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

I first found out about the bariatric surgery was from a friend of mine that I had met at Duke Diet and Fitness Center..... She told me she was having it and I was trying to talk her out of it..... it seemed like a very drastic thing to do..... I kept telling her that she should just continue to diet..... it is easier said then done..... I can't believe now that I was so against it.....

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

I really didn't have an experience with getting my insurance approval my doctor took care of the whole thing......

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

My first visit with my surgeon was an informative one..... I got a lot of information from him concerning the surgery and the foods I will be eating at what stages after surgery..... He answered all my questions and helped to relieve my anxiety towards the surgery..... I would suggest that anyone who is going for their first appointment with their surgeon make a list of questions that they would like to ask so that they are prepared to ask them and don't forget about them.... If the doctor is like mine he will not hesitate to answer any questions..... Also I would suggest that you be honest with yourself and the doctor...... be honest when talking to the nutritionist..... it will only help if you tell them the truth...

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

Over this past summer I was doing an internship with a marine wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, and release program on long island..... i went on a couple of calls to rescue sea turtles, seals, and dolphins from the beach and found that i was having trouble walking 1/4 mile on the sand to get the animal..... I want to continue with my education in Veterinary medicine with a specialty in Marine Mammals..... I had to do something so I could help these animals.... I couldn't do it being so overweight..... I wasn't only putting my life at risk but also these poor sick animals....

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I did a lot of research on the different bariatric surgeries and decided on the laproscopic gastric bypass. I felt the the vertical banding would not be good for me since it doesn't force you to change the way you eat.... if you are a snacker or like sweets you could still eat them just a smaller amount.... they won't make you sick... I felt that if I had the discipline to eat the right way then I didn't need the surgery.... I ruled out the duodenol switch because it scared me to death to have all that work done on my stomach plus the fear of malnutrition was greater..... I felt the the gastric bypass was the best because I would have to change my eating habits or I would get sick....

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 quite a lot of fear about the complications that could come with the surgery..... I still have some..... but, I looked at the complications I could get from being overweight..... I felt that when weighing the options.... the surgery at least gives me a fighting chance.... Anyone who is thinking about having the surgery or is waiting to have the surgery, it is normal to be nervous and frightened.... It is a major surgery but you have to look at your life now and what it would be like in the years to come if you don't have the surgery......

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 family was completely supportive from the day I told them that I was going to have the surgery..... Some of my friends didn't understand why I felt like I needed to have the surgery but were still completely supportive..... Their support is even greater now after the surgery.

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

At work, they felt more concern..... questioning me as to if I was sure this is what I wanted to do..... They asked me if I knew enough about the surgery to have it..... I explained everything I knew about the surgery including all the risks.... As the surgery date approached they began to give me support..... My boss was concerned, but very happy to see me after two weeks of surgery.... I came back to work part time after two weeks..... Now everyone keeps congratulating me on how well I am doing..... They get a kick out of the small meals that I eat..... and we have a good laugh.... They are always one of the first people to tell me I look great even on the days I don't.!

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

I was only in the hospital for two and half days...... I had the surgery on friday feb 22 at 8 o'clock in the morning and was in my room by 4 in the afternoon..... i had a lot of problems with the anesthesia after surgery and was very nauseous.... but as far as the pain went i was able to stop taking the pain medication by 7 that same night... the nurses and staff were great.... they tried their best to make me comfortable but the thing that helped the most was that i had hired a private duty nurse to stay with me at night.... she was unbelievable... she helped me get out of bed to go to the bathroom and helped me wash.... i don't think i would have really made it as well as i did the first night without her... she came back to me the second night.... and i went home sunday afternoon

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

i had no complications to begin with from the surgery but at about 4 1/2 weeks after the surgery i developed a stricture.... i was unable to hold any food down.... i was only able to drink.... i called my surgeon and he scheduled an emergency appointment with the gastroenterologist he is associated with and he did an endoscopy.... he did the first of three dilations.... each dilation was about a week apart.... after the third dilation i felt so much better and was able to start eating again.... it was hard to deal with and there were times when i questioned why i had done the surgery but in the end i am very glad that i did

