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

I first found out about wls in the early 1970s as a student nurse, but never thought I would go to what I thought of as such extreme measures till I developed Diabetes and just couldn't seem to stop the slow steady weight gain.Wls seemed like the only answer.

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

I had no trouble with this. the drs office handeled all communication with the insurance company, thank goodness.

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

My first meeting was short, and to the point. I had a list of questions to ask, and my spouse went along. The surgeon gave me a booklet explaining the surgery, risks, and post-op course. you need to know as much as possible going into theis visit because it is short, like most drs office visits. Know what you need to ask and be sure you understand the answers.He had me read and sign a surgical consent then. I also signed one in the hospital immediantly pre-op, after he went over the risks again.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

The fact that I had diabetes II was the deciding factor for me, and I turned 50 in 2001. As a nurse, I have seen so many complications of obesity and diabetes, and I desperatly did not want to end up like that. I just kept gaining weight, and I was afraid I would have a heart attack or stroke. I want to be around to play with my grandchildren some day.I was taking 3 blood pressure pills a day,too. I felt it was my only chance.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

As a gastroenterology nurse, I have seen the complications of stomach stapling and external esophageal ring devices. I knew these were not viable choices. Dr. Alexander only does open Roux-En-y's, so that decision was made for me. It makes sense to be able to see what you are operating on to me, tho, so I was happy with it.

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 no fear of dying. I would rather be dead that go on living getting fatter and fatter and more and more limited in my activities. I was afraid of post-op infection, but i scrubbed my body with Dial soap daily for a week before surgery, and put my faith in the dr. I knew he has a low complication record, he gives you amtibiotics the day pre-op, during surgery, and washes out the incision with antibiotics before it is sewn up, and leaves a drain in the wound for 24 hours to help prevent pooling of secretions or blood in the incision post-op.I kept the dressing scupulously clean post-op and hoped for the best. I was lucky, no infection. I was also afraid of pain, even tho I knew I would be given medication for that.

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?

I told my family and friends, except for my son and spouse, of my decision to have the surgery by email so I wouldn't have to see their initial reaction, which I feared would be negative. I reccomend doing this, or telling them by mail, everyone hears it at once, and they can talk it over and get over their initial reactions before facing you that way. I was amazed that almost everyone was unreservedly supportive, even tho everyone considered it risky, and were concerned for my health.A couple nurses I work with were negative, but I showed them up to date research on the subject of wls and then let them go their way. I knew the decision was right for me.

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

No real reaction. I am 4 weeks post op now, and expect to go back to work at about 7-8 weeks post-op.

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 the day of surgery, the next day, and went home the third day, around noon. I took pajamas, SOCKS, a house coat, and personal grooming items. I needed very little. I do reccomend clogs or some type of shoes you don't have to bend over to fasten so you can walk to the bathroom and around the halls. I always have cold feet, so wool socks were very important to me. I was up walking in the hall the morning after surgery, my IV was taken out within 24 hours of surgery, and I was taking ice chips. The urinary catheter was taken out the early am after surgery, too. By the night after surgery I had small amounts of clear liquids, and had made 6 laps around the floor. I was amazed that I didn't have as nuch pain as I thought I would.

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

No complicatins. I am 3-4 weeks post-op and trying to learn how to sense when I am full, and what I can eat.

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 did not feel at all anxious, I felt like i was being given a second chance at a healthy life. I was excited!

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

It was uncomfortable getting from standing to sitting, and from standing to lying down. I got tired very quickly. I had absolutely NO appetite, I didn't even want the 1 ounce an hour of pureed foods I was supposed to take. I only needed my liquid, vile tasting, pain medicine for two or three days post=op, then one or two more nights at bedtime. I slept a lot, but walked around the house and yard, and sipped water constantly to keep hydrated and prevent clots. It was reasurring to have my husband and a friend with me all the time to lift things, or pick up things I dropped. I had planned ahead and had some books to read, and some quilting to do, and we had just gottem satilite tv, so I had plenty to do as I felt able.

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

I live 50 miles from the hospital, but I work 50 miles from home too, so it had no affect on my aftercare. My husband drove me to my 2 week appointment, I expect to drive myself to my 4 week appointment.

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.

Immediantly after surgery, I was told to take 1 ounce of clear liquids or pureed foods, anything that would go thru a strainer, for up to 10 hours a day untill I saw the dr two weeks later. Baby food is not that good! I love yogurt, and that worked out great. I also developed a taste for pureed Frisch's vegetable soup! I also ate applesauce, and by the end of 3rd week tried oatmeal, which was good and gave me no problems. I tried cottage cheese during week 3, and immediantly developed stabing pains in stomach and threw it up. No more cottage cheese! I have eaten mashed optatoes with gravy with no problem. I have to measure my food in a plastic medicine cup, or I tend to eat too much, which results in pain and nausea. This is hard for me to do. It seems like such a tiny amount!I used to love ice tea, but now it doesn't taste good at all. I don't have any idea why this is, I just drink water. I also drink beef and chicken broth, and homemade potato soup with no lumps. I sometimes get a burst of fear when I think I will never again be able to eat like I used to. No more big tubs of hot buttered popcorn. No more all you can eat Chinese. No more whole cheescakes. What will I do instead of eat? I don't know, but I will figure it out as I go along. I have had no diarrhea, and only two episodes of vomiting, once with the cottage cheese, and once when I ate too much mashed potatoes followed by only one bite of meat loaf.

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

For the first week after surgery, I just slept, walked around the house and yard a little, and didn't bend over for anything! I gradually developed more energy and stamina, like after any surgery, and at week 3=4 I do almost anything I want as long as I don't lift over 10-15 lbs. I can sweep the floor, sit at the computer or sewing machine for hours, bend over and pick up things or tie my shoes.

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

I take one Centrum a day,Magnesium, a B12 suppliment, and Folic Acid. Also a baby aspirin a day for a month, and an ant-acid, Protonix, once a day for a month.

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?

No side effects so far.

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

The fear of infection or wound opening. The pain post-op was not as bad as the pain I had after I had my gall bladder out a few years ago, and the recovery has been fast, I think. I feel almost as good as new already, at 3-4 weeks post -op.

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

I don't have any, and plan to look for some on this site. I think I am going to need help in adjusting to life without food as the center of activity and encouragement to excercise, I have always hated to excercise, and that hasn't changed, at least not yet!

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

The dr told me how long it would be, so I was not surprised, it is from the bottom of by breast bone to my belly button. It healed well, and is less red every day. I think it will heal to a pale white line in time, but who cares, it is worth it!!

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

None so far. I haven't lost any weight from August to December of 2002,it is VERY discouraging.But my body is still shrinking and reshaping, my clothes are still getting too big, so I am still seeing changes.I know I need to excercise, but I hate it.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

People are concerned for my well being after surgery, and my mother-in-law seems to feel like I am starving myself, but I haven't lost enough weight to be real noticable yet, I don't think. I had lost 26 lbs as of 2 weeks after surgery, and I am sure more by now, but I don't really want to get weighed till I see the dr at 4 weeks post-op. My husbans points oout differences in my body, and I can see a real difference in how my clothes fit! I don't need bra extenders for the first time in years! And all my blouses and pants are too big, I love it!