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

A friend of a friend told me that there was an operation that would make me lose 100 pounds.. guaranteed. At first I didn't believe her until she showed me some pix of her before her weight loss. I asked for the doctor's name and immediately went for a referral. When the surgeon said I was a candidate I felt it was a miracle coming true.. couldn't wait for my surgery date..

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

I was still awe struck that this man could possible fulfull my dreams of losing weight. I don't think I paid a whole lot of attention to what he was saying other than whether or not he would accept me as a patient. Write questions down on paper the week prior to going. Don't count on your memory to think of them in the meeting.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I was miserable with myself. Didn't want to continue living the life I was at the weight I was.

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

It was exciting knowing that this was going to work and I would lose weight. I was in hospital for abour 7-10 days. I took some books, some pix of my kids and some writing paper and envelopes. Lots of quarters for the phone too!

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

Other than the chronic diarrhea I had to take vitamin and mineral supplements. I made sure that I did exactly what the doctor told me to. food wise and supplement wise. I was able to talk to a couple of other people who had gone through the same operation and they offered me helpful hints on how to deal with the after effects.

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 very tired and couldn't be away from the house for very long as I needed to be near a bathroom. I worried that I wasn't going to lose as much weight as I wanted. When I was feeling sorry for myself, I phone friends and talked. Tried to get my mind of things for a short while.

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

Be gentle with yourself. Get lots of rest, pamper yourself. I was very tired and found that I didn't have any energy at all. Spent a lot of time in bed and sleeping

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

I travelled about 450 miles. I was fortunate that my parents lived in the same town and stayed with them for a week or so after being discharged. The after care when I got home was difficult as my family doctor had never had a patient who had the intestinal bypass. When I went to him with problems, he was out of his league and would have to call the surgeon to find out things.

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 couldn't drink a big amount of liquids as they would go straight through me. Same with fats, grease, oily things. Lettuce and salad ingredients came out the same way they went in. Same with weiners and black olives. I can no longer tolerate milk. Some cheeses are okay, but milk is completely off limit. Causes gas, bloating, diarrhea and generally makes me feel crappy. After 20 years, I still have problems with oils and fats.

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

Very low. Tired all the time. Slept a lot and laid down ofter during the day.

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

Just after surgery I took liquid potassium, liquid vitamins and liquid supplements as capsules didn't have time for the gelatin to dissolve before coming back out. I continued with the calcium, vitamins and potassium for quite a while. I still take the vitamin, calcium and digestive enzymes even now.

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 chronic diarrhea was tough to take at first. Had to learn to let my bowels control my schedule. Over time, it is better unless I eat something that doesn't agree with me. I did lose some hair, but I just kept telling myself that the fat on my body was falling off the same as my hair, and that the hair would grow back..

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

The chronic diarrhea still controls my life. I learn to live with it, but it does control what I can and can't do. Still have to make sure that I am available to a toilet.

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

I had a few people in the same town that had the operation. Once I moved, there was no one in the new town that had the same operation. Even my new doctor seemed leery of me when I came in for anything. He blamed every ache and pain on the bypass. I wished that I could have had a support group of people who had gone through it. I guess I am still looking for others with the same experience. I have done very well with my health. The few that I still know who had it done aren't doing very well and that scares me. I want to find others who are post op and are doing okay..

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

It has faded to almost nothing. It's a scar.. no big deal. It represents a weight loss of 100 pounds. 8-} minor to have!

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

After losing 60 pounds, I stuck there for a while. Got very depressed that I wasn't going to lose anymore. After a month or two, it started coming off again, but not as fast.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes, definitely. When I was 282 I was nothing but a fat slob who couldn't control myself. People watched me when I ate in restaurants and as I waddled along. Now, at 185, people notice me for my talents, not my body. I often get pleasure out of watching peoples faces when I tell them that I use to weigh 100 pounds more.. Why is it that as you gain weight your intelligence and worth decrease at the same rate??