LAURA S.

  • BMI 33.4

Obesity & Me

Describe your behavioral and emotional battle with weight control before learning about bariatric surgery.

Tried every weight loss known. Diet pills, injections, TOPS, gained and lost many, many pounds over the years

What was (is) the worst thing about being overweight?

Not being able to find clothes large enough, people staring at the fat lady.

If you have had weight loss surgery already, what things do you most enjoy doing now that you weren't able to do before?

The best part after the weight loss was to be able to walk into a room and not have everyone stare at the "fat lady". It was also wonderful to go into a store and buy clothes "off the rack".

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

I first read about the intestinal bypass surgery in a magazine. That I was very excited is an understatement. I immediately started a search for a local surgeon. The nearest to me at that time was 150 miles. (I am not familiar with the terms you are now using for the various surgeries.)

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

There were no problems in 1976. The M.D. told the insurance company the surgery was necessary and it was not questioned. I met all the requirements that now exist. (More than 100# overweight.)

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

The first meeting was very successful. I was given names of three patients who had the surgery. They were mentors pre-op and post-op. The surgery was scheduled.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

It seemed to be the answer to my overweight problem. The surgeon was a delightful person.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

There was only one method in 1976.

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?

It was a very positive experience. I was in the hospital about six weeks. Three weeks pre-op was for testing, both physical and psychological. Post-op first seven days was in ICU, then step-down for two more weeks. (Things were definitely different in 1976. Insurance companies would never approve that now.)

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?

Family knew why I was having the surgery. None of my friends were told the reason for the surgery. After I started losing weight, they were conviced I was dying of some dread disease. I probably would not do anything differently now.

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

They knew I was having surgery for medical reasons. I was out of work for 3 months.

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

It was a very long six weeks. The people who worked in that hospital were so wonderful. The nurses did very personal things for me, like shaving my legs and bring me food from home that I might like. The week just prior to the surgery and the two weeks following, I did not have solid foods, only liquids. (I will never eat green jello again.)

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

No complications.

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

The surgery date was soon after my first visit to the surgeon. I was so very positive that I wanted to have the surgery, I was ready to do it.

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

Wow!! My incision was huge. The abdominal muscles were cut so I could not get out of bed without help for a month. There was a lot of pain during that time. I was having twenty + b.m.'s each day. OUCH!! (TUCKS wipes saved me.) I didn't leave my house for a few weeks. When I did, the first thing I did when I reached by destination was find the nearest restroom. Even now I always know where they are located.

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

150 miles. I went back to have staples removed then returned monthly for the first year.

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 could not tolerate sweets very well. Coke was impossible. It was a direct sugar hit to the brain. Even now I don't handle sweets very well. They make me dizzy and just not a good feeling. Other foods are tolerated well. My tastes have changed a great deal. Foods that I formerly detested, now I love.

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

Very little activity for for the first couple months. I returned to work after three months.

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

Since I am anemic, I take a multivitamin with iron every day. I also take potassium and magnesium. Blood tests indicated very low levels. I started the multivitamin within six months of surgery due to hair loss. After the vitamins kicked in the hair loss stopped and new hair grew.

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?

Nausia has been a problem for the past ten years. Diagnosis was vertigo. Lost a lot of hair prior to taking vitamins.

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

The pain and number of daily b.m.'s. (I would still do it again.)

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

I have not had any support group/programs. Over the years, I have felt that I probably needed to know how other patients were coping. I was delighted to find your group. I feel that the input of others who have gone through the same things can be so very beneficial. There were some bad moments over the years that I wish someone could have shared with me.

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

The incision was made around my waist. From side to side. It is in the "wrinkle" and hardly shows. (Post-op it looked horrible, staples were everywhere.)

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

It has been a long time, but I remember that I lost a lot of weight rapidly, then it slowed for a time. After about 14 months I had lost 150 pounds.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Things changed tremendously after my weight loss. I was taken more seriously in my job. My career changed drastically. I went from a clerical low-paid employee to upper management within 5 years post-op. I am sure my attitude was better, too. I was certainly more confident.
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