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

My local GP had discussed it with me in general a few times but I never had my head in the right place. It wasn't until I met a psychiatrist (my third one) and she sent me off to a hospital to get checked out for sleep apnoea that it was discussed in detail - if I had surgery to lose weight, this would help my breathing problems etc. And so I was introduced to the team that would eventually be my support system pre op.

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

As I have stated previously, I am a resident of Australia so my experience in this regard will not help others. I do not have an insurance plan and my surgery was paid for - by the hospital/government.

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

I remember being very nervous, almost too nervous because I don't remember asking any questions. Initially my surgeon spoke to me about having the band done but eventually he proposed the gastric bypass surgery which is what I had done. I suggest to people that they make a list of questions they need answering and ask as much as possible during their consult. Ask the surgeon what he expects for you.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I saw it as my last chance of having a life! I was surely going to drop dead if I didn't do something drastic and this surgery seemed like the answer. It all happened pretty quickly, and then it was just a matter of waiting to get an actual date. I put on a lot of weight in the months leading up to the op (with the old 'I better eat now cos I won't be able to later'exuse)... After a couple of set backs with cancellations and so forth I was finally given a date and I have'nt looked back since.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I didn't decide, my surgeon did. I trusted him wholeheartedly and I agreed with what he suggested.

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 actually wrote letters to all my loved ones before going in for surgery - I was convinced I wasn't coming home. I did a lot of soul searching and I knew I had to go through with it - I would die otherwise and I didn't want that - not without giving it my best shot. I say confront your fears, surgery is not without risk but just remember that your surgeon and his staff are the experts in this field and if they didn't think they could do their best for you then they wouldn't. Just stay positive.

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 dad passed away before all of this came about - that's one thing I regret because he would have loved to have seen me lose weight and begin a healthy life. My mum was and still is totally supportive. My husband had trouble coming to grips with the amount of food I could eat post op - it's better now 9 months on, he's used to it. He's actually talking about wanting the op too. That's a whole other story. My brothers and their wives were totally supportive. A couple of friends had their doubts but now they are totally supportive.

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

I work from home so it really wasn't an issue. I took about 2 months off in total (mainly because I broke my wrist just after having the op so I couldn't type).

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

I was totally depressed on the day of surgery (I got my period which didn't help). I was anxious but relaxed in the realisation that I had made the right choice. I was expected to be in ICU for at least 2 days post op because of my breathing problems but I actually only stayed in there for a few hours post op. I don't remember much of the initial return to the ward. I was in hospital for a total of 7 days (admitted in the afternoon and discharged in the morning - so 5 full days). I found it really important to have a fan (it was so hot in the ward I couldn't breathe), other than that I didn't feel as though I needed anything out of the ordinary.

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

No complications to speak of. When they removed the tube from my throat that hurt quite a bit and my throat was sore for quite a few days afterwards.

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

It was like life was on hold.... I had a date but it was weeks away and then it got cancelled and my life fell apart, I thought it would never happen. The worst thing was ringing my family and beaming about the date and then having to ring them back to tell them it had been cancelled, they were just as disappointed as I was. I vowed not to tell anyone until I was sure the next time. I actually went in for the op one time only to be sent home the following morning because ICU was full. I then had to wait another month... I was pretty anxious after that, I did a lot of crying.

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

I remember being sore around the ribs, I couldn't lie on my left side for quite a few weeks after the op. Food smells made me sick to my stomach and eating and drinking felt like totally new experiences - like I had never done it before! I was down, post op blues I suppose and to top it off I fell and broke my wrist about a week after I was discharged so I was back at the hospital! So between recovering and nursing a broken arm I was out of action for quite some weeks and felt totally useless. It got better as the weeks went on, and as the weight fell off!

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

I didn't have to travel a great distance, I was really lucky.

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.

In the beginning I was eating baby food out of a jar and then I moved onto mashed vegies and pureed meat. From there I went to things like scrambled egg and yoghurts and puddings. The hardest bit for me was getting the calcium requirements, I'm not a milk drinker and it was hard for me to tolerate drinking milk. Even now I don't do as well as I should. I have trouble with bread (it seems to 'ball up' in my chest and it feels like a stabbing pain and I have trouble with dry rice. It's okay if it's curry with gravy but if it's fried or dry it gets chokey and I have vomited. On two occasions (both times with rice) I have had pains down my left arm and have then vomited. I had some tests but it was okay. I just have to be careful with rice. It's really important to chew your food and it's important not to drink on a full tummy - this is a real no no! 9 months post op I pretty well know what I can and can't tolerate so it gets easier and easier.

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

Activity was non existent pre op so any activity I did post op was a bonus. I can't believe how my energy levels have increased. I'm still quite big and I still have a lot of weight to lose but already I am doing things I have'nt done in years, like walking to the shops and taking the dog for a walk. It makes me feel really proud - like I've achieved something. Obviously just after surgery activity is pretty low, but it does pick up quite quickly.

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

From the very outset I have taken a multi vitamin (particularly for women)and after my first lot of blood tests to determine my needs I was put on iron supplements and zinc supplements. My hair was falling out rather badly and it stopped after a while when the iron tablets started taking hold. I no longer take the zinc supplements. I will probably always have to take the iron tablets and the multi vitamin.

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?

Nausea didn't last long, once the wound healed and I was on semi solid foods it seemed to pass, unless I ate something that didn't agree with me but it's all trial and error in the beginning. Vomiting wasn't a major thing, I think I've only vomited about 6 times in the 9 months since surgery. The hair loss was great, until the iron supplements took hold as previously explained. If I eat something too sweet or fatty it will go straight through me and that can be quite unpleasant, especially if you're out when it happens so it pays to choose food wisely.

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

Isn't it funny, you forget the pain and the awful bits. I reall have to think about this. I remember it was pretty degrading in the hospital, the gown didn't fit of course and the usual problems of the bed being too small etc., but I don't think anything really grossed me out. The psychological part is the hardest part I think, and that takes time.

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

I didn't have a support group - I don't think they exist in Australia. About a month ago I joined a support group via the internet and I have found them to be enormously helpful. It's the Gastric Bypass Surgery Support Group and they are a great bunch of people. I really get a lot of enjoyment out of this group.

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

My scar runs about 8 inches, from below my breasts down towards my bellybutton. I don't think I had any expectations one way or the other. It doesn't bother me - I doubt if I'll ever be wearing a bikini!!!

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

None so far thank goodness. Sometimes it's hard to know if I'm losing weight but I just measure myself and see that another inch has come off here and there and I know it's still happening. I don't register on normal scales yet so I can only get weighed when I go to the hospital, and that's only every 6 to 10 weeks - but it's a really nice surprise to step on the scale and see how much I've lost.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes, but I think it mainly stems from my attitude change. I am so much more confident now and I don't assume people are staring at me or laughing at me - and if they are, I don't care anymore cos I know I'm doing something about my problem and really, they're the ones with the problems, they're ignorant! People comment on my attitude and how I'm getting back to the old me, it's nice to see that they notice. Compliments are a wonderful invention.