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

I first heard about bariatric surgery through tv ads (Carnie Wilson) and various magazine articles I read (Women's World). My first impressions of it were "hey, I wonder if that would work for me!", however, I thought that it seemed pretty drastic and I also figured that my insurance company would never cover it. I certainly could not afford it out of pocket. I did not think about it much except that any article written about it in a magazine would catch my eye and I would read it just to get more information. I began to get serious about gathering information when I felt that I had reached the end of my rope. I knew that I had to do something drastic now or die soon from all of my health problems.

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

I really did not have a bad experience with getting approval from my insurance company. I have to give all the credit to the staff at my primary care physician's office and at the surgeon's office. They were wonderful in knowing what to send, what to say and were not hesitant to keep calling the insurance company for the status of the approval. Also, they would call me with every update so that I knew what was happening. My advice is to have patience because getting approval is not something the insurance company is quick about. Also, if you do get rejected, call and find out why. Keep trying. Appeal their decision. Sometimes, it just takes more than one try.

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

My first visit was good. I got to know my surgeon a little bit, he talked to me about the surgery and why I wanted it, the steps that would be taken in the whole process (psych. evaluation, dietary evaluation, getting insurance approval, pre-op procedures, surgery, post-op procedures, etc.) and handed me a packet of written material for me to read. To get the most out of the first visit, it is good to go in with any questions/concerns you may have about the surgery, post-op, recovery, etc. I used this website and comments from other WLS patients to come up with a list of questions that I felt were important to me. After the initial "getting to know you", exam, etc. I handed the Doctor a copy of my list of questions. Since I also had a copy in my hands (as well as my partner who went with me) we were able to just go down the list one by one and listen to his answers. I took notes as to what he was saying. Now, I am not saying that you have to be that anal about things, but that's how I like to get things done!! Also, if you can have someone close to you go with you to a least the first visit, I would recommend it. Sometimes, because I am nervous, I don't hear everything that is said or I take something the wrong way. I just find that having someone else there helps once you walk out of the office.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I finally decided to have the surgery because my physical health was on the line. I had so many co-morbidities, leg pain, and severe depression that I knew that I could not go on like I was any longer. I was going to die if I didn't do something drastic. Probably the final straw was not being able to go up the flight of stairs at home or at work without stopping to catch my breath. It was very frustrating and embarrassing when caught on the stairs more than once gasping for air by my co-workers.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I did not decide the actual procedure, the surgeon and insurance company did. I believe that they chose what they felt would be the best for me.

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 probably had the same fears about complications and dying as everyone else does who is facing any type of major surgery. Actually, I wasn't as concerned about dying as much as my family members were concerned about that. I felt that if it was my time to go, it would happen no matter what. I knew that without the surgery, I would die sooner rather than later. I truly wanted a chance to have a healthy and happy life for a while! For those of you still facing the date of surgery, don't be ashamed of your fears, but don't it cloud your judgement. If you have made up your mind to go ahead with surgery, by all means, go for it!! I had doubts on some days, but did not let that change my mind. I made a list of the pros and cons of having surgery and every time I began to have doubts, I would pull out the list and look it over again. It never ceased to reassure me that I was doing the right thing. Also, I would get on the chat line or re-read some of the items on this website to reassure myself. I don't mean to make this website sound like some sort of "god" but I sure felt that the more I truly knew about the surgery, both before and after, the better I felt about my decision.

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 life partner was extremely supportive of my decision. She talked with me endlessly about the subject as I learned things. She accompanied me to each and every one of my doctor appointments, not only for moral support, but so that she would learn about the surgery as well. She is still extremely glad that I went through with it. She has even begun her own journey of weight loss (no surgery, but is following a healthy eating plan) so that I won't have to watch her eat junk/unhealthy foods. We are looking forward to a very healthy and much happier life together. My family on the other hand was so afraid that I would die from this surgery that at first they were against my having the surgery. My sister still does not understand how I think that I will not regain the weight since I had no "will power" before. I think she is still convinced that once I begin to eat solid foods again, that I will go right back to where I was. Oh well, I'll just have to show her!! Once the surgery was over, I recuperated some and was back to work, my Dad finally let his guard down. He now feels that I made it! I would not have communicated anything differently than I did. This was a decision I had to make for myself and I am proud of myself that I stuck to my guns.

