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

Several years ago a woman at my office had the surgery. I did not fully understand the procedure and felt if was too drastic of a measure for me. Then I attended a support group for people who were considering the surgery & those that had already had surgery. My curiosity was peaked so I attended a seminar put on by the Bariatric Program at Sutter Hospital in Sacramento. I called and had an appointment within two weeks.

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

My insurance company was not clear on the documentation needed to have the procedure approved. They held up the approval pending some notes from my doctor that I had been followed on a supervised weight loss program with nutritional counseling for at least six months.

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

It was very good, I had been to a seminar that he had participated in. He asked me about my weight loss history and what my goals were. After he took my medical history and examined me he said he thought I would be a good candidate.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I went to a seminar that explained the surgical procedure and after I understood it I was no longer fearful.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I wanted the Roux-N-Y because it is the most permanet if used correctly.

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 only had mild fears about the aniesthia, I followed all the instructions my surgeon gave me about exercising and loosing some weight pre-op to reduce the risks. I would say if you can increase your exersie endurance and loose a few pounds before surgery that the risks are very minimal.

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?

Some family members were a little nervous prior to my surgery but after they saw how well I did afterward they were very suportive of my decision.

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

My supervisor and my company was very understanding. I work in the HR department for our Occupation Health Nurse and she understood that with four co-morbidities that this was an opportunity to take control of my health. I was off work for six weeks.

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

My stay for the most part was very good. I was in the hospital for 2 1/2 days. The nurses were very personable but did not linger longer than the procedure they came in to do. There was a nurses assistant that came in for my first 2 days who was so helpful. she helped me get out of bed to walk around and anytime I needed to get up for the restroom. The nurse I had on day 2 & 3 made a habit of telephoning the room to ask if I was drinking water etc. The phone was usually on the portable table too far to grab in a hurry. It ususally startled me out of a sleep & I know it annoyed my roommate while she was trying to sleep. Things to bring with you to the hospital - light robe, pajama pants, toothbrush, walkman to listen to.

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

I had no complications from the surgery and almost no pain at all.

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 tried to concentrate on working out as much as possible to increase my stamina and be as healthy as I could for the surgery.

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

I was very tired and slept a lot. The improvements from one day to the next were huge. Just follow the surgeon's instructions and the post op eating guide. Don't try to do too much and give yourself time to heal.

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

I only traveled about 10 miles. It was very convienient.

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 breezed through the liquid and the semi-liquid diet. The difficult part for me has been begining to chew foods. It is a test with each food to see how it will be tolerated. In week 7 pureed foods still felt best to me. When I eat chicken or fish I tend to have a little heart burn that makes me uncomfortable. Sugars, fats and simple carbs are off limits for me. I have read to much about the unpleasant side effects of dumping. Protein drinks, cottage cheese and yogurt have been the easiest to eat. Although I did find that canned chicken is moist enough for me and it is high in protein.

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

For the first three weeks some light walking was the extent of my activity. After my 3 week checkup with the surgeon he said I could resume my normal works outs, just take it easy at first. So by the 4th week I was back to my Aqua aerobics classes 5 times a week. I just took it at my own pace. Some days I had lots of energy and could do two one hour classes back to back and other days one class at a slower pace was enough.

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

B vitamins, Biotin, calcium, Magnesium, Vitamin D and a multi-vitamin.

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 am about 7 1/2 weeks out from surgery and I still have a little nausea on occasion. I have only vomited once and I felt like I had a big air bubble in my stomach when it happened. I had eaten then fallen asleep in my recliner. I have not experiened any hair loss yet, so far so good.

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

The worst thing about the entire process has been that I am not very creative in the kitchen. The suggestions for what to eat at each stage are very basic. At the support groups I hear people talking about what they are eating and I think why didn't I think of that. I am having a hard time making myself eat so I can take in the protien grams that I need. Nothing seems very appetizing. I bought a book on Amazon called eating well after weight loss surgery and that has helpled.

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

There is a Bariatric support group at the Sutter hospital where I had my surgery. They meet once a month and it has been very helpful. I can see myself sticking with the group on an ongoing basis. There is a variety of people who have have the surgery from a few weeks ago to five years ago so the group is a great resource.

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

I had laproscopic surgery so my scars are small and will eventually fade out.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

At about 4 weeks post op I had a plateau for 7 days. I was a little discouraged but I had to remind myself this is still very early and the weight will start coming off again in a few days. It did and I reached my current weight in less than a year.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

People are commenting that they can already see a difference. I have lost 27 lbs in 7 weeks.