the spasms stopped and I was deep breathing with the best of them!

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

I am not in a support group, yet anyway, but I am in counseling with a wonderful psychologist that has helped me to deal with the emotional eating patterns I had developed from childhood and into adult life to now, post op gastroplasty and learning a new way to live without living to eat. Now I eat to live.

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

It's about 8 inches long from sternum down, just slightly to the right [since I had to have my gall bladder removed]. Yes, it is what I expected. It's healed nicely and I expect someday it will be just a white line down the middle of me.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Although, I am only 6+ weeks post op, I have experienced small plateaus. I think these are just water absorption imbalances. I can go from a few days to a week with no loss, then bam! Three to five lbs will drop suddenly. If I recall, that is pretty typical of "dieting" and weight loss. I haven't gotten to the point of no wt. loss for weeks yet. I will dread that though.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes, already. Six weeks and 30 lbs lighter and people speak instead of turning away [like walking past them in the hall at work] or people in stores are more attentive and will ask if I need help instead of moving away the other way. Amazing.