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

I was very apprehensive when I first started learning about it. I went through a quick process once in Germany and they had me on the table gettig ready to do an endoscopy to measure my stomach for the gastric banding (I think this is the new banding they are doing here in the states now). I completely freaked out, chickened out, got up of the table and walked out. I spent the next 4 years bouncing around the idea and researching it in depth.

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

I have Tricare Prime and our military medical facility refused to do the surgery. They deemed it not medically feasible. The doctor didn't feel I was large enough for the surgery. So, my Primary Care Manager sent me out of net work to a civilian hospital for a second opinin. All that was needed was a letter of medical necessity and I was on my way. Tricare requires co-morbidities. Though mine were not diabetes or high blood pressure I was still approved.

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

Do ALOT of your own research BEFORE seeking a surgeon!! My sureon was WONDERFUL. But, had I not done a lot of my own research there would have been a lot of stuff I would not have understood. If you don't know or understand something don't be afraid to ask! With the rise in demand for these surgeons and bariatric surgery, they do not have a lot of time to spend on the questions and answers we should already have researched before going to see them. This is just my opinion though. My surgeon basically didn't lay a hand on me until I was asleep in the operating room. He ordered all the tests, reviewed the results and performed the surgery. His staff does all the follow-up and I hardly ever see him.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

Having the support a unconditional understanding of my husband and teenage kids. This as something I had to do for me. I wanted to make sure they were okay in case I didn't make it through the surgery. I also came to the realization that my addiction to food is real and I HAD absolutely NO control over it. With the added "tool" of sugery I could learn to eat less and have a chance to get the addicition under control. This is my "antiabuse" per se. Like the pill you give an alcoholic that will make them sick if they drink, my little "tool" will make me sick if I over eat or eat the wrong stuff.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I wanted it to be permanent!

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 feared dying right up to 8 weeks post-op! I was very nervous about complications. I was almost sure I was going to die during the surgery or have a leak or die from a blood clot. You name it...it was going to die from it! I came to grips with it when someoe told me I have a better chance of being killed in a car accident on the way to the hospital than having complications from the surgery! The mortality rate is 1% at the hospital where I had my surgery. But, the 1% is a reality and I had to come to grips with that fact. I prayed, tried to make sure I was right with God and my family and friends and went for it. I was SO unhappy with myself I couldn't go on that way. About a week before surgery I was overcome with peace and though still somewhat worried, I wasn't s much afraid.

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?

Everyone has been wonderful. My husband was well warned before surgery that I would be a total witch at times and my coach (RN in charge of my follow-up)told us to either go to seperate ends of the house or take a walk in opposite directions when those times came and we have done that and are doing fine.

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

I am a student and I took the semester off. I injured myself at 3 weeks post-op and it took me a longer period of time to heal. Without the injury I could've went back after about 3 weeks. With the injury I couldn't have went back until 8-9 weeks post-op.

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

Don't take anything. You won't need it. You will be on heavy doses o pain medication which will make you sleep and when you are awake you will be doing something (walking, bathing)I didn't have much free time to do anything like read, etc...

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

No problems what so ever.

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 was anxious, afraid, unsure of what I was going to do. I sought the support of those who had had the surgery through the Scott and White list serve. It is an Email support group for pre-op and post-op patients. They were very insightful and helped me a lot. I had to have someone to talk to that had aleady been there and really knew!

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

Make sure one of the nurses at the hospital show you how to bend before you leave the hospital. If you don't squat you can pull a muscle and you will be in more misery than need be for a very long time! My blood pressure was low for the first few weeks. I had shortness of breath from the anestesia and had to be put on an inhaler. When the saples were taken out, a small incision above my navel opened (not enough to need packed or sutured, but enough to scare the beegebees outta me), then at 3 weeks post-op I ripped a muscle (so the doctor said)or an adhesion (someone else said). Anyway, when it happened it felt like my colon burst open and hot fluid spewed into my innerds. I ended up in the ER for 8 hours on morphine and an IV. They did all kinds of test and a scan to check for leaks, etc... It took about 2-3 weeks to strt feeling better after that episode. I wasn't able to sleep in my bed for at least 6 weeks. I slept in a recliner. Didn't really have an appetite at all. Diets after the surgery vary from doctor to doctor s I can't say what you'll be allowed to have.

