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

I saw the advertisements that was in a magazine for Bariatric Treatment Centers, and thought about it. After I talked to my sister-in-law about a friend of hers who had had the surgery I decided that it was for me. Also coming on the obestity site helped a lot.

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

My stay in the hospital was great. The nurses were very nice, and the treatment was great. I went in the hospital on Thursday morning at 10:30 and by 3:30 I was back in my room recovering from the lap surgery. I went home Sat. morning and felt great. Things to bring, a pair of slippers, and maybe a book, everything else was supplied by the hospital. I had taken chap stick but didn't need it. I mostly slept till Friday morning and then the catheter came out and I was able to get out of bed and start moving around. After that it was pretty much a breeze, as I had made up my mind that I was going to get moving as much as possible. I had read on one of the sites that It was important to get going and get the exercise in.

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

After about 4 to 5 weeks out I started vomiting a lot, and called the doctor and a scope was scheduled. After the scope, the doctor told me that I healed to good to fast. My stoma had healed down to a pin hole, and nothing was going through. I have had to scopes done so far, and am scheduled for another one, at each one a balloon in used to stretch the hole to make it bigger. After the first scope I felt better, and I am now able to keep food down. The doctor didn't want to stretch it to much all at once, because he said there was danger in tearing it. I have another scope scheduled in 2 weeks. They are nothing to go through, as you are asleep the whole time, and feel nothing. Just a little light headed the rest of the day.

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 relieved when I finally got it, as there was a mix-up on my insurance, and I was afraid that they had decided not to pay for it. They hospital had told me that the insurance had said they would not. After I called them and straightened out the problem, everything went ok. The insurance paid all the hospital bill but 100.00 dollars which I had to pay for deductible, and just about all the Doctor.

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

I had a hard time laying in bed when I first went home, I know a lot of people say they use a recliner when they first come home. I was not comfortable in mine, so I piled up a lot of pillows and was able to sleep that way. After about a week I was able to take out some of the pillows and move around a little by the second week, I was able to sleep flat on my back and then to my side. Since I had lap surgery, my stomach was not real sore. After the swelling went down I felt fine.

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

We live 50 miles from the hospital, and as for aftercare, I didn't really need any. I had five very small holes, and 1 about 2 inches long. The bigger one is the only one that seeped, so I kept a bandage on it. By the 4th week it came off.

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 first 4 weeks home I was on pureed food. I just cooked normal meals for my husband and I took a stick blender and would puree whatever I fixed for him. After my 4 weeks checkup, I was to start eating more solid foods, always eating protein first, and then a little vegetables and fruit. All canned and the fruit was to be the lite variety.I was not allowed to eat any raw veggies or fruit until after my 8 week checkup. It is suggested that you stay away from all breads. A little toast was allowed, but you are to avoid for the most part all carbs. As my stoma had closed up, I had a lot of trouble after I started on the solid foods. I have done much better since I have had the scope.

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

I am improving more and more each day, I no longer have to use a cane to get around, and I am able to do the laundry and all the housework now by myself. I have started to do more exercising and getting more energy.

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

Dr Needleman has me on a pre-natal vitamin, and I also take dry vitamin E, L-Lysine,Milk Thistle, and Citracal 2 a day. Plus my medication that I still take.

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?

The vomiting was the worse, better now since the scope. I have had very little dumping, as I stay away from all sugar. I have not had any hair loss so far.

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

waiting for my date to have the surgery

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

I keep in touch with a yahoo group of people who are over 50 and they are a big inspiration to me. There is also a group at my local Y.

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

I have very little scars, as I had lap.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I am on a plateau now, because of the vomiting, I was not getting in enough food and my body went into a hibernation mode. I hope that now that I am able to eat and keep it down the weight lose will start again. Since July 24, 03 I have lost 53 pounds.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

No, other than to say they could tell that I was losing weight