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

I leaned about it about the time I was on the diet pill mode. In Clearwater, FL there was a commercial on TV about a new diet. I called they sent me information about "Gastric Bypass Surgery" it freaked me out. I said," No Way! That is crazy!" It sat for many years in my head until the 2002 New Year's resolution came around again. I research it before but started more looking into it. I felt at that time that this was all I can do to loose the weight. All the diet failures and the food addiction, I was at my last straw. No, Carney Wilson had nothing to do with my decision.

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

I made my appointment with the surgeon. I did call United Health Care about any clauses and there were none. I felt much better. After my appointment the medical staff submitted my forms with in two weeks I was approved. I had no problem at all! I really have no advice for anyone who had problems getting approved.

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

My surgeon was Dr. Butler. He is a very professional and friendly doctor. He had no problem in telling me that I was a good candidate for this surgery. I was afraid at first because I am under 300 lbs. and felt he wouldn't approve me. He is very well experienced and done many surgeries of this sort for a while. That's why I pick him out of all the rest. The way I feel with any doctor appointment is just be up front and honest. It will all work out for you later.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

My final decision was this. I thought for awhile because of general fears that this wasn't for me. I figured that with a strong exercise program and moderate eating I could do this well on my own because I didn't try hard enough in the past. I lost 10lbs!! In only the first 6 weeks!! Ya. Right. My exercise was going well 3 hours a day 6 times a week. My 18 month old daughter get ill came own with pneumonia and I had to take time off. Well, not only did I gain the 10 lbs.back, but I put on another 5 lbs.!! That's it I'm having it done!! I made my appoint for June 26, 2002.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

The surgeon I chose only did one procedure, open RNY. I was fine with that.

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 husband took it very well. I think he's just glad it is over with now. However, my best friend of 20 years didn't want me to have this done and tried talking me out of it. She didn't know if she could handle the change. I believe she felt threatened that I would not be the fat girl out of the crowd any more. I was right because she did admit it to me later. She was always 100-110 all her life until she had her babies. She is now at 150 and I'm trying to support her in her own weight loss now. One other thing is I also feel that she may feel that our friendship will change. I can assure her that I'm the same person as I was at 263lbs. As for the rest of my family, they remain neutral. I don't think I would change anything if I were to go back.

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

I'm an at home mother right now. The last employer I had probably would have supported me all the way.

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

I stayed at Palms of Pasadena in St. Petersburg. It was a very comfortable stay. The staff was outstanding and if I needed something they were right there. My stay was 4 days including the day of the surgery. I'm not a good person to give advice on things to bring but to only tell you to bring a clean change of clothing for the day you come home. Also to bring hygiene products and a hair brush, makeup, etc. I didn't fin myself in desire to read or do other things due to the pain meds.

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

I had no problems at all. I feel the healthier you are going into the surgery the less likely complication are to occur.

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

After the surgery date all I could think of is," what am I getting myself into!" I thought for awhile that just maybe I wasn't trying hard enough to loose weight and I think I should give it another try. I joined a gym and worked out 3 hours a day, 6 days a week. I thought that if I were to loose the weight successfully that I would just cancel my surgery date. I lost 10 lbs. (My original date was the beginning of April. I did get scared and the Doctor sent me home only to reschedule on June 26,2002. From April to June I was at the gym.) The last straw on my back to go ahead with the surgery was when my daughter came down with pneumonia. I took the 2 weeks off from the gym and not only gained the 10lbs. back but gained 3 more! I had other anxieties about complications I may encounter and the biggest one of all was dying. I really don't think that there is anyway of dealing with that other than learning as much as you can and hope for the best.

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

My first few weeks were the toughest. Only then I discovered how addicted to food I was. Knowing that I would never be able to eat the way I did put a lot of pressure on me. The liquid diet was very hard to do. As with any surgery it takes away your energy, so it was hard for me to walk right afterwards. There was very low pain and nausea for me but everyone is different. Emotionally it was a battle

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

I don't live far from St. Petersburg it is only an hour away. My surgeon has offices in Altamonte Springs (Out skirts of Orlando) and in St. Petersburg. Both are and hour away so it really doesn't interfere with my aftercare. I just have to choose if I want to go to the East or the West that day.

