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

I have a sister and two cousins who were successful surgery patients of Dr. Fox in Tacoma, and several friends in addition who also are success stories. I feel we have a pretty great team with Dr. Ross Fox and Dr. Ki Oh here in Tacoma, and my family and I are greatly endebted to both of these doctors for our success in being able to permanently lose our weight and gain our health back.

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

Be persistant, call them daily. If I had to mortgage my home for this I would still undergo bariatric surgery because of the life threatening comorbidities.

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

I found the staff and doctors to be of great help with insurance and educating me on the pros and cons of surgery. They explained to me about the need to take supplements (protein and vitamins) for the rest of my life in order to stay healthy. I found this an easy trade off for the wonderful weight loss and health that I have now obtained.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I was so sick, I didn't know how much longer I would live without the benefits of the surgery.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

After speaking with my surgeons and attending their meetings and listening to my relatives that have had surgery talk about it, I figured that the distal bypass done leaving a 50 inch common channel was the surgery for me so that I could gain the maximum weight loss out of the surgery. I am very happy that I did it.

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 was more afraid that I was going to die without the surgery, I didn't have much choice, so I was not afraid of the surgery.

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?

Having family that had already had the surgery was a great support for me. We have all been very supportive of one another, and of our doctors. I would tell anyone considering surgery to go for it.

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

I own my own business, I have been a hair dresser for 35 years and a caterer for 18, I am now able to do my work with great enthusiasm and ease of mobility without pain. I have an abundance of energy, and renewed health.

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

I was in the hospital for 24 hours, I left a little early. I would reccomend staying for 3-4 days, but I was released on my own insistance, and now think I wouldn't have been in as much pain as I was in had I stayed the length of time they reccomended. Bring a good attitude with you, and a mind set for taking your supliments postop.

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

I flew through with no complications.

In the weeks after you got your surgery date, how did you feel? How did you cope with any anxiety you might have felt?

There wasn't any anxiety, I was ready to go and couldn't wait for the surgery day to get here. I fealt I had a great team with the surgeons and the hospital and my families support. My husband was behind me 100%.

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

This is a time to look to the great things possible and to feel thankful for my family and friends and the good health that I would be experiencing in the future because of this.

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

10 blocks

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 haven't had any problems with anything following surgery. I am not allowed to eat milk and sugar. Salads and seafoods are my favorites, and I take my suppliments every day.

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

My energy and activity level continuously increased as I continued to lose weight.

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

I take protein 4-5 times a day, and vitamin C, E, A&D, Zinc, Calcium, B complex, Multivitamins, Iron, Hair vitamins, and a multimineral throughout the day.

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?

side effects were very minimal

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

Waiting for insurance approval.

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

We have a wonderful support group with Dr. Fox and Dr. Oh. This is very helpful to keep you on the path to good health and getting you back on when you slip. It is very important to remember that protein and vitamins are important to stay healthy.

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

It is about a 10 inch red line down the center of my tummy. It is what I was expecting out of the surgery.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

When I hit a plateau I would up my protein and reduce my carbohydrate intake and the plateau would break.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes, I feel that obese people are very discriminated against, and the change is great, but very sad.