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

The WLS article in the March 1999 issue of McCall's Magazine. Then I got the video from the BTC in Ann Arbor, MI. (where the lady in the article had her WLS done). My initial impression was that this was the answer to my prayers!

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

Once my insurance company recieved all of the information they required, I was approved within one week. I would advise people to find out what information their insurance company requires (mine required a referral/recommendation from my PCP, an initial consultation with an in-network bariactric surgeon & then their recommendation for surgery, a psychological evaluation, a diet& weight loss history). To even be considered, I had to be at least 100 lbs. over my ideal weight (according to the insurance co. Height & Weight Chart), and have at least two co-morbidities (mine were GERD, depression, obesity-related arthritis). It helps to have a PCP that is with you on this, and has a good rappore with the insurance company.

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

After I got prior authorization to schedule an appointment with a bariactric surgeon for an initial consultation, I called and made the appointment. There was no choice of surgeons to be made, as my insurance company only had one bariactric surgeon in their network. The surgeon's office sent me a packet of information and many forms to fill out. I made a list of questions from the information that I read in my surgeon's "Patient's Handbook". My surgeon was very professional, yet had a wonderful sense of humor/bedside manner. He was more than happy to answer all of my questions. His handbook was pretty thoughrough though, so I only had 13 questions to ask, and he had answered most of them by the time he asked me if I had any questions! I recommend being totally honest, and to not be afraid to ask the doctor anything, as this is a life-altering proceedure!

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

When I found out that the surgery was reverseable, that this surgery had a high success rate & low (1%) mortality rate, and that my surgeon had an excellent track record, and that I felt that I could do what was required of me to assure success after my surgery.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

My surgeon only does the open proximal RNY proceedure. My research into WLS made me satified with that.

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 "Let go; Let God". I prayed a lot. I asked friends and family to pray for me. I asked my internet support group to pray for me, too! The morning of my surgery, my surgeon took my hand, and looked me directly in the eyes, and promised me that he would take good care of me! (The night before I had prayed asking God to direct my surgeon's hands.) I was confident, and at peace.

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?

My husband, children, Mom, mother-in-law, & sister-in-law all knew beforehand. My family tends to look on the negative side of things, so they didn't know until right before or right after my surgery. I wanted only positive vibes going into surgery. Everyone has been wonderful, loving & supportive. They all want reports on how I'm doing! I feel blessed!

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 stay-at-home Mom/Homemaker. I couldn't lift anything over 25 lbs. for eight weeks, or start an exercise program (other than the prescribed walking)for eight weeks. I needed to rest and recooperate for the first two weeks after surgery. I could get around the house (up & down stairs) fine, but I was slow and sore those first two weeks. I was also very emotional/weepy/irritable.

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

The hospital and staff were wonderful. I did have a 90 year old roommate with phenmonia that called out for help a lot at night. I would push my call button to get a nurse to come and tend to her! Once my call button fell somewhere where I could not see it or reach it! It was in the middle of the night, and my glasses were on the table out of my reach, too! I was dopey from my pain medicines. My catheter had been removed and I had to pee! I couldn't get the railing down, and was straddling the darn thing! I was sore, and really had to pee now! I didn't know the phone number where my husband and kids were, so I called my sister long-distance at around 4 a.m., I'm guessing. She called the hospital back and had them come and help me. Other than that, my stay was pleasant. I got a sponge bath & lotion rub every day! I was there for three days. I would suggest bringing a robe and slip-on slippers. The hospital provided me with toiletries (even though I had brought my own) and feminine protection for when my period (which I hadn't had for over a year!)decided to start the day after surgery. I was too out-of-it with my pain meds to read or watch TV, etc. The hospital took care of my needs. Just have your family bring stuff for them to do and eat. You may want to bring Vasaline for your lips and nostrils as they get very dry. I had a sore in my right nostril where my NG Tube attached itself and tore when they pulled it out.

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

I had no complications from my surgery. I passed my swallow test with flying colors, and my incision never became infected. I was just sore, the worst days being the day I went home and the following day. They were tough, and I was tearful! After that, the pain got better a little day by day. As long as I could see improvement, I could hang in there. For 2 -4 weeks after surgery I was real emotional. I think it was a combination of going through major surgery, being off of my medications (I had been on anti-depressants), and getting the anesthetics & narcotics out of my system, and hardly eating anything (I was on a liquid protein diet and the surgery greatly restricts the amount you can consume). I had the support of my family, especially my husband and children. I was seeing a therapist short-term before and after surgery to help me adjust to the major changes that this surgery brought about in my life.

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 sooooooooooo excited to finally have a date! It took a while with all of the insurance requirements having to be met, and then for my surgeon to have an openning. From the time I started looking into this, and then actually having the surgery, it took eight months total. I filled my time researching WLS, and joining OSSG and Obesity Help on the internet. Each appointment brought me closer to my surgery date (chest X-ray, abdominal/gall bladder ultra sound, endoscopy, blood work).

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

I was sore, and emotional. I had to sleep in the recliner for the first two weeks. My first day home and the following day were horrible for me as far as pain. I was tearful due to the pain. It helped me to have my husband and children around to give me love and support, and to wait on me those first few days! Thank God, it gets better each day! By four weeks post-op I felt almost normal, actually kind of better as I was losing the weight! I didn't regret my decision to have WLS.

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

My surgeon (and the hospital he works out of) is two hours away from my home (four hours roundtrip). I see him for my aftercare appointments/check-ups. These appointments take place at 2 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 12 months. My PCP likes to keep a close eye on me, and sees me once a month for my B12 injection. I can call either of them for an appointment or a question any time I need to during office hours (unless, of course, it's an emergency).

