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

Like so many people I saw what Carnie Wilson went through. I followed her story very closely. I knew I had no control over my horrible eating habits and I needed something built in to me to help me. At first I thought I could never do something so drastic and then I started researching and reading about it and decided it was what I needed to do. It was my only answer. I did understand the surgery itself was not going to do it...I still have a lot of work on my own. Dr. Frazee's program plans for all the things I need to help me suceed at this life change.

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 problems getting approval for my surgery because I had such high blood pressure and several arthritis diseases.

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

My husband and I both visited with with Dr. Frazee and he was very helpful. We made sure we went to his office with a written list of all of the questions we had discussed as I was making my decision to have the surgery.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

This was a last resort for me. I had tried everything and I knew was on a "run away train" and was going to die early. I wanted the chance to live longer and have a better quality of life. I wanted to be able to sit in the floor and play with my grandsons. I studied every part of the surgery and knew the dangers but my weight was causing me dangerous living conditions. I knew if I had a possible chance at living longer it would be because of this surgery. I am so glad I did...it has changed my life forever.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I started researching and studying about a year before the surgery as I wanted to be knowlegeable about all of the procedures. I could have gone to Dallas to have the surgery but when Dr. Richard Frazee started his program in Abilene I decided to have this procedure because this was what he was doing. I did not want to have this surgery out of town.

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 knew there were complications that could happen and I knew I could die. I, also, knew at the rate I was going I was going to die early anyway. I would tell anyone thinking about this surgery to make sure they have spent a lot of time researching the different procedures. I would tell them to discuss all of this with family. I would tell them to pray for God's guideance. I would tell them to weight each positive and each negative and make a personal decision made on all of the above. It was the right thing for me and I do not regret having made this 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 husband was really scared about the whole procedure. He knew how important it was for me to do this but he was scared. He knew how much the weight pained me physically and mentally, but he did not want me to die in surgery. The rest of my family had mixed reactions. They told me all of the horror stories they had heard about the surgery. My Mom was excited about me having the surgery at first but then she started thinking about the risks and did not want me to have it. My sister did not want me to have it but I think there was a little jealously there. She had always been the smallest sibling and therefore it scared her for me to have the surgery. My brother did not want me to have the surgery from the beginning. He felt the risks were to great. All three of us siblings have struggled with our weight most of our lives. At first I was not going to tell anyone I was having the surgery but I found out that my friends were my best support and I could not have made it without them. I think my Mom and siblings are proud of me but they think I took the easy way out to lose the weight. It was not the easiest way....but it was what I needed to do. I think everyone in the family is happy for me now but they just worry about my health.

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

My hospital stay was about 4 days. I was on a new ward that was working with Dr. Frazee. The nurses were trained in the procedure that I had and they were wonderful. They were encouraging and very compassionate. They had a brand new bed that was made especially for surgical patients. It made getting in and out of bed very easy. I did not need anything extra at the hospital because everything was provided for me.

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

I had just a small infection at the surgical site but it was easily taken care of with packing the incision site and using antibiotics. It did continue for about 2 months.

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

As soon as I knew the date of my surgery I started making an effort to watch what I was eating and how much I was eating. I started working on learning the foods that I could use. I read, reread, reread over and over all of the info and the dangers of the surgery. I prayed so much about the surgery and prayed for courage to go through the actual process without being a baby! I wanted to be as informed as I could about all aspects of the surgery. I also made sure my will was up to date and that I had a living will.

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

I was very surprised at how quickly I was getting around after surgery. I really wanted to feel good so I made sure I moved around at home even when it hurt me. I knew I would feel better if I was more active. This was not as bad as I thought it would be.

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

I take B-12 liquid under my tongue every Monday. I eat two Flintstone viatimins each morning.

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 did lose hair but a year later it is starting to grow back. I really struggled with the sick stomach and vomiting. I never went anywhere without a bucket and handiwipes. I had problems with dumping many times as I would introduce new foods. It seemed more like lactose intolerence. No sleeping problems because of my many arthritis diseases I take meds that help me sleep at night. I rarely have any problems now but every so often I will eat and then get sick to my stomach. I have more problems when we go out to eat with friends because I do not chew my foods well and I eat too fast. I even overeat a little....then I get sick. Each time I throw up I consider it a learning experience and I work hard for it not to happen again.

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

Because of some unrelated medical problems after my surgery I have not been involved in a support group of any kind. I am over the other medical problems and am hoping to be involved in a support group. I know it will really help me as I learn to understand my new gastric "plumbing". I also know that the problems I had that caused me to gain and not be able to loose weight are still in my mind and heart and those things need to me talked about.

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

My scar is pretty gross. Now that I have lost weight the scar is even worse. Yes, I did expect this but the scar is worth it because I feel so much better having lost the weight.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

During my recovery time and during the first year of my surgery I had some other medical problems. I had a tumor on my spine and because of that I was hardly able to walk. I was on a plateau during that time that was discouraging. It was probably because I was in so much pain from the tumor but each Monday when I got on the scales I was discouraged because I stayed within a 5 pound rage. It might have been easier to handle if I had not been in so much pain from the tumor. During this time my activity level was greatly comprimised.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes! My mother always told me I was going to die early if I did not loose the weight. My sister always backed up my Mom. Now I am smaller than the both of them and they keep telling me I need to eat more or I won't live!!! I have felt competition from my sister because she has always been smaller than me. My good friends and my husband have celebrated each pound with me and are great about encouraging me.