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

After having gained 130 # in less than a yr. after Phen-Fen was taken off market, I knew something had to be done. We had just gotten a computer, and searched everything on dieting to losing weight anyhow. Came across surgery, but thought of the "old" stories, I had heard about it, but found out about all the updated good changes, and succeses, and thought this was gonna be the only way to keep the weight off permantently.

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

I had Blue Cross Blue Shield with approval in 8 days.

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

You wont meet Dr. Baker until you have attended an informational meeting that his team puts on once a month. Have a list of questions written down so you dont forget things, and remember no question is a dumb one.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

It is my life, and I wanted to improve the quality of it, improve my self esteem, and I didn't ask for anyones opionion from family before hand, as didn't think they would be supportive of the surgery. Even my husband, I pretty much told him I was doing this, and gave him lots of information about it, but it was truly my decision to go ahead as long as insurance covered it.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Have heard the results long term are better with a RNY vs. VBG procedure. I was a sweet addictive person, so needed to get away from the sugars.

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 really never thought that I could die from the procedure. Being a nurse, I knew the risks of having other surgery was about the same for complications. Find out all you can, best to be most informed. No questions are silly, they have all been asked by others also.

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 told no one except my husband. I didn't ask for his opinion, I just told him, I have seriously looked into this, and decided to have it. When my family found out several months later, they were upset, about how dangerous it was, etc. I am so glad I kept to my support groups for information, and not from relatives. I had at 1yr. and after relatives, neighbors telling me I was to skinny. I told people that I was on a high protein, change in life eating habits, that I was watching the amounts of food I ate, -(all were true) Poeple try to be helpful, yet unless they have had it done, they know nothing. Dont be influenced by Aunt Jane, who knows someone that this happened to , or gained wt. etc. Who needs to hear such negativity.

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

I told my employer I was having my gallbladder removed. (which I did at same time). Was off 3 weeks, went back very part time. Finally about a yr. later I did tell a few people. People were much more supportive once I was slim, and healthy, so they tended to just ask questions, and not be negative about the surgery.

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

I was only in for 2 days, which is his normal procedure. No N/G tube only for few hours after surgery, no foley catheter, drainage tubes. Up walking within hours after, with pain, but not from the incision but from when they use the retractors to keep my incision open during surgery, so it hurt from the muscles.

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

No problems

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 stayed very connected to the computer for advise from other postops that had him as a surgeon. Also saw him at one week for postop check, and his staff, for regular checkups afterwards

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

I rested alot, tried to not watch TV, with food commercials, as I wanted food, ( had head hunger), so I would try something that sounded good, and take a bite, chew it, and spit it out, as I was on a liquid diet for the first few weeks, got the taste, which is what I wanted, yet wasn't swallowing it.

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

Hospital is only one mile from my 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.

I stayed away from sugar of any kind, was so sure I would not be able to have any, also found being able to eat whatever again, was scary, not knowing how I would handle it, would it stay down, loved popcorn, lettuce, and found even tho, there is no nutrition value, I could eat a large amt. of this food, and feel great. If I over ate even one bite, I would feel like I had just ate a Thanksgiving dinner, was in full pain, and need to lay down till food cold digest, so found eating in smaller amounts works better. Can now tolerate small sugars like in one cookie, found lots of low sugar items that a person can eat, so there is no feeling of being deprived of amy food.

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

I was able to move around with ease, my strength came back very quickly, due to it being winter, walking outside was difficult, but had lots of energy, so whnen spring came, I was out working on yard, had lots of feeling good energy, didn't drive all around to find a closer parking spot, could walk without fatigue.

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

My surgeon recommends some that are taken for life. Everyday must take 1500 mg of calcium supplement in Tums, or alternative Must take 1000mcq of B12 either sublingual, or else by injection once a month. I chose to give myself an injection each month, Md's office shows you how. Must take a multivitamin with minerals every day, to help with the absorption problem. Never take your Calcium with your multi-vit. together as they dont absorb together, so it wont work. take even an hr apart or so.

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?

Only problem was the hair loss that started at about 4 months and was worse till about 10 months out. It came out in shower especially, after combing hair, I know I was not getting in enough protein, and that was a major cause of the loss. No problems with dumping, vomiting, sleep problems, but now at over 1 yr out, I have so much energy, I tend to do well on only 5-6 hrs of sleep instead of 8 or more hrs, like before.

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

The first month is such a trial and error, in your new tummy, and may feel nervous on how you will handle food. I was concerned on what people would say, so I choose not to tell people that I had surgery. I tell them that I am on a high protein diet,( isn't everyone), and that I am really watching the amounts I eat. I want to be healthy. People seem to be content with that. With the ones that do know about the surgery, most are very supportive, others think I lost to much and that I am to skinny, ( Ha, they just never saw my bones before, but neither had I), and some who know have decided not to say anything about it, and act like I haven't changed a bit. Those shallow people usually aren't my cose friends anyway, and so I try not to let them bother me.

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

I attend every month a support group at local hospital that my surgeon started for his patients only. I always stayed very active in the support groups in our area. Many more started up, and turned into a very social gathering frequently.

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

My scar is very faded now, itched alot for first few months. Used vit. E oil on it, Its about 5 inches long. I am 5 yrs out now, and my scar is a fine white line. On occasion, it will really itch still, so I make sure I put lots of good lasting moisturizers on my whole body. Skin feels so soft all over.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Plateaus come at many times, throw the scale away. I would weigh myself only once a month in the beginning, just to see that yes I was losing, befroe teh clothes started getting to big. At 5 yrs. out, I would recommend that you continue to track your weight, especially after a couple yrs. out. I started to creep back some weight, and just never weighed myself, to afraid to. Well because of not weighing myself, I wasn't in control, and have gained wt. since. Truly my mistakes I made.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

I am blending in with everyone else. Dont feel like I am being stared at. Strangers are more friendly to me, get attention in stores quicker, etc. I had a harder time seeing myself smaller in size. Now at 5 yrs. postop, I look at my photos back then, after the weight loss, and now can say, wow I looked great. After having gained about 40 pds. or little less, I am more self conscious of how people look at me.