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

My employer has been more excited about me having surgery than even me!! He finds my decision truly remarkable that a person would go through such a drastic measure in order to take control of their health. Even now that I am back to work, he still gives me pep talks and lets me know how proud of me he is. I told him the truth from the very beginning of my decision to see my doctor about this. He certainly knew the health problems I was having from being obese, I figured there was no point in not be honest about the surgery. He has been very supportive through the entire ordeal. I was off of work for a total of 11 work days. I had my surgery on Friday, 5/16/03 and was back to work on Monday, 06/02/03. I really could have been released to go back to work on Thursday, 5/29/03, but told the surgeon to just make it for Monday instead. I have been working full time since.

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

My stay in the hospital was not the best. I don't know where West Suburban Hospital gets their nursing staff, but I question whether some of the "nurses" even have a degree! (Especially those on the overnight shift.) As a patient, you have to be totally aware of EVERYTHING that is (or in some cases, is not) being done to you. (No easy task when you've just had surgery!) Do not be afraid to question each type of medication and why you're getting it. Do not be afraid to ask for pain medications if you feel you need it. (This particular hospital did not give a pump to be used at your bedside.) Right after surgery I was put in ICU overnight. I had brought my own C-PAP machine with me (for sleep apnea). At first, the staff would not help me set up my machine even though I asked more than once for help. Unfortunately, without the machine, as I begin to fall asleep, my oxygen level falls to very low levels which in turn would set off the beepers on the heart monitors! Not only did this prevent me from getting any sleep, the nursing staff would keep running in to tell me to take some deeper breaths! I again asked for the C-Pap machine, but was denied because they did not know how to connect it with the oxygen tube that they wanted me to use. Finally, at about 3:30a.m. they decided to contact respiratory therapy to figure out a way to use both the machine and oxygen at the same time. Finally, some relief for all of us!! My second day/night was just as "exciting". I was to be moved from ICU to a regular surgical floor. I was informed of this at about 10:00 a.m. The move did not take place until after 9:00p.m. due to some mixup in rooms, getting the bed out of it so I could just be wheeled in on my "own" bed, etc. That was bad enough, but I felt worse for the other patients on the floor. At 10:30p.m. the hospital had the janitorial staff put the door back on my room! So here they are banging at that time of night!! (Why they even took the door off in the first place is beyond me. I did not have a special bed of any kind, just the usual twin size hospital bed.) Okay, those were the "bad" things! I guess for the most part, my stay was okay. You just have to be aware and don't be afraid to question, question, question anything you are not comfortable with. I was in the hospital a total of 4 days counting the day of the surgery through the time I was released. This was for laproscopic surgery. Luckily, I did not have any serious complications prior to discharge. The most important things to bring to the hospital are a list of all your medications currently taken, comfortable clothes to come home in (nothing tight in the waist or belly area) and your C-PAP machine if you use one. (You may have to check with your hospital about the C-Pap, some hospitals won't let you bring your own, but will supply one.) Be sure to mark your own personal machine well with your name. If you are the type to be easily bored, be sure to bring reading materials, crossword puzzles, or anything to help you pass the time. Just be sure to not have anything of value in your room. You wouldn't want to tempt anybody!

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

Initially, the only complication I had was a severe "heartburn" type feeling after taking my sips of water. It felt like the water would not go down. It would take at least 15 minutes for the feeling to pass, which by that time, I was "late" in taking my next sips. I began getting dehydrated from not getting enough liquid. The i.v. bag was rehung and the barium swallow test that had been performed was checked again. Since the test seemed okay, I was told to just take very small sips and that the problem would more than likely get better each day which it did. Now I have no problems with that!

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 was ecstatic!! I knew in my heart that I had made the right decision and that this was the answer for me. I had no anxiety until the last couple of days before the surgery. Then, I wondered if I was doing the right thing. When I began to get doubtful, I would get on your website (obesityhelp.com) and chat with people on the chat line or read again about the surgery. By the time I would get off, I was feeling okay again and back to knowing that this was right!

