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

I first found out when my girlfriend told me about it. She said she was going to try and get it done. I told her she was nuts. I did everything but talk her out of it! I thought why in the heck would anyone cut their stomach to hold only and ounce! Never be able to eat anything good again?!?! So then, I started to think about it. Wow, to lose 250 lbs. and keep it off! So, me, contradicting what I said, started looking into it. I called BTC in Ann Arbor, MI, and had my consultation. I decided to go ahead with it.

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

I didn't really do anything with the insurance, BTC took care of that for me.

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

My first visit with the surgeon was ok. Dr. Poplawski answered all of my questions and had a few (that I didn't like) of his own. I feel like he asked questions that were too personal. (i.e. "Have you ever been raped" Now you tell me what that has to do with being overweight and having corrective surgery!)

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

Knowing it was safe!

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Just reading.

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 am scared out of my wits!! Mostly about dying on the table, second tearing the staples later.

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?

Everyone is real excited that I decided to do this!

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

They are all real supportive too. I told them what exactly was happening.

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 for five days. I don't remember anything the day of the surgery or the next day. All of the nurses were nice. I want to very honest here too. The first 4 days are like living in HELL. Though my surgeon was not one who specialized in this surgery, I believe he did what was best for me. For the first three days NPO (nothing by mouth). Wow, how dried out can you get! My mouth and lips cracked along with the roof of my mouth and throat. I thought I was dying and actually would have rather. After that the fourth day, I got ice chips and about 50 ccs of water every nurse shift. That's about a bathroom dixie cup only 1/4 full. That went on for only a couple of shifts. The doctor came in and said I was doing very well and said I could have 60ccs every hour. I was also allowed to take that 60ccs and change it for a popcicle too. Day five was clear liquids. Boy was that heaven.

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

No complications. We were told it would take 2 - 3 hours and took 5 1/2. I still don't know why.

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 has only been one week. I am still tired alot because I have a hard time sleeping. I especially get tired after walking, but you have to walk, walk, walk. After three weeks I was back in the hospital for 5 days. I was having severe pain in my stomach and vomited LOTS. They thought that my opening was closing up, but after a few tests they were all fine. We came to the conclusion I was on soft foods too fast and back to liquids I went for three more weeks.

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

A lot of being tired. I thought that I was supposed to have more energy, but I had less. You have to get up and make yourself walk. I made the mistake of lying in bed for weeks on end. But I finally got out of that habit. It took a lot of will power to do it though.

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

Only a couple of miles.

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.

Now, after a year, I can eat anything. Including sweets, which has slowed the weight loss down, along with things high in fat. I am just one of those people who can eat anything and it doesn't bother me. I vomit only when I eat too much. Sometimes poultry doesn't sit well and has a hard time digesting. If it is one of those days I usually make myself throw up to get it out and not have to suffer the pain. Sometimes If I just lay down and take a nap, when I wake up it has digested and the pain is gone.

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

In the beginning, I had no energy, but as time went on, and the weight came off, I got more and more and now I am just a BUNDLE of ENERGY!

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

None.

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?

A lot of hairloss. It thinned out drastically. It just recently stopped falling out and I git it cut really short (I have always had long hair). It looks a lot fuller now that I got it cut.

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

The days in the hospital when you can't have anything and you are so dry and exhausted. I had wished I was dead and that I had never had the surgery. But now I am VERY glad that I did it and would do it all over again!

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

I do not go to a support group. I have not ever. I feel I am doing just fine without. I suppose that it would be good for a lot of people, but I think I am doing just fine.

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

It has been 10 weeks since surgery. It is just purple in color. Looks like railroad tracks, actually more like a millipede. I expected it to be ugly for quite some time. I'm not ready to belly dance yet anyways.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

UGH! Week three started the whole thing! I was having some sever pain after I would eat. I was back in the hospital for another 4 days. Had a Barium xray. Doctor thought that the opening was narrowing but about 3 days later everything was fine again. I thnk my doctor put me on normal diet too soon. I went back to liquid soft for another week or so and it (the pain) stopped. I still vomit about 2x's per week. It is not because of what I am eating because some days things will be good with one thing and I could try it the next day and I will throw up. It just doesn't have any set pattern, just whenever it wants to.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

A lot of people are very supportive of me. (That's why I don't think I need a support group). My fiance is becoming more interested in me. He always has been but it seems to be getting better all the time!