Jessica R.

Obesity & Me

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

I thought I was a freak of nature..... I tried everything possible to make the weight go away. My family turned away from me, they didn't know how to handle any of this. I went through my teenage years being made fun of for my size. It was terrible. I even contenplated suicide, I was just so sad. but I never let anyone see me cry. Then I was searching on the web for weightloss and I remembered Carnie Wilson had this surgery done. I did my reasearch and didn't care what the side effects were. I had my surgery preformed 15 days later! when I want something I get it done! Now I am almost at my year mark, and I can't even begin to tell you how my life has changed - I have never been so happy. I just want to know why I didn't do this sooner!

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

Never being asked out on a date and having my ffriends and family turn away from me.

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 am a gym nut! I love yoga classes........Also I enjoy sitting in a chair and actually having room to spare, taking up 1 seat on the airplane etc......

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

I thought it would backfire, that I would be the one to make it not work - I would never loose all the weight - maybe 20lbs - but never anything more

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

My Hospitial stay wasn't so bad.....I actually had a great time. The nurses were so nice to me. I elected to stay for 5 days, I was nervous about being on my own with a new stomach. I'd say that the most important thing to bring to the hosp. is clothing that is almost a sizze bigger. Since I had this procedure done laprascopically they pump you up with gas and I actually gained 10 lbs. But I am glad that a nurse explained that was normal, I thought I had already screwed the surgery up :-)

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

Well I have just passed my year mark and I recently had a complication. On May 20th, 2002 I had a bowel upstruction and my appendix removed. It was very scary. I was told that I have lost so much weight and when I was heavy my intestine was just floating around and now because I'd lost over 100 lbs it was being "shrink wrapped" and was in a knot. The only way to fix it was to have another surgery. I was told this only happens to 3% of patients. Honestly if I knew this would happen before I did it, I still would have had the gastric bypass. I have never been so happy. I am still healing, so everyday I get a lot better! Soon I can go back to the gym! YAAAAA HOOOOOOOOO

In the weeks after you got your surgery date, how did you feel? How did you cope with any anxiety you might have felt?

Well I did this part differently then anyone else. I was on a cancellation list- I was told I was having surgery 15 hrs before I actually did! I was scared shitless, but I felt that there was no stopping me! I wanted this more then anything in the world. So I did it

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

I have been seeing a theripist even before I had surgery. He has been my rock when I was scared. Besides that, he helped me laught at myself silly for being afraid. Sometimes that all you need, is to laugh at your anxiety!

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

I had this procedure done laprascopically, so I have almost no scaring, even after a second procedure done through the same inscisions. I am very happy with the outcome and how it looks.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Well since my yr mark was in June, I have plateued only because I have lost all that I want to loose....I'm not unhappy

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes, I can actually say that I make heads turn. Woman aren't as friendly as they once used to be. But who cares I am so happy!
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