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

Hospial was about 45 minutes to an hour away from home. Traveling was no problem.

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 have been one of the fortunate ones. I have NO nausea and NO vomiting. I have only thrown up 3 times and that was from drinking my water too fast. The first week on this program we could only have broth and sugar free jello. I don't like sugar free anything so I didn't do the jello at all. There are some really good soups out there that you can have the broth off of (NO cream based soups allowed). The second week I could have egg and toast only. The egg had to be soft, not fried crisp, and the crust had to be cut off the toast. I could only eat about 2/3 of the egg and about 1/4 piece ofhe toast. The third week was soft proteins (chicken, tuna, cheese, beans). The fourth week and for the remainder of the next month they added cooked veggies, 8th week the added fresh veggies. You have to try things a little at a time and take it slow! The biggest thing to remember is to take very SMALL bites and chew it THOROUGHLY and eat SLOW. Savor every bite! I still haven't eaten many fresh veggies at 9 weeks post-op.

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

The first few days I was very sore but on cloud nine due to the pain meds and the fact that the surgery was finally over. After three or four days I was getting around pretty good until the third week. I pulled a muscle (adhesion) and it put me out of comission for about 3 weeks. Therefore, be VERY careful after surgery when bending, coughng, sneezing, etc. At 9 weeks I was on my way almost as if I hadnt had any surgery.

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

At first I took 2 childrens chewable multi-vitamins, but after 8 weeks I started getting dizzy. This was due to low iron so they increased it to 3 a day. I ake 2 TUMS with calcium daily for my calcium requirement. I take vitamin B12 (liquid) under the tongue once a week.

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?

At first the restless leg syndrom got me. They felt like they needed exercise and if I didn't walk during the day they drove me crazy at night. Then after a few weeks I had problems breathing when walking so I had to go on an inhaler temporarialy. I didn't have much nausea and only vomited 3 times anad that was from drinking my water too fast. I have not been brave enough to try sugar laced foods. I have dumped a few times (once from Crystal Light and I can't remember the other). I have just bgun to lose some of my hair in the back (at 10 weeks).

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

PAIN after surgery. Gas pains once I was at home. The pulled muscle (adhesion).

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

Scott and White has a suport group that meets twice a month and I enjoy attending. We also have an online email group that we can post to anytime and get feedback from others that have gone before u and offer support to those coming behind us. I found this helpful pre-op, during a difficult recovery and now. Monthly visits with our coach (the RN) who weighs us in and gets vitals nd counsels us is very helpful.

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

I actually expected the scar(s)to be a lot worse! I have a total of 8 scars. On the left lower abdomen approximately 4 inches from my navel I have a horizontal scar that is approximately 2 inches long. Just to the left of that about 4 inches I have a poke hole. About 5 inches up and to the right of my navel I have another poke hole. About 5 inches up and to the right (Near under my breast) I have another poke hole. Then under my sternum about 4 inches down I have 3 poke holes that create an arc. Most of the poke holes are less than 1/2 an inch long!

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

My weight loss was slow in starting. At first I thought I was going to be one of the ones the surgery wasn't going to work on. After about three weeks I started losing regularly. I am only 10 weeks out so I haven't hit any of these yet!

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

I have always been a fairly jolly person and everyone around me kinda expects my antics and I haven't really experienced a lot of the discrimination some obese people describe. I am waiting for some shallow good looking guy to look at me so I can tell him, "Honey, just a few months ago I weighed almost 300 pounds and you wouldn't have looked twice...so roll that tongue up and put it back in your mouth and turn your shallow butt around." I am happily married and have been for 18 years....