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

I first read about The Bariatric Center in the newspaper, and I made an appointment to talk to a surgeon. I was all prepared to go thru with the surgery, but my family Dr. didn't follow up with the request for a 5 year weight history that my ins. required and I was out of State for 4 months and didn't know that they hadn't done this until it was to late. So I told myself that I probably didn't want to have it done or I would've been checking on it. I guess I wasn't to sure about the whole thing at that time.

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 trouble with getting my ins. approved after they received everything they asked for. I guess the only thing I would tell everyone is don't give up, because some of the people in my support group had to try 2 to 5 times before they were approved..

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

He was very nice and didn't act like he was in a hurry. I had many questions and he answered them all. My advice to anyone seeing a doctor is don't be afraid to ask questions, no question is too dumb and don't let the doctor intimadate you, they are only human like you are, so don't be afraid to talk to them.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I quess the success stories I saw on TV and on the internet was one of the reasons, but mostly I was tired of being FAT.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I decided on open rny because I liked the doctor and his success rate on this procedure

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?

The only fear I had was getting a blood clot after surgery, because I've known 2 people in the last 2 yrs. to die from this. I made my self get up in the hospital and walk and made sure I had circulation pads on my leggs when I wasn't up. When I came home I kept moving my legs as much as possible . My surgeon made sure I had blood thinners in the hosp. also. I can only tell anyone going into this, that you have a chance of dying everyday from complications of obesity so surgery is not the only risk your taking.

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've only had one friend who was against my having the surgery. She said, I'll be on my knees all day of the surgery. Well she lives 200 miles from me, so I chose not to tell her what day I was having surgery and called her after I was home a few days. She is very supportive now as are all my family and friends at home. You definitely need a good support system, because it is a major life style change, for you and your family.

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

I only work part-time and it was an inconvience for my employer, as I cover different desks in the office during vacations and I chose to have the surgery during the summer months, because we spend the winter in Florida and I didn't want to be that far away my first months post op, so she wasn't as supportive as I had hoped she would be and when I couldn't go back after 3 weeks as planned due to complications she wasn't to happy, but she's better now that I'm back to work. I was off 6 weeks to the day.

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

I didn't have a very good hosp. stay. I was in 3 nights and it wasn't comfortable. I knew that I would have pain, but not to the extent that I had. My room was very small and I had to share with someone else who had 2 IV poles to move around, so of course she had to have a little more room than myself. We were constantly having to move chairs and tables to get around and trust me I didn't feel like moving furniture at this time. Unfortunitly the things I took to the hospital never got used, because I couldn't get back to the closet to get them out. It was not an enjoyable stay for me or my roommate.

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

The only complications I have had so far is a pulled muscle in my stomach, which happened at 3 weeks post-op. After a trip to the emergency room and getting back on pain meds for a week I was fine. I"m really careful now of what I move or pick up, as I still get a little pain in that area sometimes. I also was diagnosed with a Ventral Hernia, but no surgery is indicated at this time.

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 had more anxiety before getting my date than after. I kept telling myself that I probably didn't need to have surgery, that I could get the weight off without it, but knowing full well that wasn't the case as I hadn't done it in 40 some years so I probably wouldn't do it now. Once I was scheduled I accepted it and looked at it like a new start of my life. I only had about 2 weeks from the time my ins. was approved and the day of surgery.

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

I was in quite abit of pain, even with the medicine. I'm one not to take a lot of pain meds. so I probably could've been more comfortable, but I don't like how they make me feel. It's hard to get up at first and take care of your own personal hygene, but each day gets better and it's best to make yourself move as much as possible, because it's true what they say about moving,it does make the pain less and less. You don't have much of an appitite and I had to make myself drink liquids, but it's very important to get that liquid in.

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

The hospital was appox. 25 miles from my home, so it wasn't bad. My first visit with my Dr. after surgery was 11 days and I had to go 35 miles for it, because he wasn't in his satelite office which is 12 miles from me, but the trip wasn't all that bad, it really felt good to be able to get out for awhile, but I was ready to get home after a quick stop at Sam's Club (my husband pushed me in a wheelchair) and take a nap.

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.

I'm only 2 1/2 months post-op so I haven't tried alot of foods yet, but so far the only thing I've had trouble with is hamburger and a piece of baked fish, that was to dry I guess, because they both got stuck and I ended up throwing up to get rid of them. After sugery I mainly had liquids (I love sugar free popsicles), soup, s.f.puddings, s.f. jello and crystal lite drinks, also s.f. kool-aid. I'm now starting to eat more vegetables ,I've eaten a little chinese,and some mexican foods, but I watch that they aren't cooked in a lot of fats. I have at least something with a lot of protein in it 3 times a day, and I have eaten beef jerky and string cheese.

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

I tried my best to walk the halls in the hospital, but usually only got out once or twice to walk around the nurses station. After coming home I would make myself walk from our apt. to my mothers, which is in the same house, 2 or 3 times a day. About 4 weeks I was out side walking about 1/2 mile a day. I'm now walking 1.4 miles a day and loving it. I hope to increase this in the next week or so.

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

I started taking shakely's chewable childs vitamins the day I came home from the hospital. They were fine, but I was taking 4 a day and they were to expensive, so I bought Sam's Club brand of childrens chewable tablets and I take two of them a day. I tried protein powder, but I don't like the taste.

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've had very little nausea, no trouble sleeping, and only 2 bouts of vomiting since my surgery 2 months ago. I tried Carnation instant breakfast and didn't get the sugar free kind (didn't know they made it) and had dumping from that. I'm real careful what I eat and chew my foods real well, but with the vomiting I just knew it would make me feel better to go ahead and throw up what didn't go down and I was able to continue with my day without any problems.

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

I would say the stay in the hospital and the pain I experinced from the acual surgery was the worst for me. Also when I pulled the muscle in my stomach at 3 weeks, it sat me back a couple of weeks, but other than that I haven't found the whole process at all bad. I can't believe how much better I feel so soon after surgery.

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

It's not what I expected at all. I thought it would be smaller than it is, but I had staples and it seemed to heal real nice. I guess no one wants to have a scar from under their breast to the navel, but it's been worth it.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I've not had but one week when I didn't lose any weight and than I was retaining water, so the next week it showed up in my weight loss. I was real careful to drink lots of fluids after that.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

No, I haven't noticed anyone treating me any differently, other than taking extra time to tell me how good I'm doing and that they can definetly tell a difference.