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

I had wished for it for many years, even though I had met two people who had regained tremendous weight after surgery, one had been hospitalized and had to be intravenously fed. This was many years ago, they had their surgeries in the 70's.

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

If at first you don't succeed, try every possible avenue. If your medical group won't approve, usually your insurer will have other medical groups you can chose from. Try them, You'll have to change medical groups with your insurer, but believe me, that is how I got my surgery. A year with Woodland Medical Group denials. Changed to UC Davis Medical Group, approved first try. I had surgery scheduled within 2 months!!!! Try it.

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

He was a kick, I thought he was pretty cocky, but funny. It was such an exciting day I don't think he could have done much wrong. He did ask me to lose 20 lbs before my lap surgery, hahahahaaa, sure I thought. Well, I did it, really don't know how, just wanted to get that surgery.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I knew I'd have it the first day. The risks of hair loss, dumping, those expected things were well worth it. A fair trade. My surgeon had a good track record, and the risk was worth it for me. I had a lot of guilt about my daughter if anything bad happened, but I had to have my life, and that meant my longevity as a mother as well. No regrets.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

My surgeons offered laparoscopic RNY or open RNY. I barely qualified for lap surgery, hence the loss of 20 lbs prior to surgery. Even the lap surgery was very new with my docs, I really was behind it. Yes there were risks and some thougth I was really foolish to be the 14th lap my surgeon had done, but I am proud of it. I am an RN, and not uneducated in this area. I decided the risks were worth it and it was pretty cool being in on this new procedure in our area. Cheers!

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 did face those fears. My 14 year old daughter was very afraid. We talked about those things, about the risks, and about the risks of not losing weight... we talked about how unrealistic "just going on a diet" was for me too. Though I don't think my daughter ever really was comfortable, she was able to let me make this decision about my own life. They are realistic things to discuss with your family. We knew that if anything happened and I didn't recover that my daughter would be loved and cared for, and really made sure she knew she was NOT RESPONSIBLE for MY DECISION. I listened to her, but I made 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 friends and family have been very supportive. They have seen it as a courageous thing that I have done. The only really negative things were from for example, shoping in a "sizes" store, I made the remark that it was a shame to spent much on clothes since I would be soon having wls. The salesperson felt the need to caution me, something that I resented, I was fairly certain I had educated myself about the risks and benefits and was more aware of the realities of the situation than she was. My response was, "well, its not for everyone!"

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 able to work at 385 pounds. I am educated as an RN and was unable to find my niche at that weight. Now I am a case manager in hospice and find my work one of the benefits of my weightloss. My current supervisor is a bit skeptical of my surgery, and as far as I know it isn't something she would consider, though she hasn't said so. She has noted my weight loss and is supportive, it seems we are comrades in our battle, though our methods are different.

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

I was in the hospital for 2 days. I was so thirsty. That was the worst thing. I was really thankful for the lemon glycerine swabs and the toothettes too. I could at least moisten my mouth with them. I don't know of anything I needed to bring, just my husband and daughter who were with me almost constantly. Other than that, everything I needed was provided. One problem was arranging in advance for a large gown and a large wheelchair. Make sure they are available when you need them, I had my family asking for those things well in advance if I couldn't myself.

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

I had one complication about one month after my surgery. My anastamosis closed up, or rather a pill got permanently stuck. It wouldn't clear itself and I was becoming really dehydrated, I couldn't even swallow my own saliva. I was admitted to the hospital for hydration and had an endoscopic dilitation, they put me out, put a tube down my throat and stretched the new opening between my pouch and my intestine. No big thing, the dehydration was the worst. 2 days in the hospital and all was well again. No more problems, I can eat anything I want without it sticking. I do have dumping with a lot of sugar, ice cream,things like that. I consider it a reality check and am thankful for it. It helps make some things a little less desirable!

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

ooh, I don't remember. I think I talked to my friends a lot. I also used the mailing list #OSSG on Onelist.com a lot. There are about 1000 users who use the list and there is a lot of practical advice and real down to earth support there.

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

I ate very little!!! hahahhaaa ... literally tablespoons. I felt thirsty a lot, and that seemed to be my biggest discomfort. I tried to use Met-RX high protein with added liquid protein, got all my protein but I guess it caused dumping though I didn't realize that was what was happening at the time. Just always had diarrhea. OOh, don't try to go to a restaurant to eat the first few weeks... it just gets embarassing! lol

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

I only had to travel about 25 miles from the hospital to my home. No problems there.

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 started on liquids, cream soups and so on and gradually to pureed foods... then soft, all over about 6 weeks. Now 16 months out, I can eat anything I want to eat, I mean, it goes down. That isn't to say that I don't still have some dumping from some indisgretions like say, ice cream or something equally rich and naughty.

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

I was pretty snoozy the first few days, the pain meds and just the general drop in calories I think. After the first week it got much better. One thing that I recall now is that I had some nerve pain around one of my incisions that was a constant burning pain. It gradually but slowly improved. Now I have 5 little 1 inch scars on my abdomen, and I hope to lose them with the tummy tuck!

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

I used Met-Rx and Challenge liquid protein from GNC. In hind sight, I think it may have caused some dumping, though I am not certain it was related. I also added powdered vitamins to my Met-Rx, from ONE Planet. They were tasteless but a bit gritty. I was diligent in getting my protein and nutrients post-op and I'd like to think that had something to do with my quick recovery and that I didn't lose ANY HAIR!

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 really had the most nausea in relation to the pain meds. Some things upset my stomach, but most of my vomiting was in relation to overfilling my pouch or in having something get stuck. Eating slowly and chewing well are your best strategies to avoid vomiting. Avoiding high sugar, high fat foods minimizes dumping and diarrhea for me. I coped by avoiding the problem foods!

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

The worst part about the entire surgery process were... having made prior arrangements to ensure that the gurney needed for my heart cath (not everyone needs one) was capable of holding me at my top weight and then the doc performing the procedure getting anxious about it and having a nurse take me downstairs to a cargo scale to weigh me. That was humiliating and insulting, especially since I had had the foresight to address that and the MD didn't believe me and put me through that. Very insulting.

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

I unfortunately wasn't involved in an aftercare program. One has since been organized since, but I have never attended. I think it could be very important and very beneficial.

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

I have 5 one inch scars on my abdomen, they are minor. no big thing.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I am plateauing now. I try not to focus on what is happening on the scale. I stayed at the same weight for a couple of months, but just recently, people have started remarking again that I have "lost so much weight"...something is happening I guess, just not on the scale.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes, but I think it is because I am different. My countenance is different, I hold my head up... I still weigh 225, but how dare anyone put me down for that! I will educate them given the opportunity, ignorance and bigotry need courageous responses.