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

I found out about bariatric surgery by watching television. A commercial came on for Bariatric Treatment Center, I sent for the information, and watched and rewatched the informational tape that they sent. I also went online and read about Carnie Wilson's surgery, and read other's stories, was very hopeful that I would have this opportunity, but was afraid that I would never get the insurance approval and or the time off work for it.

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

I was very fortunate. Where I work has great insurance. I had my approval on the first try afer 6 weeks. Sadly the company as of January 1, 2004 has quit covering the surgery. I feel bad for those who will not have the same opportunities I have been given. I would encourage anyone to fight for surgery, to seek out advice of professionals who are skilled in getting the approval from the insurance company.

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

My first visit with the surgeon was very informative, and gave me the information that I was lacking from just watching commercials. He gave me a real understanding of the surgery and why it works. He spent approximately 45 minutes with me explaining the surgery and answering my questions. This was invaluable to my decision to proceed with the surgery. I also was able to spend time with a patient advocate who had the surgery and had successfully reached her goal weight, she was able to give me some details about feelings eating and just other information that the doctor, since he had not had the surgery himself, could not have expressed. I took in a list of questions I had for the doctor, and also asked other questions as they arose, don't be afraid to ask every question, no matter how inconsequential it seems to you. You need to make the best decision for yourself, and how your doctor answers your questions, might help you to make the correct choice as far as whether or not to use that specific doctor, whether you will trust them with your life and your weight loss. You are worth the effort, even large, and your life is valuable, do not put your life in just anyone's hands.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I didn't feel like it was really a choice. I longed to be thin again, not to feel dead, and to have a normal life. I felt that this was the only option I had to get these things back. I felt that if I were to die on the table while having the surgery, that it would be no loss, since I wasn't really living anyway, so for me it was a no brainer. I know for others it is much more of an internal struggle.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I had only been in contact with Bariatric Treatment Center, I did not spend a lot of time doctor shopping, or looking into alternative surgeries. I had open RNY. Once I make up my mind on something, I am bad about pushing forward without looking into alternatives.

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 time I really had fear of death was right before the surgery, in pre-op, I expressed the fears to my surgeon, and he reassured me that I would not die. I didn't... thank heavens, he was right. But the fear was very real, and I think that it definitely needs to be addressed and expressed to those around you.

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?

For the most part, everyone was very supportive. My mother at first was a little fearful, but after talking to her sisters, found out the success rate of the surgery and totally supported me. My husband was completely supportive, and is very very happy with the results. He took such good care of me while I was recovering, and even now treats me like a china doll. I had some misinformed information from a few friends and family members who were not familiar with the specific type of surgery that I was having, they related how others who had "bariatric" surgery had not been successful in keeping the weight off. I am sure they did not have the same type of surgery, and there were probably other issues in their lack of success. I was also very lucky to work with some women who had the surgery before me, at the same location, they were a wellspring of knowledge and formed a little support group at work. Their input was invaluable, and it was nice to have their hand me down clothes...saved me a lot of money.

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

I was afraid before I had told anyone at work that my company would not approve the time off. They are such sticklers about attendance, and I was sure they would not approve it. Much to my surprise, not only did they give me the time off but I was paid 60% of my salary while I was off work. I received a total of 5 weeks off work, and could have taken up to 6. I know that the employees who have the surgery now get 6 weeks off automatically.

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

The hospital stay was 3 days. It was not too bad really, I watched a lot of TV inbetween sleeping and walking. The hardest part was waiting until after they tested to make sure there were no perforations so that I could begin eating. It wasn't that I was feeling hungry, as much as just light headed. After I was able to have a little jello, I felt much better, not that it was substantial, but I think it was mental. The hardest thing was getting comfortable afterwards, I don't know what to recommend to bring, because I don't think much besides time takes care of the discomfort. I normally enjoy reading, but because the pain medication, I found watching TV was really the most I felt like doing.

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

I was very fortunate, I had no complications, and not only that, after the ride home, didn't really need the pain medication. I started feeling great immediately, and even went to Wal-mart within a week of the surgery. Maybe youth was on my side, or luck, I don't know which.

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 think the hardest thing for me after the surgery, was mourning food. You do not realize what a "friend" it is until you can not eat it. I came to realize that I ate all the time, for every reason, and it was a little hard to deal with immediately after the surgery. For the first week, I watched food network non-stop, it was my own special form of torture, and I licked a few doritoes, just to get the taste. It eventually got better, but that was such a hard thing to deal with, the loss of a habit.

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

The first few weeks were a little painful, it was hard to remember at times to watch the incision. But I think the hardest part was the diet, being on a liquid diet was so hard. Especially the full liquid part. I really dislike milk and milk type products like pudding, shakes, so I found it very hard to try and meet the protein requirements and to make myself eat during this time.

