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

I first found out about it on an Australian Tv program in 1980 when the surgry was first pioneered in Australia. It was presented as the new miracle cure for over weight people, and because it was presented so positively I thought it was a miracle.

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

I had private health insurance at the time, so I only had to pay about $200 myself. Make sure you have good health insurance ... you will need it.

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

Very short and emotional ( on my part). Not a lot of information given at all, either about the procedure or what to expect afterwards. But this was pretty common in 1980.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

Frustration and my trust in the medical profession.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

There was only one available at that time.There were no choices.

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 none ... because there was no information to suggest anything to be fearful of. There was definately no information about complications at all. I would tell people not to have the surgery, look for other alternatives.

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?

When my mother saw me after th surgery, she thought I was going to die. They were not concerned because in 1980 there was no need to be ... there was no information. I suppose they thought that the problems I had afterwrds were all in my head.

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

I was not working at the time was at home looking after my 10 month old son.

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

A nightmare of pain and trauma. This was a major surgery in 1980. I was in hospital for 10 days.

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

Enormous pain and very limited mobility just after surgery. Vomiting and food getting stuck in my throat for 20 years post op. Had gallstone and appendix surgery 6 months after WLS surgery. Now suffering with serious health pproblems due to long term complications of 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 felt optimistic but that soon faded.

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

My surgery was done a long time ago and it is not done anymore as far as I know so I could not advise on this.

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

The hospital was only about 30 minutes from my home ... there was no aftercare in 1980. None at all.

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 was on clear liquids for 6 weeks, then I was told to eat ice cream, runny jelly and thin custard & yogurt for next 6 weeks. Then after this I was advised to eat vegetable that were minced up in a blender like baby food for 6 weeks. There was no aftercare food advice nor was I told I would need vitamins. 12 months post op I was still eating above diet and now 30 years post op I can eat more solid foood but not very much of it. Have to still be very cautious.

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

Six weeks prior to surgery I was not allowed to do any heavy lifting ... I had 22 stiches in my stomach from my breast bone to my navel. After that mild exercise, no other advise given.

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

There were none ... in 1980 you weren't told that you needed them.

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?

Vomiting, food getting caught in throat and pain associated with this. This has persited for 30 years.

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

The whole process was extremely painful and traumatic.

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

I had no support for 29 years, am now in an online support group for people with serious post op complications. This has been a godsend and very helpful.

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

I had 22 stitches, so I have a large scar from my breast bone to my navel. Also have a scar from stomach tube. Had to have gallstones and appendix removed 6 months after surgery ( after effect) so had another 15-18 stitches put in stomach and another drainage tube scar. My stomach looks terrifying.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Lost 28 pounds in first 4 months .... plataaued for next 5 years. Lost 120 pounds after this with some pretty dangerous prescription medication. Given to me because I had a thyroid problem ... not proper treatment for this condition. Stopped medication after 5 years as it was an anphetamine and was making me sick. Weight went back on and I have struggled to lose or keep off any weight for the past 20 years.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

No