anne Q.

Obesity & Me

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

BECAME OVERWEIGHT AFTER 13 YEARS OLD. TRYED SEVERAL DIETS AND DIFFERENT PROGRAMS. FOUND A FRIEND WHO HAD WLS DONE AND THOUGHT ABOUT IT FOR TWO YEARS. KEPT TRYING IN THOSE TWO YEARS GAINING AND LOSING WEIGHT. HAD A EMOTIONAL BREAKDOWN FROM CONSTENLY THINKING ABOUT WEIGHT. FOUND THIS WEB SITE AND GOT A DIFFERENT DOCTOR WHO WOULD LISTEN TO WHAT I WANTED AND PROCEDED

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

PEOPLES RESPONSE TO YOU THAT YOU ARE JUST LAZY OR STUPID. I WAS NOT LAZY I WORKED TWO JOBS AND HAVE A COLLEGE DEGREE

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

WALKING

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

A CO-WORKER, THOUGHT AT FIRST I WAS NOT THAT BAD TO HAVE TO RESORT TO IT BUT I WAS NOT SEEING THE TRUTH

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

BARNES HOSPITAL IN ST LOUIS WAS MY HOSPITAL. IT WAS VERY GOOD. I LIKED ALL MY NURSES AND I WAS VERY COMFORTABLE. I STAYED IN THE HOSPITAL FOR 2 DAYS. YOU REALLY DONT NEED ALOT OF ANYTHING. I BROUGHT A BOOK AND MY TOOTHBRUSH. SOME SLIPPERS MIGHT BE NICE.

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

I HAD NO 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?

TIRED, I WOULD DO A LITTLE AND THEN TAKE A NAP. I DID FEEL DEPRESSION WHEN I CAME BACK, I AM ON MEDICATION AND I DID NOT TAKE IT FOR ONE WEEK AFTER SURGERY SO I THINK I FELT BETTER WHEN I STARTED TAKING IT AGAIN. I GUESS I FELT A LOSS FOR THE FOOD, I KNOW IT SOUNDS FUNNY BUT IT WAS MY CRUTCH FOR SO LONG. I AM NOT HUNGERY BUT I FEEL LIKE I LOST A FRIEND. MY SISTER AGREES WITH ME AND I NEED TO FIND OTHER THINGS TO DO AND FILL MY TIME

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

FOLLOW UP WITH THE HOSPITAL, MY FRIENDS ARE GOOD SUPPORT. I GUESS IT DEPENDS ON THE PERSON, I FELT BETTER GETTING BACK TO WORK AND OUT SOCIALY. ALOT OF PEOPLE ASK QUESTIONS AND I HAVE KEEPT A BOOK WITH EVERYTHING IN IT TO SHOW ANYONE WHO ASKS

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

I HAD LATH PROCEDURE DONE. I HAVE SIX LITTLE SCARS. I HAD GALLBLADDER OUT THIS WAY SO I KNEW WHAT TO EXPECT. THE SCARS ARE ACTUALLY SMALLER THAN FROM THE GALLBLADDER SURGERY, BUT I HAD A TOP NOTCH SURGEON

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

NONE SO FAR

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

NOT SO FAR
show more answers

ARE YOU READY TO PAY IT FORWARD & SHARE YOUR JOURNEY? Your journey will help highlight the many ways weight loss surgery improves lives and makes a difference in our families, communities and world. EACH JOURNEY COUNTS as a voice towards greater awareness.

Share Now
×