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

Compared to a lot of people my first few weeks were nothing to complain about! The first two weeks were a period of healing, learning to drink enough fluids for the day, feeling euphoric and pretty much just sitting around due to lack of energy. That lack of energy, it turns out, was nothing compared to the next two weeks! The second two weeks I experienced such lethargy that some days I could barely make it through the day. I had no pep at all. I think I am beginning to get a little better each day now that I have started adding more nutrition to my diet. Another experience I have had is chronic bone pain. It is severe and seems to include my entire body. I feel as if I have been hit by a truck. I am guessing that this also will get better as I get better nourishment and begin to be able to be more active. You need to expect that you will go through a period of euphoria. I did not know why at first, but I was just ecstatic over everything and would sob at the drop of a hat if I heard or saw anything "nice". It could be a commercial on tv, anyone saying or doing anything nice for another person or even just watching my neighbor across the street getting his kids ready for school! I cried through Oprah Winfrey for four days in a row!!! I finally quit watching. When I mentioned this to my doctor (as I cried in her office!) she said I was experiencing ketosis and that it was a normal reaction and would pass. (Actually, after being on anti-depressants for the last several years, the euphoria was kind of a neat new feeling!!) I am pretty much back to "normal" now and miss that "happy" feeling. Every time I start to feel sorry for myself due to the lack of energy and/or bone pain, I end up hearing about someone who had the surgery and ended up with severe and/or many complications requiring more hospitalization. I have been very lucky to not experience any of that and realize that I have to count my blessings and that my problems will go away soon.

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

I did not have to travel far. The hospital is only about 10-12 miles from my home. Distance, luckily, was never an issue.

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.

For five days prior to surgery, the doctor had me on CLEAR liquids only!! This was probably the hardest thing I have ever had to do. I don't know what makes him think that an obese person who overeats (and eats the wrong things) can just go to clear liquids with just a snap of his fingers. I almost gave up on the surgery during this time. It was too hard to be that hungry all the time and angry at not being able to eat food! Somehow, I made it through. I guess I have more strength and stubbornness in me than I thought. For those who may not know, CLEAR liquids is restricted to things like broth, boullion, apple juice, jello, water, and popsicles. Now because I'm a diabetic with high blood pressure, everything had to be sugar free, fat free, sodium restricted, etc. It did not leave one many choices and believe me, I was hungry and wanted some real food!! For one and 1/2 weeks following the surgery, I was still on clear liquids, but it was much easier to handle. For one, you are recuperating from major surgery and two, you just don't feel hungry! Still, I was ready for the second stage of full liquids after that time. At least you can now have some different textures in your mouth such as strained cream soups, Ensure or Boost drinks, pudding, etc. Plus I was so tired of "fruit flavored" anything! Most of the clear liquids are some sort of fruit flavor. I was glad to have anything else!! I will continue on full liquids for another week, then I may move to level three-Pureed foods! Stay tuned. I am now 9 weeks post-op and am eating normal, solid foods. On occasion, I have trouble eating meats. No matter how much I chew them, I may still get spasms in my esophagus. Luckily, this does not happen every time I eat.

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

For the first two weeks after surgery I felt lethargic and did not have much pep. Unfortunately, that was nothing compared to the next two weeks!! Then I could barely make it through a day. Luckily my energy level seemed to slowly improve with each change in my diet. I think getting more nutrition in my diet made things better. I am now 9 weeks post-op and am feeling terrific! I can climb stairs without stopping for air or gasping by the time I get to the top and I know I have more energy. I get home from work and can keep going after dinner instead of just sitting on the couch like I used to!

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

I take a chewable multivitamin with iron, liquid B12, and 3 Tums (for calcium) each day.

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?

For me, the worst side effect was the lethargy I experienced after surgery. For two weeks, I felt like I could barely function. (This was weeks 3 and 4 after surgery.) By week 5, I began to feel more human. The other bad side effect I had was severe bone/body aches. Luckily, this only lasted about one week during week 3 after surgery. I coped by just doing the best I could and hoping that things would get better with time.

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

Since I was able to have laproscopic surgery, I only have little scars. I have always had a problem with keloids (scar tissue) so was expecting larger raised scars, but got lucky this time and the scars have remained pretty small and flat. So for me, things turned out better than expected!

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

At almost 8 months post op, I have experienced a few occasions of weight loss plateaus. I would go for sometimes as long as two weeks without losing an ounce (and yes, I would get frustrated!) but eventually, one day you get on the scale and voila!, you're down a pound or two (or sometimes three!) and then you continue from there. Recently, I was able to break the cycle by adjusting my eating habits. I began eating several mini meals throughout the day instead of 3 actual meals. It gave my body the boost it needed and I lost another 7 lbs. in about 1&1/2 weeks! I also find that changing my workout routine slightly will help in getting on the losing track again.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Absolutely!!! They seem nicer to me now and friendlier. I attribute some of it to my own attitude which is more jovial and cheerful. However, I truly believe that people are not as nice to heavy people as they are to "thinner" people.