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

I had always known about the RNY and banding procedures but it was not until I discovered the Duodenal switch that I decided it was for me...my weight had ballooned up to 270 and I had many health issues

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

i have medicare insurance was no problem, i had my first consult in nov and my surgery in jan.

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

he seemed a very nice man and confident and caring

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

my mobility was being affected my knees were giving out...i had invited the family for thanksgiving dinner and i was unable to complete it my mom and sister had to finish everything up...i was only 42 years old

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

i dont remember how i found about about duodenal switch but once i did i knew it was the surgery for me because you can have a normal life after wards.

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 had fears , i did not quit smoking and in reality was looking for a way NOT to have the surgery but the doc did it anyway and i did end up with very serious life threatening complications....i spent three weeks in a drug induced coma on life support... it was all bad memories the only plus thing is , is that i do not remmeber one bit of pain

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 mother was against it until she seen me at thanksgiving then she gave me her support and even paid for my out of pocket expensises that the doc's in mi have for after care, my whole family has been supportive to me they are a blessing

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

i told my boss, i ended up losing my job because i was off from work for so long they said they had to replace me..

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

i was in a coma most of the time...and you halucinate i was terrified to be there i thought they were going to kill me...i was just thankful to be out of there ..... i can not really contribute to this question because my memories are colored by all of the meds.

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

yes ... ARDS sepsis and double pneaumonia .... i almost died...

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 just muddled through excited that maybe this would work but afraid of surgery

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

my situation was differnt because of being in the hospital for so long but i was really really weak and eating hurt...it took awhile before that subsided

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

225 miles....i had to pay for the after care program 3000.00 but have yet to attend a meeting...

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.

anything with gravey HURT...actually at first everything hurt to eat except cereal...that went down well...the first time i had tuna it hurt so badly that i waited months before trying it again...i can eat most everything now...pizza will give me gas but other than that i can eat what i like and there is rarely any discomfort as long as i know when to quit...that is the key learning that full and not full no longer feels the same you have to relearn your body signals.

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

very limited after lying in a bed in a coma for three weeks your muscles are not used at all i was very weak for a long time afterwards

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

i take six citracal, three multi from gnc, two green veg supplements,four 400mg vit. d , 10000 iu of v A and D dry, two biotin a day , ferrex forte 150 (iron) and a vit c to help with the absorbtion

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?

i started losing my hair four months out and now at just over five it is very thin on the right side.....i started with very thick long hair and now you can see my scalp through my hair, i only got nausis once and threw up once...

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

my complications and suffering with post tramatic stress afterwards which is very common in ARDS patients..

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

i have an after care program that i paid for but cannot attend due to the distance involved..but i can call the office with any questions or concerns

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

from belly button to between my breasts... the drain tube scars bother me more for some reason they are just so ugly

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

i am losing slowly now at five months out..i will go a week without losing and then lose a few pounds it is frustrating and i am afraid the weight loss will just stop...

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

yes, i am getting male attention and compliments ... i dont enjoy either i am the same person i was before now scociety thinkks i am acceptable?????