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

I saw an ad in the newspaper and then a friend also mentioned it.I became interested and proceeded to surf the internet for everything I could find out.I decided it was for me and began the long process of getting approval.

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

Hang in there and don't take no for an answer. If you bug them long enough they will respond.

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

The first meeting was a group consultation Where Dr. Jones explained the surgery and it's pros and cons. She also talked about the risks involved. Then she had private consultations with each person.The best way to get the most out of each meeting is to come prepared with a written list of all your questions.The ones you feel comfortale in sharing at the group meeting then share. The ones you only want to share with your Dr. ask during the private session.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

After studying about it I had hope that this could be an answer for me.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Again I studied up on all the various surgeries past and present.I weighed the pros and cons and made my decision.

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 had a little fear of dying from the surgery and so basically wrote letters to my two daughters, my husband and a friend and wrote out some preferences for my funeral and then gave this all to a friend for safe keeping. It made me feel better to do this as it seemed I had more control over some of the situation.

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 husband and children were very supportive. Also my parents and the couple of close friends that I told were very supportive. My husband spent all 5 days in the hospital with me and then helped me with everything afterwards also. Everyone that I've told since my surgery have also been very supportive. I feel I've been very blessed with so much support.

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

I didn't have this problem to deal with since I don't work outside my home.

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

Everyone at St.Vincent Carmel was very nice. But I must say my 5 days there were not at all pleasant. I was in a lot of pain whenever I had to move or get out of bed and walk. For me it was the worst pain I have ever experienced. Except for getting up to walk I was pretty drugged up and slept most of the time. Most things were supplied so I really didn't need to bring much.

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

I did get pnumonia but Dr. Jones was very quick to start me on an antibiotic and I had breathing treatments given to me by the respritory thearipists. It was tough but effective. They really knew what they were doing.

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 actually had to wait about 4 months and I was fine until about 2 weeks before surgery. Then I began to have quite a bit of anxiety. Basically I just tried to use self talk and tried to deep breathe and relax. It helped but didn't totally work. I also had people praying for me and I'm sure that helped the most.

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

The first 2 or 3 days home I was in so much pain that I really wondered what I had done to myself! The 1st 2 weeks were the worst with so much pain but each day it did get better. I had to sleep in my recliner for a month before I could finally sleep in my waterbed. But after that I was fine. I felt no hunger. I would say it is completely normal for you to wonder those 1st couple of weeks whether or not you did the right thing. But I say that more than likely you will be so glad you did it.

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

I live on the eastside of Indy so it was only about a 30 minute drive for me. I'm thankful that it is so close. I count myself fortunate.

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.

My dietary tolerance hasn't changed too much in 3 1/2 months. I cannot eat rice or pasta or corn. I can eat most meats as long as I chew them good. I have tried to focus on protein from day 6 but still don't get as much in as I really need each day. I don't dump really but do not feel very well after I eat sweets so I try to stay away from them. I still don't eat 3 meals a day nor do I usually get as many oz in as I should for each meal. It has been hard to drink as much water as I need but I keep trying since this is important. Fast food makes me ill so I rarely eat any of that.

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

The first week after I got home my level of activity was pretty minimal especially since I was drugged up and slept a lot because of the pain. The second week I was going to the store with people and walking a bit. It made me tired and hurt but helped my frame of mind to get out of the house. By week three I was walking more and hurt less and it just got better from there. By week three I was driving again.

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

I take 2 chewable children's complete vitamins, 2 500 mg. of chewable calcium per day and vit. B-12 once a week.

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 was the worst for me. I didn't vomit I just always felt like I was going to so I wouldn't eat. This persisted for about 1 month and periodically after that. I still experience it sometimes. I actually didn't vomit until my second month and then it was mostly because I ate too fast. Now, 6 months after surgery I have an ulcer in my new pouch so I haven't been able to eat or drink much for almost 2 months. They put a PICC line in my right arm and feed me a nutritional liquid suppliment each night.

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

There were 2 things. One was the awful pain the first 3 weeks. The other was the removal of the G-tube. The G-tube didn't come out very easily and was very painful.

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

St. Vincint has support groups that meet 4 times a month. I try to attend one of these each month. I saw Dr. Jones at three weeks, six weeks, 3 months and now I will see her every 3 months for the next 2 years. I feel this is very important. I also see the dieticians each time I see Dr. Jones. They are very helpful. Besides this I have a wonderful family and friends who are supportive. I also have a therapist that I have seen for the last 7 years that is very helpful.

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

I have a 3" scar. It was very thin to begin with but has widened as it has healed. It is quite red. I thought it was going to stay thin so I'm a little disappointed but really it doesn't matter and I'm not sorry I did it.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

So far I have not had any plateaus.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Not really except that my friends are always telling how good I look. They really treat me with the same respect that they always have. I never paid much attention or cared about what others thought of me.