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 nervous but i kept putting it off in my mind.... i didn't want to think about it.... i was afraid to think about it.... i thought that if i thought about the surgery too much i might change my mind.... i am glad i didn't

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

the first few weeks i was home was difficult.... trying different foods.... seeing what made me sick and what didn't..... dealing with being tired almost all the time was hard also... it is really helpful to have support from other people while going through this... my family and friends were really great... but the hardest thing was the food.... when you find a food (that is good protein food) that you can handle.... stick with it.... it helps

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

i didn't go that far to have my surgery.... i went from queens to nyc so the trip wasn't that bad.... the hard part is that for my aftercare... when i drive to see my doctor and attend the support groups... it is almost impossible to find a parking spot

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.

at first.... it was totally trial and error as to what i could eat.... mostly i ate cheeses and eggs..... after the stricture... i was able to handle a little more food..... and i was more concerned about eating enough protein and not having any sugar than i was about the fat content and calories in the food i was eating.... the foods i had the biggest problem eating were meat, chicken, and bread.... at 8 1/2 months post-op i not only make sure i eat a lot of protein and don't have sugar.... i watch more the fat and calorie content of the foods i eat.... i still have problems eating some chicken... and bread.... i can eat some meat... but in general it really depends on the way a food is prepared that determines whether or not i can handle the food i am eating... hint... the wetter and moister the food is the easier it goes down....

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

right after surgery.... i was tired all the time... my father would come by to take me on walks... and at first i got exhausted just walking a block or two.... now i can walk and walk and walk... i can even run a little... my energy has increased so drastically.... i don't huff and puff walking up stairs either

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

i take a multi vitamin twice a day.... i take a calcium supplement twice a day... and i take an iron supplement twice a day....

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?

well as i stated before i developed a stricture a little more than a month after the surgery... so nausia and vomiting was a constant thing for me.... now i really don't suffer from the nausia or vomiting unless i make the mistake of eating too fast... which sometimes happens if i allow myself to get too hungry before i eat... i try not to let that happen.... but i think worse than that is the hair loss... i am still experiencing that.... thankfully i have a lot of hair on my head but my hair is all over the place.... i tried to cut it to see if it would help but it doesn't.... it is just something i have to deal with for now....

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

i know that most people would want to hear that learning how to eat again was the hardest... or dealing with the nausia, vomiting, hair loss afterwards.... but to me the worst part about the surgery... (not that i still wouldn't do it all over again if i had to) is the emotionally stuff i go through now.... i was told about it... and i was somewhat prepared for it... i just wasn't ready for it to happen as quickly as it did.... there are a lot of things to deal with emotionally after the surgery and it is very important to have some sort of support to go through it.... oh yeah and not having a closet full of clothes at the moment sucks.... (i know i will eventually have all those clothes again but right now i have very little and i don't like it...)

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

my surgeon and the hospital he is affiliated with (Mount Sinai in NYC) have a support group that meets on the first wednesday of every month.... i have found this to be very important... because you get to discuss things with other people who have been through what you are going through and also with people who are going through it with you

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

i don't really have a scar... i had the surgery laproscopically... so i only have 5 little marks on my stomach

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

i have experienced three plateaus since my surgery and i can tell you that they are very frustrating.... you get so used to getting on the scale and seeing a weight loss and then all of a sudden there is none... one of my plateaus lasted for almost three weeks... and that was really frustrating.... i am experiencing a plateau now.... and with each one it actually gets easier to deal with

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

without a doubt.... the biggest difference is men.... before i really never got the time of day.... i was huge... who would want to be with me.... now... i can go out and guys flirt with me... they want to talk to me... they ask me out.... also when i go out to something people don't really stare at me anymore.... that feels great!