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.

When I started my soft foods at the third week I had no problems. After I started eating more of a verity I found that I could tolerate almost anything I ate. However dark meat on chicken did not agree with me. Now that I'm a little more post op I can eat it. I found that a lot of my problems with vomiting came from not chewing well enough. I guess I have a stomach of steel because I can eat anything. I do stay away from sugar, I haven't dumped yet and don't want to find out what that is like. Vomiting from not chewing is enough to deal with.

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

My activity level wasn't as what my doctor wanted. I hadd very low engery and if I just happene to pushed myself I found that I became very light headed almost passing out. I listened to my body and allowed myself to recover. Now that I'm 2 months post my engery level has picked up. I'll start back at the gym as soon as I get over my cold.

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

I'm taking One Source multi vitamin right now. I feel that it working well now but still have it in the back of my mind that it is not good enough. You can say that I was brain washed by a lot of health stores saying that their product is better then the ones in Wal-Mart. My advice ask your doctor, mine says One Source is good enough.

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?

It still goes on now but not as much as before because I'm chewing well and stopping before I over eat. That is vomiting. That has been the worst thing about this whole process. I feel that it sometimes is psychological because when I do over eat or not chew well I feel that I swallowed fish gravel. I goes up and down my esophagus and that makes me ill right there. Of course when I did vomit my mouth watered were I was swallowing a lot of saliva which resulted in more vomiting. I do vomit occasionally now especially if I over eat. I had no other side effects as of yet.

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

Vomiting

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

I go to a support group meeting once a month and I occasionally still go to my surgeons support group meetings that are also held once a month. I feel that I really need to be in these groups to help with my emotional well being due to the fact that I feel that I'm going to gain my weight back as soon as it is over. I need to be reassured that everything will be ok.

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

A scar it a scar. It has faded some what and really doesn't bother me at all. I'm proud of my scar, it is a badge of honor to show what I went through to be healthier.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

My first plateau was very frightening for me. I first stopped at 218 lbs. and was there for about three weeks. I thought it was over with. I only wanted to hit my personal goal to be under 200 lbs. What I did was slowed down with the gym and increased my water and protein. When I weighed myself only a few weeks later and discovered that I was under 200 lbs. at 198 lbs. I was relieved. I hit other plateaus an realized every time I over trained at the gym I would plateau. I'm only going now 3-4 days a week instead of 5-6 days a week. I'm on a maintenance program now. I'm not losing as fast any more but I'm still losing. I'm only 10 lbs. away from my clinical goal weight.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes. I noticing my friend of twenty years is beginning to feel threatened with my weight loss. She says now that she is now the fat friend. I didn't know she felt that way about me in the first place. People who used me in the past as a self-esteem booster is now backing down. There are also a few friends of mine who are in disbelief. For example, I stayed at one friends house and forgot to bring something to sleep in. She is an easy size 14-16. I'm a size 10. I asked if she had something for me to wear and she looked at me up and down and offered me her old maternity shorts!! As I expected, low and behold they were too big. She admitted that she was afraid that I may tear her clothes. As for you can see that I did not stay over because I did get upset. That friendship is really not a strong one and really don't talk to her that much any more. There is also the flip side to this. Glamour boys which I called them, the GQ types, have actually took notice to me! Too bad I'm married... I've also noticed a few job interviews went better then ones in the past, there is a different attitude I saw and also a lot more people are commenting on my apparel and look me up and down with a pleasure to their expression, not an OMG look how big she is or not looking at all. One other thing I've noticed was doctor's themselves, all these years of me being over weight not one had said anything too me about health risks. When I consulted one about losing weight he told me not to eat so much! Like that was easy. Now my PCP and GYN is telling me to stop losing the weight because of malnutrition. I'm not even at my goal weight yet!! I cannot help if I lose any more weight my body will decide that.