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

My mother told me a friend of hers had come to my father's wake just a few days after her bariatric surgery. My initial thought was, "They still do those things?" My second thought was, "I got to look into this!" I had no hesitation in considering it.

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

Before I even started looking into WLS I dug through the file cabinet for the Blue Choice-Select health plan policy to find out if it was excluded and/or its restrictions. I was happy to see it was available for morbidly obese patients who it was medically necessary. I was even happier to learn from the surgeons office staff that as long as I fit the BMI requirements and passed the psychogical evaluation I would most likely be approved.

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

My surgeon was very blunt about how this surgery is not a cure for obesity, that most people lose about 50% of their pounds overweight, and that some even gain it all back. He was very up front about the possible complication from surgery and from living with the results of surgery. He explained the various aspect of my life that would hinder my weight loss and make the proceedure difficult for me. Although he "burst my little bubble" of excitment about WLS and I left he office a bit depressed, I am glad he was frank and upfront.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

1. Insurance would cover it, but not Optifast or any other weight loss plan. 2. I tried everything else. 3. Impressed with the many sucess stories on this site. 4. The risks of surgery, in my opinion, were no worse then trying to live at this weight.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

The surgeon said that the RNY was the surgery he performed. Explained that it is the on most people have, and that most of the follow up information is on.

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?

If I can handle all the miserable complications that come with being 170 pounds overweight (BMI 55.5), I can hand just about any complication that may occurr. Surgery is not fun or risk free, but neither is living being this much overweight. I have had 4 "abdominal" surgeries in the past. Two C-sections, large pelvic cyst removal (while preganant), and laproscopic incisonal umbilical hernia repair. The surgery I had to remove the large growing cyst while 4 months pregnant because of a cancer concern was monumentally more scary due to possible losses and risks than this.

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 initially thought I was joking, when I mentioned to him I was looking into it. After introducing him to this site he became more supportive. My mother is very supportive, has given me name of a friend who had surgery. I have told 3 girl friends. All three are very suspicious/nervous, but support my decision. No one else knows, yet.

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

I don't work outside the home.

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

My hospital stay was miserable. Nothing against the hospital, just I was very uncomfortable. Previously I had 4 lower abdonimal surgeries, and assumed it would be the same. This surgery was much more painful, and limited movement more than I had expected. I as up walking to the bathroom by that evening of surgery and in the halls the next day. Although I was in the hospital 4 days, I wish I had been in 6. I really felt as though I needeed 2 more days in the hospital. In relation to what I would bring... not much. Bring your toothbrush/paste, robe, slippers, powder, hair brush, hairclip, favorite soap, chapstick, body lotion, some money for TV if needed. You will feel to sick to wear your own pjs, read, talk or visit.

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

No complications. Everything as expected.

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

First week: Felt sick all the time. Coped simply by knowing this will pass... or at least hoping it would. As weeks progressed, it was difficult to figure out how much to eat. All food and liquid seemed to hit my pouch like a brick, but I did not get sick, just uncomfortable. Anxious that this sensation would not go away. But each day I felt better and better. I was able to tolerate more and more food, and not feel uncomfortable. I still have trouble figuring how much food to eat without over filling my pouch.

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

First week: Pain. Feeling very tired, weak, and shakey. Feeling like saying "what the heck did I do?" Wondering if this whole mess will be worth it. After the first week, pain was gone, just uncomfortable. Each day I felt better, but I tired eaily and needed more sleep than usual. By the third week I was feeling like I had more energy. I was able to do what I needed to during the day, just needed to go to bed early. The more food I was able to eat, the better I felt. By the forth week, I was "back to myself"

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

I was lucky. My hospital was just 3 miles from my home. My mother was able to fly here to care for my 4 and 10 year old while I was in the hospital and in the following two weeks.

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.

Clear liquids for first 13 days. Feel naseous at times, "intestinal discomfort" all the times. Had diarhea for the first week. Hard to make myself eat. By week two up to soft diet. For week 2-4 food and liquids hit my stomach hard. Had to eat very slowly. By week 4 I was feeling "normal" Found myself eating between meals more as I up and around more. Still, the amount I am eating is so much smaller than I use to eat. By week 5 I could eat just about anything I wanted to, as long as I chewed alot and ate slowly and watched the amount.

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

The day of surgery, I was in terrible pain. I walked to the bathroom once. The following two days in the hospital I walked to the bathroom and in the hallways. On the 4th day I was home, had trouble sleeping in a flat bed. I stopped using pain meds on day 6, but still uncofortable. I had diarhea the whole time. Caused me to feel tired, weak and shakey. Weekness and tiredness continued for week 2 and 3. By week 4 I was able to do everything I needed to, just had to watch my stamina and ended up going to be early. By week 5 I was back to normal energy level and sleep schedule.

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

Doctor prescribed a vitamin pill similar to Theragram. I take a Flintstones Complete each day instead. He aslo prescribed a B12/Iron compound capsule. I also take 5 Tums a day for extra calcium. I was having trouble with the B12/Intrinsic Factor/Iron pill. I stopped taking it. The surgeon said that b12 deficiencies were not as common as iron deficiencies. My blood test however showed that my iron level was in the normal range and my b12 was very low. I started getting monthly b12 shots in my 6th month post op.

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?

No problems. No nausa, no vomiting, no hair loss, no dumping. I had problems lying flat in bed for about 2 weeks and trouble rolling over in bed for another week. By week 4 I had no problems related to sleep. I slept in the recliner during the earlier days. This did help. I discovered that I do have problems with dumping. I can eat small amounts of sweet things, but very small. If I eat more I feel naseous, shakey, and overall sick. It is amazing that my "craving" for sweet things has decreased! Never thought that would happen. The problem is that the dumping does not occur right away, so I can eat the sweets and think I am ok, then 15 minutes later... sick. The overall horrible feeling lasts about 30 minute. Around the 3rd month post-op, my hair decided to abandon body... I was losing hair at a very fast rate. This continued for 3 months. I probably lost about half my hair. No bald spots, just less hair. The hair loss has now slowed down. Hopefully it will begin to reverse itself.

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

The full feeling of overfilling the pouch. That feeling like you have to burp, but can't. The cramping the pouch does when you try to drink anything cooler than body temeprature. Overall, it was just discomfort for the first 4 weeks. Since then the worst part is worrying that I will over eat and not lose weight.

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

There is a local support group from the hospital. I do not go to that. I instead have been a not very active participant, for 10 month pre-op, of a local group started over the internet. The group meets once a month and contacts through e-mail. They have been very helpful in knowing I am not alone.

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

At 5 weeks post op the scar is lumpy, raised, red, about 1/4 inch wide and 6 inches long. It looks worse than I had thought. But I don't care. I was never one for bikinis anyway. :-)

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

The weight loss at the beginning was amazing. 22 pounds in 2 weeks. then 50 pounds in the first 3 months. Since then the weight loss has slowed down, and continues to slow down. At the 5 month post op period I am about 80 pounds down. It is somewhat scary seeing the slow down. I guess I still don't believe I will ever get to a "normal" weight. I do have to start exercising. I should have started at 3 month period, but the awful weather and holidays put that on hold. My weight loss has definately slowed down around the 6 month period. Although it is frustrating, it is not unexpected.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

At 340 pounds, no one ever said anything to me about my weight. Now that I have lost 80 pounds (260 lbs) in 5 months, I was hoping someone would say SOMETHING. No body has said anything about me losing weight! When I told my husband how much I was down, all he said was, "Oh, you were that heavy?" Amazing. At least I know how much I have lost.