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

My father had surgery about 20 years ago. I have seen him struggle with problems all this time and it hasn't been good. He would loose and then gain, end up in the hospital with blockages, hernias, staples dislodging etc. So my husband and I decided NOT EVER to even consider this. Then two years ago, my aunt had a RNY and with total success. Lost 160 lbs. In December my cousin went in and is now sporting a size 8! Until this time, I wouldn't do it. Now, in all my research on the internet, I have changed my mind and so has my husband.

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

It was relatively easy due to the fact of how much I weighed. Then Dr. Namaan wanted to add a Panniculectomy to the surgery. It took a few times and some pictures for them to finally approve the hernia repair, panni, and RNY

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

My first visit was fine. The staff was very pleasant, I felt like a person. The surgeon seemed nice. I feel a little intimidated by him, but that was probably just me.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

Talking with my Aunt and Cousin really did it for me. I am now housebound, with alot of co-morbidities. Despite being overweight all my life, up until a few years ago I had always been a very healthy obese woman. The last few years, my weight had finally caught up with me. I knew I had done everything possible and nothing had worked. I can't live like this anymore and was to the point where I couldn't see myself living like this for much longer. I wasn't thinking of taking my life, just that my body was probably going to give out within the next 5 years.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Knowing that I weigh over 500 lbs, I needed to have the longest lasting, gold standard for this much weight loss. I would like to have a LAP RNY, but if they can't do it LAP, and RNY will be fine. I just did a lot of research. Days and days. Pros and cons of each, and reading up on people and their experiences, good and bad for each type of surgery.

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?

Once my husband and I decided to go for it, that is when the fears began. Until we moved to Houston, I had never had a PCP that could look me in the face and treat me like a human being. I was apprehensive about which doctor, what would the staff think about me, would I be thought of as just a paycheck or as a person? What about the gowns, or how was I going to handle bathroom habits? As far as dying is concerned, for some reason, I felt that I was dying inside and hopefully this will change the direction of my life. Being a person who believes in God, I really needed to rely on Him for my comfort and in His leading me in the right direction. To some that may sound crazy, but it worked for me. I have the confidence I need to move on to the next step.

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?

Since I am in the beginnings of this decision, every single person has been very supportive. I have been selective, only the friends and family members that know what I have been going through. I really feel that you need the positive support at this point in the game. Make sure you are confident of the reasons why you need this surgery, and stick to your story. This is YOUR body, not theirs. I had been brought up thinking I needed to think of everyone else first and myself last. That doesn't mean to not think of yourself as important. If your husband/child/friend were suffering like you are right now, wouldn't you insist on them going in and doing everything possible to make their lives better and healthy? You need to be that friend to yourself. You are worth it!

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

Memorial Hermann Memorial City gave me a bariatric Bed - pretty cool, made it easy to get in and out. Not so with xrays. You are carted into the room and made to shift yourself onto a table. Being 560, I couldn't with the surgery, and it took a few hours for others to slide me onto the table. This hospital is NOT set up for a morbidly obese person. I was there originally 3 days, sent home w/o antibiotics and back in 2 days later for a week. Sat in ER hallway for 12 hours with a fever waiting to be seen and admitted. As compared with Memorial Hermann Medical Center. They ARE set up for someone of my size. The airbed they gave me was wonderful, the xrays were brought into the room and all I did was take a deep breath.

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

I had been on Prednisone for 3 years previous to surgery, so the rate of healing/infection was high to begin with. Namaan did a Panni, Hernia repair and RNY at the same time. My intestinal sac had herniated into the lower part of my abdomen and hung down below my knees. Due to my size, unable to see that complication from xrays. So he had his job cut out for him. From the long surgery, manipulation of the tissue and being on Prednisone, the surgical area deadened. Had 3 1/2 months of debreeding the tissue (over 30 surgeries). Shortly after the original surgery, had a "bleeder" for 3 days. Finally went in the 3rd day to find out what was wrong. An ulcer in the top portion of the stomach. Went in an carterized it. Had no problems since with the RNY.

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 far as my feelings after surgery were concerned. I think I was on so much medication that I didn't "feel". After being transferred to Memorial Hermann Medical Center. I felt a sense of relief, knowing that I was in good hands and the hospital could easily take care of what was going on with my body. How I coped with anxiety was definately with the knowing that I was in God's hands and also the fact that I had supportive and loving family and friends around.

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

Now that I am ambulating again. I have started going to a Post Op support group through Dr. Wilson's office at Memorial Hermann Medical Center the first Wednesday of each month. I wish I could of started going a long time ago. Since I ended up with home health care for a long time after my hospital stay, I got a lot of support from the nursing staff, calling Dr. Eric Wilson's office and also the Physical Therapist I had.

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

The RNY scar is doing well. Not too noticable, but I now have a hernia in that very area! Something to be expected with all the surgery I had on my abdomen.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

The only time I would weigh myself was at intervals of 3 months at the doctors office, and if I was feeling brave and hop on one at Costco or Sam's Club. I had such a hard time previous with the scale. Would gage my day by what the scale said. When I began to add carbs to my diet, my weight didn't fall off as quickly as it had. I made the mistake of going on the scale at Sam's and I hadn't lost as much as I had calculated. But during those times, I did notice a drop in inches, and that made up for the numbers. I refuse to let the numbers get to me. I am heading in the right direction and am so thankful for where I am now.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Oh my goodness yes. I use to get looked at, pointed at, talked/jeered at every single time I ventured out of my home. I cried in the car the first time I went to the grocery store and I felt normal. No one looked/jeered at me! Wow! It was awesome. I use to also get ignored, and I had to insist on being helped. Now I don't seem to get that.