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

On TV. I wanted to do it.

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

The first time I tried to get the surgery I was denied. That was 5 years ago. I never forgot it. When I began experiencing terrible reflux my gastrointerologist referred me to a bariatric surgeon because he said no one would operate on me to repair my stomach due to my weight. The surgeon he referred me to did gastric bypass surgery. I told him I would do it if my insurance carrier would pay for it. I was told to change insurance carriers and I did. Any PPO is better I was told. So a year later I was ready.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

The fact that it was laproscopic. Also that I had been so sick, and my life was severely affected by it. I am a lot better now.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

It seemed to be the best for my situation and was the one my surgeon thought would work best for me. There is less blood loss with lap surgery so I wanted a surgeon who could do the surgery that way.

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 didn't have many because I have had 4 surgeries in the past with little complications. I believe in the resurrection firmly and have no fear of death. However, I had a friend who's father died after having his surgery, he starved to death. I had heard some people have diahreah all the time and I didn't like that idea. I was so sick with my acid reflux disease that it was worth the try. It was scarry.

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 family has been really supportive and marvelous in every way. My many, many friends have supported me immensely too.

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

I work for myself.

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

It was ok, but I wish I had had a private room. I had to share a room with a woman that was insane and made very frightening movements constantly. She tore her IV out and blood went all over the walls and curtain and it took 3 hours and 7 nurses to get her calmed down. This sort of thing went on continually, every hour. I finally got moved into another room with a woman who had cancer and her husband brought every conceivable Mexican dish to her. He laughed and sang to her and played music until midnight every night. I was there 6 days. I am so happy I brought chapstick, vaseline, and earplugs. I wish I had brought my eye mask to keep out the light.

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

Yes. Afterwards I began vomiting and couldn't stop. It turned out I had a bowel obstruction and was operated on again. I felt so much better after that surgery that it was all uphill from there on.

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 excited and in denial. I was a little afraid of starving to death as my friends father did. But, I was mostly afraid of the unknown. How my body would react to the surgery, etc.

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

I could get up and down by myself. I am tired all the time. But I force myself to get up and do things around the house and make phone calls. My shoulders hurt so bad I feel like a knife is sticking in them. I've had constant headaches and nothing helps them. I did not cry or feel sad. I am loosing weight like crazy. I hate the liquid diet tho. But it's the only thing I can eat. I hate the liquid vitamins even more. I've had severe acid reflux to the point of going on Prevacid twice daily. I was waking up every hour the first week and went through a pint of antiacid, plus two boxes of Pepcid AC. I have never had it this bad.

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

30 minutes. It didn't affect aftercare since there was very little.

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.

Week 2 I've been on liquids only, with the exception of cottage cheese, mashed potatoes, yogurt and spreadable cheese. The potatoe hurts a bit. Polenta hurt a lot. Any thing real sweet came back up, like hot chocolate, even sugar free. I had a bad reaction to the protein powder, a cold sweat. But, I like soups and fruit juice and am getting tired of them. I have been able to drink water. Week 6-7 I can eat anything within reason. My protein drink makes me very ill, I vomit and have the runs all day after drinking it. I will not do it again. I can't eat rich foods or drinks, even whole milk makes me sick. I still don't like meats, they hurt. 9 months I eat whatever I want, but sweets and rich things like mayonnaise make me dump. I eat a pretty large portion too. Nothing like I used to but I feel pretty normal. I still don't eat beef. It makes me feel like I have a fist inside me trying to get out. I've had irritable bowel syndrome too. Not fun.

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

The first week after surgery I walked around the house, took showers daily, went to a friend's pool once and walked around in it. I watered my plants outside, and did a little gardening. I went out to lunch one week after I was at home. The second week I went out again to the store for groceries. I talked on the phone for hours. I sat up and wrote 35 thank you cards. I engaged in volunteer work for an hour one morning and was in and out of the car many times. 6-7 weeks I still need naps, but can do nearly everything, except lifting. My tummy still hurts if I put pressure on it.

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

Twinlab liquid vitamins and another for minerals. They are so terrible I'm not able to get them in me. Liquid Calcium and chewable childrens vits are ok. 9 months I now take GNC's Calcimate Plus 800, Beta Carotene 15, and zinc 50 once a day. I still take a chewable children's vit from Costco. Trader Joe's has a chewable calcium that tastes like caramel. And they have chewable childrens that's good.

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?

At 6 weeks I am not able to drink my protein shake any more. It makes me very very very ill. I have diareah and vomitting and sweats and I'm achey all over the rest of the day if I eatanything rich like brie, whole milk, mayonnaise, sour cream, etc. Beef doesn't go down easily either. I still feel this way at 9 months. Several months back I bagan loosing my hair and so I tried to eat more protein and take better vitamins. My hair has stopped falling out now and seems to be growing back a bit. My hair is still thin (one year later) and hasn't grown back. A few short ones on top, but not enough. I hate my hair.

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

The complications I had afterward, the bowel obstruction. That was really scarry. The rest was rather normal stuff I expected. The liquid diet was a bit yucky too. But well worth it. The plateaus are bad too. And my doctor wasn't real supportive at first, and I was anxious over his reluctance to operate on me.

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

None yet. My surgeon's assistant couldn't find her reference to one in San Mateo. So here I am, findng my own. I wish I'd had one from the day I got home. I am 6 weeks post op and have to say this site is really wonderful! I have come to the computer in the wee hours of the morn. and read the answers to my own questions (asked by someone else) and been able to sleep easier. Knowing that I am experiencing the same things many other people are is great. My Dr. doesn't do this surgery exclusively so he doesn't offer lots of follow up care. I really need this site for support. Thank you so much!

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

I have lots of little ones. I think it is what I expected. It's a lot better than my other two open surgery scars for other surgeries.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

After 3 weeks I have been on a plateau and I am at 6 weeks now. I have only lost 5 pounds in this time. It is difficult. I am eating around 600-700 cals per day. I don't feel good. Knowing this is normal has helped me to not be overly concerned. I am 7 weeks post op and today I nearly fainted - I was running a low grade temp and felt weak and dizzy. Turns out I was dehydrated and my blood pressure was very low. The Dr. I saw told me to go home and drink lots of water, gatoraide and eat saltines. It's 2am and I feel a lot better after really drinking and eating like the Dr. said to. I am only awake because my husband woke me up at 1am. smile Today is my one year anniversary. I have not lost weight in 6 months. The first 6 months is where you really drop the weight. I wish I could figure out why I'm not loosing any more. But I'm happy.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes. My husband is much more amorous and attentive. People are saying that I look really good. It's only been two weeks! I have been told by many that I have lost a lot of weight in my face. I think my friends are very excited for me. It's a positive thing. After loosing 80 pounds I notice that some of my thin friends are more relaxed around me, and therefore, more themselves. They were always kind to me, but didn't really spend much time with me on a personal level.