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

I had joined Overeaters Anonymous at age 23 in 1977. There was a thin woman there who told of the horrors of her bariatric surgery in that era--chronic diarrhea, frequent vomiting. About 15 years ago, a cousin on my mother's side had a gastric stapling in Florida. She lost weight. At the time I weighed nearly 200 lbs. so I was not a canidate. In 1999, I saw a T.V. documentary about a husband and wife who had the surgery. It inspired me to research the subject. Within a week, I had made an appointment with a bariatric surgeon through my health plan. A week after that, my father's cousin told me about her neice's daughter that had WLS. When I called her that night, I found out that both mother and daughter had the surgery a year apart. Both had lost weight.

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

I did not have any difficulty obtaining insurance approval. Most insurances cover this surgery as it is deemed a medical necessity these days rather than cosmetic surgery. I called my HMO and they immediately gave me the number of the surgeon in my health plan who performs the surgery. My surgeon informed me that he performs this ssurgery for many health plans. Although my approval was not going to be an issue, he told me that the more health problems people have, the easier it is to get insurance approval. I had out of control diabetes, back pain, stress incontinence, and obstructive sleep apnea.

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

I made my first appointment in October. My first visit to the surgeon in December, 1999 was uneventful. He seemed nice. I felt so ready that wanted the surgery the next day. I had reseached thousands of web sites on gastric bypass by the time I had met with my doctor. I felt I was an educated consumer.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I decided to have surgery because I was tired of living life at 330 pounds. I was becoming more unhealthy everyday. Being a nurse, I knew I was killing myself through eating and uncontrolled diabetes. I could not stop eating. I had to take drastic measures.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I decided which procedure I wanted to have before meeting my surgeon. I had researched the web extensively. I educated myself as much as I could. I knew I need more than a gastric stapling. My sugar intake was out of control. I need something that would cause me to avoid sugar. I read about the dumping syndrome and knew I had to have a surgery that would cause me to become ill if I ate sugar. So, the RNY was the most popular surgery. That is the one I wanted.

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?

Until a couple of days before surgery, I was too happy and excited about starting a new life as a healthier, thinner person. I rarely considered dying from the surgery. I was probably in denial. Then I hit a wall. For one day, I cried alot. Every time I looked at my children, I felt they would be without a loving mother as a result of this surgery. I wrote "I will always love you" notes to my children and husband. The next day I felt much better. I was back in reality. People rarely die from this surgery. My surgeon had performed over 700 bariatric surgeries and had not lost a patient. Modern medicine is miraculous. I felt I had little to worry about.

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?

At first, my excitment was tempered by my family and friends concern about taking such drastic measures. But once they realized I had researched this and made an educated decision, they were supportive and have been ever since.

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

I work as a guidance counselor in a high school and work a couple shifts a month as a psychiatric nurse at a hospital. I told the whole world about my decision to have surgery. I was so excited about it that others shared in my happiness. I saw a worried look on some faces but reassured them that this was a good thing. I was going to be healthier and have a better chance at living a longer life. I had accumulated enough sick time to be out of work for 6 weeks without a problem.

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

I was in the hospital 6 days, Mon-Sat. Pain control was a problem. After surgery Mon, I was in ICU till Wed because the pain was so bad. Nothing helped. Morphine, Toradol, Demerol, MS Contin -- all took the edge of but never made me a bit comfortable. I did not get out of bed till Thurs and that was to stand for a few seconds. Friday I walked. Walking hurt less than trying to move in bed or cough. Walking felt pretty good. The pain issue was a problem. The nurses were frustrated with the doctors (some of whom were residents) did not get me in good pain control.

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

Yes, but I am not sure what happened. My surgery and recovery lasted longer. An ICU nurse briefly mentioned if I knew about the problems with extubation in the recovery room, but I did not. The doctor did not say anything to my husband about it. As things go, it must have been a mild event. I will find out more when I see the surgeon for staple removal. I found out that it was hard to intubate me in the first place because I have a small airway (probably crowded out by so much food going down all the time.) Anyway, they kept me intubated a little longer as a precaution. I remember none of this.

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

In the weeks prior to surgery, I lived on this and other related WLS sites. I read hundreds of stories. I had a multitude of emotions. I became more aware of my sprituality--that was a good feeling. I did not feel very anxious until two days before surgery when I cried everytime I looked at my kids. I thought I was being selfish and they would be motherless. Those feelings passed quickly and I was fine the next day.

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

I have a low pain tolerance for pain. Pain control was a problem for me in the hospital and at home. Once per day at home, I would cry about feeling so physically terrible. I did not cry in the hospital. I just wish all patients were not treated the same. I do not believe evreyone needs to be on the exact same amount of medication in the hospital or at home. I have NEVER been a drug seeker, one who looks for drugs. But as a nurse, I know we are taught to respect individual differences in care. Other nurses who cared for me in the hospital were frustrated with my situation. They voiced their opinion that I should have twice the amount of med as I was getting because the amt. I was given was not working.

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

One hour--it hurt to go into the car and ride anywhere.

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

I have not attended any aftercare groups. I feel a little guilty about this but I do subscribe to a onelist.com support group who had surgery during the same month as I had it. If anyone has the know how or time to start such a group, I would strongly suggest it. It is at OSSG.com. About 30 people write in and we all get the e-mail. So we are all going through the same thing together.

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

My scar is very big. It is a constant reminder of what I had to go through to get healthier.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Plateaus are days or weeks without weight loss. I am careful not to weigh myself too often so I do not see any plateaus I may experience. I weigh myself about once every 3 or 4 weeks so I have a weight loss every time I get on the scale.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

My children do. My teenage daughter was embarrassed by my morbid obesity. I receive alot of verbal support from family, friends, and co-workers.