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

My older sister had surgery many years ago, she lost alot of weight. I called and checked several Dr.'s, as well as searched the internet for the right doctor.

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

Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC paid very well. They had been receiving bills from me for years on doctor bills for all my knee, ankle and other weight related problems, guess they knew I had a real problem that was not getting better with all the weight. And it was only going to get worse with age.

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

Know what you want! Have questions ready for them. Do research before hand.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I had found the right Doctor, I was confortable with him and his resoponse and honesty. And I had gained another 20 lbs.

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

The hospital was good, the nurses were GREAT! The beds are confortable, rooms large. Clean and confortable. I had surgery Friday am and was out of the Hospital on Monday at noon. On saturday morning I asked to get out of bed, I walked as much as I could so recovery went fast. I was ready to recover at home.

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

Surgery went very well. Over a 3 month period however, I continued to have a burning pain in my stomach almost every time I ate. I wasn't sure if I was eating too much, too fast, or something I should'nt have. The pain got worse over time, sometimes it would last for hours. I took anti acid tablets, pepsid ad, nothing helped. After 3 months I was rushed to the hospital for lower intestinal obstruction. I did not need surgery, however I did spend 6 nights in the hospital.

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 second thoughts, my husband was there for me all the time. I kept thinking how it would feel being 100 lbs less and much less pain in the long run.

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

I was sore, and slept alot. I took pain medication for 2 or 3 days after. I could eat very little, just a bit or two at first. I walked daily, a little more each day.

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

Chapel Hill is 4 hours from my front door. 8 hours round trip. The ride home from the hospital was very uncomfortable. I returned for my after care visits as scheduled.

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.

For the first several months I couldn't eat beef, (steak, roast) no matter how fine it was cut up. Cabbage did not set well, bread is real filling, I didn't eat more than one bit at a time. I eat alot of soup & broth, they seemed to go down the best. Then I started on beans and cheese for the protein. I had the dumping syndrome one time and one time only! I had a low fat, low sugar granala bar-samore, this made me very ill, sweats, chills, throwing up, very weak, I promised myself and my husband if I lived thru the trama this would never happen again. I eat very low sugar content, less then 12 grams. Any thing more is off limits to me. Now I am almost 6 months post surgery, I can eat anything I want just not much of it. NO sugar sweets when I crave them, which is not often.

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

I started walking the day after surgery. I continued this at home, I started working out at the local gym 6 weeks after surgery, I had a professional working with my on my routine so I progressed slow but steady.

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

I take 3 Flintstone vitamins daily, 2 to 3 Tums with calcium daily, and 1 capsules of Ursodiol TWICE A day for the first 6 months.

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?

After 3 months and spending the 6 nights in the hospital I have had no pain. 10 days after surgery I got sick, I couldn't keep down water, I threw up when I watched someone eat. I had the dry heaves most of the time. This lasted for 8 days. The 9th day I went to my personal physician, I was somewhat dehydrated but not enough to get added fluids. On the 10th day I drank diluted diet ginger ale, and it stayed down. I had the Dumping syndrome only one time, (answered in question 16).. 2 months after surgery I started to loose my hair, before surgery I had hair to my waist, I have had it cut twice now, it is very short and starting to come back in. I knew from my Dr. a side effect was possible hair loss, so I expected it, then just cut it, my husband got tired of pulling it out of his food.

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

Waiting to have it done! I had a couple of set backs, 9 days I couldn't keep food down. 3 months I had bad pains in my stomoch. I had one dumping from sweets. Now, people ask me "would you do it again"? My answer is YES.

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

I have my family and my wonderful Husband. I do not attend any groups. Family support is a must, at first with the problems I had my husband continued to say I knew you shouldn't of had this done. Now that I'm feeling good, he is as happy as me.

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

I have 5 vry small incisions, I had suryery laparotomy. Almost can't see them.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I am at a plateau for the past several weeks, I have lost 90 lbs. I lost 30 lbs. in the first couple of weeks due to not keeping anything down, several times I was at a stand still, I just worked harder at the gym, and took longer walks to get it started again. Exercise is a MUST!

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

YES! And they are happy for me. I look much better.