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

Two nurses that I had worked with at our local hospital had the procedures done and they looked wonderful and were out promoting it. I was excited about the possibility of what I thought would be an easy way out, yet very fearful that I would die during the procedure. I was very uneducated about WLS at this time. It isn't an easy way out.

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

The best advice I can give is to have patience and to be diligent. I worked for 6 years trying to get insurance approval. It finally came and it wasn't easy but it was well worth it.

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

My surgeon was wonderful, he took time with me and he went through pre-op through post-op at the hospital and then he talked about how life would be following the surgery and what was required of me and was I ready to make those commitments. I think to get the most out of the visit is to know yourself and be honest with yourself about your commitment to WLS adn it's aftermath. You can lie to the surgeon to get it done but when you do that you only hurt yourself and your success rate, you must be honest with yourself and with your surgeon. You must be committed for life. Be prepared with a list of questions, your surgeon will mot likely answer all of them before you ever have a chance to ask them. I also suggest to learn all about the surgery prior to seeing the doctor, ask questions of former bariatric patients of different surgeons, being informed is the key. Find a bariatric support group and ask, ask, ask. Most patients are willing to share their stories with you, honestly.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I had the desired support of my family and my primary care physician.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

By being informed, knowing the difference in volume eaters and grazers. Taking my health history and it's co-morbidities, deciding what I thought was best and then at my initial visit with my surgeon going over those things with him. I would let him make the final decision so that I would have the best opportunity for success.

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 was afraid of dying from the surgery. I wasn't worried about any complications even though mys surgeon went over each and every one of them. His level of confidence in his abilities and experience gave me the ease and comfort I needed to say yes.

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 family was supportive from the beginning although they had the same fears of dying that I did. They stated they wish that I wouldn't but supported me if I did. The few friends I told were not supportive at all, fear had overcome them as well. My friends are still doubtful, they watch my skin color and just look for things to worry themselves. However, they are impressed with the weight loss that they see melting off of me. I think I will make believers out of them.

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

Not supportive at all. I work for a group of primary care physicians. They were afraid of complications, death and to be honest, I think they were more afraid for themselves (loss of income) than anything else. I had been trying to get them on board with this for almost a year and they just did not want be supportive. I told them on Friday I had decided to have the surgery. When they asked when, I said Monday. They were beside themselves. I said I will see you Thursday next week. I will be in the hospital Monday-Wednesday. They were jaw-dropped to say the least. That is exactly what happened too. I had surgery Monday afternoon, discharged on Wednesday and drove myself to work on Thursday and Friday. I had to prove to them that although this is life altering it is not the end of life. I now have 2 supportive physicians that refer patients to consider the WLS and to come and ask me questions about it. My one physician is still on the outside, he is waiting to see how it all ends up. I am only 2 months post op but he does see that there is success.

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 peaceful and restful. I had my family bring me and leave follwoing the surgery, I wanted no visitors as I didn't want to entertain. I got the needed rest, exercise and time to my self. I brought magazines and a book to read and didn't open any of them. My goal was to get up and walk per my surgeons instructions and to get rest so that I would be ready to return to work.

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

I had no complications following my surgery at all.

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

Excited and couldn't wait until the time. It was hard because I didn't share with anyone prior to the day b/c I knew of all the negativity surrounding having this controversial surgery. I let a few within my close circle of friends know that I would be out of pocket on Saturday as I had to be out of pocket all day SUnday the day prior to my surgery having blood work and things done at the hospital. I knew I couldn't just disappear for 4 days and it go unnoticed.

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

I was tired. I didn't bounce back quickly like the energizer bunny. Although I returned to wrk the day follwing my discharge from hospital. I was worn out. I would fall asleep just sitting up. It took about 6 weeks following the surgery for my energy levels to boost back up although my vitamin levels were good.

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

I had to travel 130 miles to and from. My aftercare was not affected other than my wallet for travel expense with the gas prices being as they are.

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.

We were given a By-Pass Surgery Manual made by our physicians office with a week by week of what foods we could add to our diets. We were told if we were unable to tolerate that food during that week to give it more time and we should try it again. I have followed what my surgeon has asked me to do. The biggest change is your taste changes follwoing the surgery and those protein shakes are horrid. They smell so bad it makes it harder to get them down.

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

I tried to walk daily and did. I was lethargic most of the time and if I sat longer than 5 minutes without doing something I would fall off to sleep.

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

I take Vitron C (iron), B-12 sublingual, B-1, and a calcium chew with vitamin K added, 2 children's chewable vitamins. I began Foltex the week before surgery and took it for 3 weeks post-op

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 have had some nausea and still do at almost 3 months out. I have had no vomiting, sleep disturbance, dumping, or hair loss.

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

The worst I think was probably that intial stage of being so tired following the surgery. The lack of energy. Then I suppose it is the inability to just go back to eating regular food but having to gradually add foods. You just want to eat something solid and you cant.

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

I continue to talk through different threads on the message board through my surgeons office. I have also made friends in various parts of the state and we email daily with our progress, ups and downs. We support and uplift one another.

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

I have 5 little lines that continue to heal, no it is not what I expected. I expected to have big gashes all over my belly and I dont. I am very pleased.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Every couple of weeks I seem to plateau and not loose. I think my expectations were it would fall off or melt off and they were unreal. I am right on target. My support tells me they too have gone through this and to just change up what I am doing, add a different exercise, eat a little more, little less, just change up. I do and it works.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes, people are more friendly and accepting. Just proves to me all the more the biased society we live in against the obese.