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

I traveled... I don't know how many miles, but it was a 3 1/2 hour drive one way. It was uncomfortable after the surgery traveling this far, but in retrospect, was worth the discomfort. The only thing that it really effected was I didn't go to the one year check up, maybe if the surgeon was closer I would have.

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 tried to be very careful for the first 6 weeks after the surgery and follow the prescribed eating pattern. At first, only 4 bites of soup would fill me up. I was very careful to eat slowly and chew up the food completely. I found that food I had previously enjoyed tasted different and a little unappetizing due to the complete chewing. I don't remember throwing up really until I started eating solid foods. At first bread was off limits, it made me feel bad, and filled me up quickly. Also sweet foods were a complete no no, I would feel like I had the flu for about 2 hours after eating them. Greasy foods like fried chicken also made me sick, not only did it hurt physically, but gave me diarrhea afterwards...yuck. When I first started eating solid foods, I found that there was a definite limit that I had to learn, and one bite over the limit would cause me to throw up. Also, not chewing the food completly would cause irritation and usually result in vomiting, for about the first 3 months after the surgery. Slowly I was able to add more foods to my diet, and was able to add more foods into the mix. In the past year I have only vomited once from eating too much too quickly. I know my limits now and what I can eat. The only problem I wish I still had was the intolerance to sugar. I can now eat it, and the only side effect that sometimes happens is I feel tired. It was a great deterant when It made me sick, now I find myself being able to eat it more and craving it again. Best to not start eating it for best results :)

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

My activity level started rather low, with just a little walking, and as the weight started falling off increased. While I still don't exercise like I should, I try to do things to make sure that I am active, such as take the stairs instead of the elevator at work. Stand for as much of the day as possible, and am going to start going to Curves this week.

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

I was supposed to take a multivitamin two times a day. I am horrible about remembering to take it though, which is probably the worst thing I have done since having the surgery, not being faithful in taking the vitamins.

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?

The vomiting really ended about 4 months after the surgery, when I learned what my limits were and was careful to not push them. I have not experienced any sleep disturbance. The hair loss was really bad while I was loosing weight rapidly. It would stay at a minimum when I was eating the close to the recommended amount of protein. But it did get rather thin for awhile, thank heavens I started with a lot, or I would have been bald. The dumping I still experience from time to time when I am not careful about what I eat. It is not all the time, just when I have too much sugar, or food that is too greasy.

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

I think that overall my experience has been very positive. Mostly because the results were very visable, right away, so any negative feelings that I might have had have been forgotten. I think that the worst part of the process was the initial pain, and then the relearning how to eat, and how to not eat emotionally. It is still a struggle at times, but it is psychological, so knowing that helps me out.

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

There is a support group in my area, due to the hours that I work, it wasn't really an option for me to attend. I however, was very fortunate to work with a group of women who have had the surgery, and we have formed a support group inside of our work. Sometimes just knowing that I am not the only one having certain experiences and that food can still be a struggle even post-operation helps. And it also helps to have so many supportive people that understand the surgery process and the emotions that accompany the weight loss.

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

My scar goes from under my breasts to the top of my belly button. It has faded nicely. I knew that there would be a scar, and it is a lot lighter than I had anticipated it being. Some people I think have a problem with their scar, my issues are more with the excess skin, I see the scar as a reminder of where I have been, and where I am now.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

AAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!! I hate plateaus. I was very fortunate to have very minimal plateau's until recently. My presurgery weight was 430. I plateaued briefly at about 310. I went to weight watchers for a few weeks, and while I felt like I was cheating, since they didn't know that I had undergone surgery, it did help jumpstart the weight loss again. My second plateau was when I hit 230. I stayed at that weight and even went up to almost 240 again. I restarted the weight loss by eliminating excess carbs, and eating only fruits, vegetables and proteins. My most recent plateau was when I hit 190. I was stuck there and yo-yoed between 190-195 for almost 3 months. Then I got the flu and am now between 185-190. I have found the best way to restart the weight loss for myself has been to increase exercise and to stay away from sweets and to try to eat only proteins and fruits and veggies.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Everyone treats me differently. I have tried to decide whether I am responding differently and more confidentally or if they are treating me differently because of how I look. I honestly think it is a little of both. Before I had surgery, I felt inferior, was afraid to speak out, and generally did whatever I could to have friends. Now I am more willing to speak my mind, and am willing to put myself on the line more. I do think that people respect my opinion more now. They treat me like I am intelligent now, whereas when I was large, they treated me as if I were a bit slow. I think that the reason they treat me differently now is because I am happier, more optimistic, and more fun to be around.