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

Met someone who had it. Initially, on first impression, I thought it was an easy out for someone who lacked the self control to lose the weight. Upon investigation, I learned that my initial impression was completely wrong. The people I've met who decide to have weight loss surgery are courageous, positively motivated, take-charge folks who have finally found a solution that works for them.

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

I was approved immediately and really have no advice to offer.

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

Very positive. He was the first dr. in a long time who looked at me as a person and not as a disgusting, repulsive thing. His touch was gentle and thorough and he didn't rush off to wash his hands when he was finished. He gave me hope, he answered all my questions thoroughly and patiently and he was genuinely interested in helping me. To get the most out of your meeting with your surgeon, do as much research on the surgery as possible, write down (and ASK!) any questions you can think of, and if your surgeon is not respectful of you, find another surgeon. You should go into this surgery confident that your surgeon is respectful of you, cares about you and believes that you are strong enough to follow through on caring for yourself after the surgery.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

Endorsements from other WLS patients. I also worked for the University of Florida College of Medicine and my boss had, at one time, been a bariatric nurse. Her support of Dr. Macgregor's work made it easy for me to decide.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Researched Dr. Macgregor's recommendation (roux en y) and determined that it was the best procedure for my situation.

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 feared losing my hair completely (unfounded). Post-op, my greatest fear was losing myself - or at least no longer being the person I had been for so many years (protected by my layers of fat). That fear is still with me sometimes when I forget that I am no longer a very fat person.

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 had complete support from my family and friends. They were also very supportive after the surgery and continue to be supportive of me to this day.

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

I was out of work for 13 days. My employer was very supportive and encouraging. She had been a bariatric nurse at one time and believed in the surgery.

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

My stay was a positive one. The nursing staff were, for the most part, very nice and caring. I was in for 5 full days and 1/2 day. Bring whatever helps you occupy your time (you'll have plenty to use up), some comfortable shoes (walking is a big plus in how well you recover), whatever personal items you use to make yourself feel attractive, and, if you use a CPAP (I did), bring it too.

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

No complications, very little pain after the 2nd day but, on the day I was supposed to go home I had some nausea that kept me from drinking enough water to be released. I had to use a phenergan suppository to help with the nausea and I was then able to drink enough water to go home.

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 impatient. I wanted to notice a difference right away. I lost over 20 lbs. in the hospital but my weight loss was not really noticeable until after the first 80 lbs or so. I did not cope well with the anxiety I felt. I was emotional, I cried for what seemed like no reason, I was scared that I might not like my new self and I was worried that I would never recover from the emotional scars of being very fat.

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

I don't quite remember the first few weeks other than the feeling that I was losing myself. I remember being amazed at how little I could eat, and panicked when I felt a lump in my neck (it was my collar bone - which I'd not felt for many years).

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

10 miles.

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.

Yikeys! Hm...Dr. Macgregor had a very restrictive food plan for his patients. I had nothing by mouth from the day of surgery (Wednesday) through Saturday. Then I was given clear liquids, no sugar for 2 weeks. Then I added crackers, peanut butter, eggs and potatoes. Tuna and a few vegetables came after that but salad, bread and meat took a long time. It was almost a year before I ate any meat (my decision) and now I am a vegetarian. Even after 6 years I still get dumping from too much refined sugar, and cannot drink soda from the can or bottle. Pasta will still give me problems if not cooked WAY more than al dente, and I still have to be careful of rice and wheat bulgur or they grow in my stomach and take up too much room (and I vomit).

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

Little activity other than walking the first few days after surgery. After the 1st month I started walking up the stairs to work - 1 flight at a time for a month and then I'd add another flight until finally I was able to walk up all 5 flights of stairs. By 6 months I had resumed all normal activity and was doing some things I had not done in years, like running.

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

Daily I take a multivitamin, vitamin E, B-12, calcium and iron.

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?

Dumping is, by far, the worst for me. After 6 years I still get it if I am not careful about eating too much sugar or too much fat. I had occasional nausea and will still get nausea and vomiting if I eat too much, too fast or too late. Ketosis was also very unpleasant but I just chewed a lot of sugarless gum and it only lasted for about 3 months. I also experienced very loud tummy gurgles (which I still experience) that others could hear. They are not as prevalent now, but were loud and frequent for the first 4 years or so after surgery. I did not experience sleep disturbance and while I did lose a good bit of hair, I have very thick hair and it was not noticeable to anyone but me. My hair loss ceased after about the 6th month. Dumping and tummy gurgles still persist.

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

Knowing that I had made such a drastic change and no one else could see it. Still living with the public ridicule and criticism while the weight was coming off. I wished the weight would disappear immediately so I could concentrate on rebuilding my life without having to deal with the constant threat of public ridicule and criticism. Also, realizing that the surgery was not a cure-all. Even after the surgery I still had to work on the issues that caused me to be extremely fat in the first place. Whatever issues are there before the surgery will be there after.

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

None. I am looking for one in the upstate of SC.

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

Extended from right below my breasts to my navel. I recently had abdominoplasty and my scar is smaller now. It was what I expected.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

In my 4th month I gained back 2 pounds and was devasted. I evaluated my eating and realized I was doing some grazing. I stopped the grazing and in my 5th month lost 27 lbs. Now I eat 3 small meals a day, and 3 or 4 snacks (not sugar snacks). I have kept my weight off for over 3 years and enjoy the way I eat.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes...but I still see myself as a fat person (in my mind's eye) and am still sensitive to people looking at me when I walk into a restaurant. I also notice that I feel immediately vulnerable if I walk past a group of people (especially young people - like in the mall) and they are laughing or laugh soon after I walk by. Many times I've turned to make a comment to them about their rudeness only to discover that not only are they not laughing at me, they didn't even notice me.