Sheila W.

Obesity & Me

Describe your behavioral and emotional battle with weight control before learning about bariatric surgery.

I am a 31 year old married mother of two. All my life was a heavy life. Then by the time I was 9yrs old my mother had taken me to see a Dr. that informed me and my mother that by the time I reached 10 and over a 100 pounds I will die. (wow)that was in 1981.Of course her being scared of loosing one of the 3 children she had. She put me on diets and of course I thought she was being cruel to me. I seen everyone else eating and thought why was I not aloud? Then I gotten older still the scales climbed by the time I was in the 6th grade. I outweighed my mother,older sister, and older brother..mind you that there was only 5 in this family and I was the youngest(the so called baby)hehehe.by the time I hit Jr. High I was being teased all the time over my weight and with weight believe me you had boobs..so in the 8th grade I was probally the only one that wore a size D. anyhow I tried all sorts of diets, diet pills, and home remidies. Just to see that scale go up and down like alot of WLS patients on here say a yo-yo boy if that isnt the best way to describe it..I didnt have boyfriends so in school I became the class clown.and hear all the time about having this wonderful personallity..Okay personallity can only go so far and after 20ish years of hearing it..geesh So then my friend Betty told me of a WLS at first Iwas sceptical until I did hours of researching on here. Didnt sleep much I tell ya that, Then I knew this is what I've wished for all my life on Birthday cakes after Birthday cakes(this is true). So here I am looking for a tool to help me get where this body has never been. So I've been a happy-go-lucky person most of my life what else was there? Comedian most jokes where on (ME)!!!but since I hit 30yrs.of age I've really been fed up with all I have become cause I know there is more to than this young woman than FAT..So come along with me on this journy to the new me..I want to go from Fat to All That..Can I do it? Shall we BEGIN?to find out..and am tired of being depressed seems I go threw that alot!!!Seems we are all on the same boat and to keep it from sinking we have to get rid of the extra baggage..Let's Join Together and become 1person alone not enought to make 2 of 1 or so on...

What was (is) the worst thing about being overweight?

Watching people do things and wishing you were the one doing them..and not being able to do alot of fun , outdoor things, cause you couldnt breathe,either it was to hot or to cold..or you couldnt fit in the rides at the fair and people would Stop, Look, and Laught..just like a fire..Stop,Drop, and Roll..I didnt have to Drop I had the Roll after Roll after Roll..okay laugh with me..

If you have had weight loss surgery already, what things do you most enjoy doing now that you weren't able to do before?

I would deff say the energy increase wow..its so unbelieveable..

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

One of my closest friends told me about it. said she was going to have it done. And at first yes I was like Betty you really need to find out about this surgery I've heard alot of bad things about it..Til I messed around on here long enough to find out the good outweighed the bad. And seen all them befor and after picks and seem'd everywhere I went from Walmarts to just calling on the phone people I didnt even know kept saying they had this surgery done..I am so shocked how I didnt even know about it and it was happening right in my own backyard sort of speak

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

They are still waiting for my insurance to decide wether they are going to pay for my surgery or not 3-21-03. Please pray for me...my fingers are x

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

Well she was funny I really liked her. she didnt surgar coat nothing..I like that she was straight up and she let me ask questions and I did. She didnt rush me..very short,on the heavy side but she just had a baby also..but around my age maybe alittle older..Write everything down on paper you would like to ask..so you dont forget nothing cause your nervous as heck anyhow being there..

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I decided that here I am 31yrs. old and Im getting bigger and older and know if I truely want to have any fun while im still young I had best do something befor I die. of being overweight..on both sides of my family we have heart problems, surgar, high blood pressure,asthma, bronchitis, high colesterol..so far I dont have any of these problems as of yet..oh yes im sorry yes I do..we also have crippling arthritis..wow what a herritage huh?.lol my knee joints hurt,back pain,and I have asthma..I feel like a 50yr old not 31..

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Actually after doing alot of research and talking to the Dr. I decided to have the Lap..1) less pain 2) less infections 3) shorter recovery period 4) less scaring 5) many more reasons to much to mention..lol

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?

Im still waiting for surgery myself..but we all have fears of the unknown..and complications well that is what my Dr. and nurse should know how to handle if something should come up..and of dieing well lets say im no Saint and I deffinately do not want to leave my family and small kids..but I also feel that its up to go how you go..and When you go..no matter where you are, or what your doing...

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?

Well, my brother he is a RN and he was like no way dont do this Sheila..and its funny we (the girls) always listen'd to him and this was the first time I didnt..then later on he called me and said wow you should see my supervisor I asked "why", he said, she lost over a 100pds and looks really good and she too had that surgery you were talking about..I grinned he said , I asked her what I needed to do and she said "support your sister's wish". and my husband..Oh Jeff...he stands behind everything I ever wanted and more..and my kids are scared my daughter is 8 and son 11. but I've explained to them I would be able to do more with them and now they are excited but not as excited as I am..they had fun with the befor and after pics..

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

It was a nice stay but yet the nurses were/are learning on how to care for us..I was in there for 2 days and im so thankful for bringing my own pillow, chap stick, and I brought my own wash cloth and lotion,soap,and shampoo so when I got up to take a shower I felt better with my own things

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

Thankfully, I had no complications and still none as of now 3weeks later..

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

Scared excited, very emotional, and now I look back pretty silly but I ate everything that I thought I would miss..I tried to remain busy so I wouldnt think of it much but that was nearly impossible since I stay'd on here for hours at a time..

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

Its hard to get up . I slept on the couch mostly so I would have the support I needed to help me up..very sore expecially my butt and back cause it felt like I was ripping apart at the seims sort of speak if i would go onto my side OUCH..and believe me im a side and stomach woman and didnt do that til now at 3 weeks..

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

45 mins away thank god..you feel every pot hole and bump in the road but I taken my own pillow so I used it on my trip home..

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.

well I was on clear liquids, broth(chicken and beef) S.F.jello,S.F.popsicles S.F.tang,S.F.lemon aid,and lots of water

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

went from a 4 to a 9 ...4 days after surgery no joke it was uncredible.

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

I take 2 childrens chewable flintstones, 1 synthroid,and my protein shake(yuk) but mix it with S.F. choclate pudding and you cant taste it and top it with cool whip..mmmm a treat now more than a chore

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?

hair loss some and I ate a vieanna sasage (#3) of them and boy was I sick and spitting it up the hole next day..yes the day later..

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

I would deff. have to say the Pain it is deff. ungodly for the first 2 or 3 days but does get better each day

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

We have a support group but noone hardly knows when it is? lack of comunication that's for sure..

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

Well they are like little scratches..1 inch but the scare where they removed my GB is deep and purple but yet its also a inch in diamater

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Well I think i hit one at week 2 but it didnt last that long but Im only 3weeks post-op and ive lost 30lbs :-)

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Not alot yet but my husband seems to be getting sorta antsy..excited
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