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

A friend had surgery 20 years ago that was not successful and was too dangerous. Three years ago a friend had the lap RYN and she has progressed beautifully. Shortly there were more. I now know eleven patients and have picked their brains and observed their reactions. My confidence has grown.

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

Tell the insurance company in writing what makes having the surgery fiscally rewarding for them. I had costly consequences if they didn't authorize it. I honestly wrote the letter so I was also a real person.

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

I saw Doctor Ho after going to orientation so I was prepared to ask questions. I prepared a medical history and meds chart. My husband went to the orientation and the visits so I had informed support.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

Fear of diabetes and blindness. I wanted energy and improved health.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

After review this appears to be the safest available and the least painful.

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 very aware of the complications and risks but as I intend to live long, I want to live well. If I die, it was God's decision. I have been honest with my family and friends and they would be OK.

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?

I was surprised by how supportive everyone has been.

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

I retired early due to health problems and stres.

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

The knowledge and concern of the staff was evident. The explanations were good.

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

I was difficult to intubate and so my tongue was bruised and stayed numb for a few weeks. No other problems. Was able to get up and walk the first day. Since the surgery was laproscopic, I had little pain from the surgery.

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 began to see improvement in my overall health quickly. That was so encouraging. Weight loss was slow but steady.

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

I was surprised at how well I felt. Other health conditions lessesned quickly. I think it was uneventful because I wasn't expecting much, figured there would be more pain than there was, and I followed the doctor's orders and stuck with liquids for 2 weeks and then only soft foods.

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

Fresno is about 20 miles away. I had other appointments in Fresno so it wasn't a problem.

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.

I progressed slowly into the new foods. I started by increasing the types of soups I could have. Then added cottage, ricotta, and hard cheeses. By second month, added tuna and chicken, followed quickly by shrimp. Never before could I eat shellfish, guilt free. Adding a variety of tastes helped me from increasing the amounts too quickly. I didn't feel as deprived as I expected. My husband lets me order what I want and then I take my part off the plate to a saucer and then he eats the rest. His doctor is proud of me because he has lost weight. My husband is happy as it costs less to feed me. Unless I don't feel good or will have a crazy day, I don't do protein shakes, but make a point of adding a protein source to everything. Add ricotta cheese to scrambled eggs. Put dry egg white powder &/or dried milk powder in all sorts of things. Melt cheese on top or stuff. Didn't watch fats to carefully. Stayed away from refined sugar. I craved things that were crunchy and found that Rye-Crisps or WASA crackers chewed to a powder and helped. I ate Brazil nuts for my Fibromyalgia before the surgery and they are an easy convenient snack. Pinto beans and cheese from Taco Bell was my first restaurant food. I didn't like beans before. Love them now. the third month, crisp vegetables, chewed well came next. Noodles and lettuce were impossible for months. Tried spaghetti squash so I could eat pasta sauces. Rice was OK by end of third month, as long as it was mixed with other foods. Pasta in small amounts worked at end of 4th month. By then beef was OK too. What I found then was meat filled me up sooner and stayed in the pouch longer and that seems to help keep me from grazing. At 6 months, I can eat a little of every thing. The key seems to be a little. I am now trying to make good choices in types and amounts of fats. I think it is important to only put my food on a small plate, stop when feel full, and get rid of anything remaining so I don't sit there and slowly add more food. I'm working on balancing my diet so when this gets harder, I won't mess it up and return to my mindless grazing.

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

In one week I was driveing short distances. Taking grandkids to school. Napping in afternoon. Babying myself. By the 3rd week, my sister was scheduled and I went to Visalia to help her. I fixed her food and because I had to be a good role model, I behaved better. No longer napped every day. By 6th week I joined a women's gym and set the goal of 3 half hour sessions per week. Not really complient. At 8 weeks, could return to walking in water. I use a flotation belt and walk in the pool for 20 minutes. (Occaisionally) No longer had to plan day around one event or task. I didn't tire or start to hurt immediately. Could go places with family and friends. At 6 months, I am more active than I've been in years, but still do not excerise reglarly. Have started parking 3 to 4 blocks from stores. The surgery is not curtailing my activities. I am. This will take more work.

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

I take a multi-vitamin with iron each morning. Two Calcium citrate tablets around noon. B-12 sublingual in afternoon.

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?

Hair loss started in 3rd month and is amost stopped by 6 th month. Now it is peeling nails. This is why I'm trying to pay more attention to the balance of my diet.

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

It isn't magic. I need to change how I relate to food so when I start absorbing more of the calories I eat I won't be back eating high fat processed foods. I wanted a permenent solution that I didn't have to work at. But this will be better, 'cause I will be in charge and have learned better choices. But it still is work.

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

I attend the Valley Surgical Support Group at Saint Agnes Hospital in Fresno once a month. A new support group has just formed in Merced, where I worked for 17 years so I try to go there tool What has been very helpful are the onlive support groups and sites like this one. We set up WLS-Merced as an e-group on yahoo.com. Participating rather than attending the support groups has helped me keep focused and patient with myself.

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

Five little pink lines. They will fade but they are fine.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

At 6 months, no plateau yet. At 11 months, I slowed to a stop at 100 pounds. I continued to shrink and feel I will loose more as I am finally making a committment to exercise.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

After I lost 77 pounds and I got "Oh, you can't have that? That's terrible. Have a taste." But after 100 pounds everyone seems to figure I know what I'm doing so they don't fuss.