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

I first heard about the surgery on TV, when the Bariatric Treatment Center in Ann Arbor advertised about it. Until I found this web site though, I knew very little about it. I found EVERYTHING I needed to know on here.......and this is what helped me make the decision that this is the right thing for me to do.

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

BCBS of Michigan policy has changed in the last few months. Now instead of giving you a preapproval for the surgery, they want you to have the surgery, and then have the Dr send in the paperwork and they will decide if they will pay for it or not. I didn't want to take that chance, so I went through my Union and had it preapproved first.

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

My first visit with Dr Scholten went very well. I was already pretty well informed about the surgery because a friend of mine had it done. I don't like going to Drs very well, but Dr Scholten really seems like he cares about helping people with obesity...it isn't just a job to him.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

The final decision came after I visited this web site about fifty times. I kept reading and reading about all the people and their success stories. Just reading how people were feeling about themselves after they had the surgery made me decide that I wanted to be normal again to.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I left that decision up to my Dr. I figured he knew which proceedure would be the best for me.

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 didn't really worry to much about the actual sugery and pulling through it. I know God was by my side, and he was calling the shots. A few extra prayers?? oh yeah.

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?

At first my sisters and my parents were a little apprehensive about taking this drastic of a step. Both my kids were however supportive right from the start. After my sisters had talked to a few people about the surgery though, they understood it better. I just wish that they would have jumped on this web site for an hour or so and informed themselves, I think that would have eliviated their fears.

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 from Monday until Friday. To tell you the truth, I had packed a bag, and not once did I even take anything out of it to use the whole time I was there. When I was ready to go home, I did use the clothes that I had packed, but other than that, the hospital provided me with everything I needed.

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

I guess I had a hard time coming to in recovery, but I don't remember any of that. Then I had a really hard time breathing. The Dr said that because I had retained so much fluids that my lungs had started to collapse. And boy could I feel it! I had to have oxygen the whole time I was there. It was hard for me to get up and walk even because I couldn't breath. I still have a hard time once in awhile catching my breath and I feel extremely tired all the time.

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 was really excited when I got my surgery date. I kept daydreaming about what life would be like after I had lost some weight. But the closer the surgery date actually came, the more nervous and unsure I became. This site is what got me through that stage. I spend hours and hours reading "success stories". That would calm me down and make me realize I was going to be "ok">

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

The weeks few weeks were AWFUL! I never took any pain medicine after I got home from the hospital, so I wasn't in alot of pain, but I felt sick, weak, and nauseated all the time. I had a hard time getting anything down, much less the protein drinks I was suppose to be drinking. I lived on sugar free popcicles for almost two weeks. I did very little physically. I was able to get up and walk around the house a few times a day but that was about it. PS. I'm writing this 5 weeks post-op......and it gets lots better!!

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

My Dr and the hospital are about 60 miles away from where I live. I had to go back after two weeks and get my staples out, so I had to have someone drive me to that appointment. Being only a little over an hour to get there has been no problem what so ever if I need to see him now.

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.

For the first two weeks after surgery I lived on sugar free popcicles. I was able to tolerate sugar-free pudding once in awhile but not often. By the third week though I was able to eat pudding, yogart, broth, and some diluted juices. By week 4 post-op I added thin mashed potatoes, oatmeal, some creamed soups strained and I tried a scrambled egg. That didn't set real well though. By week 6 I added crackers, cheese, dry cereral, noodles and melba toast. At this time I still wasn't able to find a protein drink that I could tolerate, everyone I tried made me gag. I knew I needed to start getting some protein so I went ahead this one time on my diet plan and had some tuna fish mixed with salad dressing. I felt so much better after I started eating tuna and getting the extra protein. Now I try to eat at least one can of tuna every day.

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

For almost four weeks I was worthless. I barely could get up off the couch to move. I was sick to my stomach alot and just had no energy. Then all of a sudden my energy level started picking up. And it has been getting better slowly but surely every day since.

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

I take one muti-vitamin a day along with B-12 and an iron pill. I also take two tums for my calcium. I drink 60grams of protein drink a day. Extreme Pure Pro......it's great! Plus I make sure I get in as much water as I can. Ususaly around 60 ounces.

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?

The first four weeks were the worst. I had no energy and just felt rotten. I didn't vomit at all for the first four weeks, but I had nausia all the time. I found out how easily I would dump by mistake though. I drank some orage juice and bam! I was so sick for about two hours. I didn't realize why until I read the label on the OJ and saw how much sugar was in it...opps...I've never did that since. Dumping was not fun! I'm three months post-op now and I do vomit once in awhile...usually when I forget I had this surgery and I eat to fast....I get reminded very quickly though. No hair loss as of yet.

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

I think the worst part was trying to find a protein supplement after the surgery. What I had before the surgery was awful after the surgery. I tried many different kinds of supplements and they just woudn't agree with me. I finally figured I was lactose intolerant and ordered some Extreme Pure Pro from Michelle Curan here on AMOS and it's been great since. I think if I would have been able to get my protein drink in earily I would have regained my eneregy level a lot sooner.

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

There is a monthly meeting here locally that I try to attend. It does help a lot, because I can listen to other people that have had this surgery and their experiences. It is also rewarding to inform people that are pre-op about our experiences.

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

At five months out, my scare still looks pretty nasty. I'm hoping it will fade as time goes on. I have about a two inch keloid where the incision spread apart more than the rest. It is still pretty sensitive in some spots, but nothing that I can't handle.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Plateau's are my worst nightmare! I will usually go in a pattern, I know this, but when I hit a plateau it still gets on my nerves. I will lose about 10 pounds, then hit a plateau for tow or three weeks. Then I'll lose another 10 pounds. I am on a plateau right now that has lasted almost three weeks. Grrrr....

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

No one really treats me differently. I think it's more that I act differently. I walk with my head up now instead of looking down at the ground. I'm not afraid to talk to people now where before I would avoid people if I could. My boost in self-confidence and self-steem has made it seem like people are more friendly towards me, but it's really me that has made the changes.