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.

My surgeon believes in a liquid protein diet for the first 3 weeks post-op, and then pureed foods for weeks 3 through 6. He believes (& so do I) that this is best for healing your new pouch. After that you slowly introduce foods one at a time, like you would with a baby. My surgeon and his dietician have a chart.....a very detailed program mapped out for you. Sometimes I would try a food a week before I was supposed to, and sometimes it would work, but most times I ended up throwing up! It took me until week 11 to figure out how slowly I needed to eat, how well I needed to chew my food, and at what point to stop (whereas one more bite of food would be too much). During that learning phase between weeks 6 and 11, I threw up at least once a day! (I'm a slow learner!) Ginger capsules & camomile tea helped with the nausea and excess mucus during that time. By week 12 I had it all figured out! It's been great since. I'm at 6 months now, and meat is still very hard to digest, so I prefer my protein shakes and fish (cod, tuna, shrimp). I cannot eat rice or pasta or popcorn. They just lay in a lump in my stomach and eventually make me sick and vomit. I can eat fruits and vegetables just fine. I can eat a small portion of sweets once a day, like a small slice of pie or a few pieces of candy. I don't eat them every day, usually when I'm PMSing. I buy fat-free, sugar-free ice cream to satisfy my sweet-tooth. I still get cravings for chips (PMS time) and unfortunately can eat them in small quantities. I am a food-addict, so I will always have to watch what I eat, and how much, but this surgery has made it possible for me to control it. I seem to be on an every-other-day kind of thing. One day I can eat a whole sandwich at a meal, and then the next day I can only eat 5 bites at a meal!

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

When I got home after surgery I got up and walked for 5 minutes every hour around the house. My husband was my personal trainer making sure I did this. (We don't want blood clots!) At eight weeks post-op I was taking water aerobics classes. Now, at 6 months, I can walk or bike around my 3 mile long country block. I need to push myself to exercise more, and on a daily basis.

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

I take 2 Flintstones Complete Chewable Vitamins/Minerals, 1 Niferex Forte 150 (Iron) Capsule, & 1 500 mg. Chewable Vitamin C tablet every morning. I take 3 Viactiv (1500 mg. Calcium) at night. Once a month I go to my PCP for a B12 Injection. I suppliment my daily diet with 1 or 2 protein shakes: 'Ultra Pure Protein Shakes' by Worldwide Sport Nutritional Suppliments, Inc. A 12-ounce(pre-mixed)can supplies: 36 g. Protein, 6 g. Carbohydrate (2 g. naturally occuring sugar from Lactose)and 1.5 g. Fat. They also contain 100% D.V. for Calcium & 70% D.V. for B12. I purchase them online from: www.netrition.com (at aprox. $2.59 a can or less.)They come in 5 delicious flavors (Frosty Chocolate, Strawberry Cream, Ice Cream Vanilla, Cappuchino, & Orange Creamsicle).

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?

When I started eating solid foods between weeks 6 & 11 is when I had trouble with nausea & vomiting & increased stomach mucus. I used Ginger Capsules (1 Cap. taken 30 minutes before a meal, 3 times a day) and starting and ending my day with a cup of hot Camomile Tea. My wonderful PCP prescribed this treatment for me, & it worked wonderfully. A lot of the time he said that I was dumping, as I was learning what I could eat, how slowly I needed to eat, how well I needed to chew my food, and at what point was full (where one more bite would induce vomiting). I think that I was a slow learner! LOL!

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

The post-op pain on my first day home, and the following day, that was the worst part of the whole process. Then, later, some depression & grieving over the loss of my food.

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

My surgeon's support group is once a month on the first Tuesday Evening (7 -9 p.m.) of the month. He, and his support group, are a four hour round trip for me, so I do not attend them. I got my support from the internet: [email protected] (OSSG = Obesity Surgery Support Group) and some of the other OSSG off-shoots, plus I got support from individuals I met on these sites. These sites, and the people I've met on them have been very important in my research, recovery & support!!! I also used, www.obesityhelp.com, & www.something-fishy.org, plus several of the WLS people's individual websites. I highly recommend this to anyone connected to WLS!!! Of course, I had my family & friends for love & support as well, but it really helps to have the people who have been through it!

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

Well, my scar went keloid, so it is wider than a regular thin pink line. My incision was originally 9-inches long with 23 staples. Now, at 6 months it is 6-inches long, healthy pink, and a 1/2 inch wide. I can live with that! My surgeon says to give it a year, that it will shrink & fade even more. So, it is wider than I expected, but I am not unhappy. When the scar is a year old, I am told that I can go to a plastic surgeon if I'm not happy with the way my scar is. Plastic surgeons can do chemical peels and derma-abrasions, etc. I'll have to wait and see.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I have had several 2 and 3 week long plateaus along the way. I figure that my body is just re-adjusting itself at these points, and weight loss always follows these little plateaus. I suppose that if these plateaus were any longer, I would probably have a harder time in accepting them & being patient with them. (So, thank God, they're not!)

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes, certainly I do! I'm starting to get noticed (in a more positive way) by the opposite sex......doors being held open, pleasant conversations, smiles, etc. Luckily, no sexual-harrassment as yet. My family and friends compliment me and ask me how my weight loss is progressing. I love when I run into people I haven't seen in months, and they don't even recognize me! It has all been positive so far! I do feel a little angry at times, because it is true that you are treated better(in my humble experience)when you are thinner and look good, even though you are the SAME PERSON inside!