tracy C.

Obesity & Me

Describe your behavioral and emotional battle with weight control before learning about bariatric surgery.

Well where do I begin.... I have battled being over weight my entire life for as long as I can remember. Sometimes I feel like I can't go or do things because of my size so that for one thing is why I feel this surgery will help me. It is very depressing when yor child wants to go to the beach and you have to make up some lame excuse not to go because you are afraid to sit there and be made a mockery of.

What was (is) the worst thing about being overweight?

The worst thing about being over weight is not feeling like you fit in with the norm. Society is horrible for the large population.

If you have had weight loss surgery already, what things do you most enjoy doing now that you weren't able to do before?

shopping in the regular size stores lol

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

I first found out about the surgery in 10-01 from a customer of mine who's daughter had it done a year ago (and b/t/w looks wonderful). So from then on I was intreged by it. SO I started my mission to get as much info on it as possible. And I did then I took the leap and made a consultation appointment with the Dr.

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

AS FOR GETTING MY INSURANCE APPROVAL,ALL I DID WAS ASK MY GYNO ABOUT IT AND HE SAID GO FOR IT AND GAVE ME A REFERAL TO DR. CARUANA. WHEN I SPOKE WITH DEANN SHE SAID TO ASK HIM TO DO AN OUT OF PLAN REFERAL BECAUSE DR. C DOESNT ACCEPT INDEPENDENT HEALTH. SO CALLED MY GYN AND ASKED THEM TO DO THAT AND WITH IN 1 WEEK I HAD IT . APPROVAL LETTER AND ALL.

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

THE INITIAL VISIT WITH DR CARUANA WAS VERY EASY HE WAS A NICE MAN TO TALK TO HE EXPLAINED THE WHOLE PROCEEDURE TO ME AND ANSWERED ANY AND ALL QUESTIONS I HAD.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

AT THIS POINT IN TIME DR CARUANA REALLY ONLY DOES THE OPEN SOMETIME THIS SUMMER HE WILL START THE LAPROSCOPIC

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 THINK I HAVE ALL THE FEARS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS SURGERY AS POSSSIBLE FROM THE THOUGHT OF LEAKS TO DEATH. I THINK BECAUSE I HAVE A SON WHO I AM HIS ONLY PARENT MADE ME HAVE A HARD TIME WITH THE DYING ISSUE. BUT I FEEL IF THE BIG MAN UP THERE NEEDS ME THEN THERE MUST BE A REASON FOR IT. AND MY SON WHO IS VERY STRONG WILL SURVIVE. I HAVE A WONDERFULL FAMILY WHO WILL LOVE AND RAISE HIM TO BE THE MAN I WOULD.

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?

AT FIRST A FEW OF MY FRIENDS WERE NOT TOO KEEN ON IT BUT THEN I EXPLAINED IT TO THEM AND EVEN MADE THEM SIT AND WATCH A PROGRAM ON IT . THEN TO MY SURPRISE ONE MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO SEE THE DR AND NOW HAS A DATE!!(YOU GO GIRL L.A.)I REALLY THOUGHT MY FATHER WOULD BE TOTALLY AGAINST IT BECAUSE MY MOM HAD SURGERY FOR A BROKEN LEG AND THE BONE BEHIND HER KNEE AND DIED AS A RESULT FROM THE DOCTORS NEGELT HE DID NOT GIVE HER ANY TYPE OF BLOOD THINNER BEFORE OR AFTER SURGERY WHICH RESULTED IN A PULMANARY EMBOLISM. NEEDLESS TO SAY THAT DOCTER PAID FOR HIS NEGLEGENCE! MY FATHER EVEN SAID TO ONE OF MY FRIENDS IF IT WORKS FOR YOU 2 MAYBE I WILL TALK TO THE DOCTOR AND HAVE IT DONE! EVERYONE IN MY FAMILY HAS BEEN SUPPORTIVE EXCEPT FOR MY AUNT SHE THINKS IM CRAZY BUT MY WORDS TO HER WERE (SHE IS ALL OF 100 LBS SOAKEN WET) WELL LET ME GIVE YOU AN EXTRA 100 LBS TO CARRY AROUND FOR A WEEK AND SEE HOW YOU FEEL! AFTER THAT SHE SAID NOTHING

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

MY BOSS WAS SO INTREGED BY IT SHE HAS MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO START HER JOURNEY. SHE JUST GOT HER DATE FOR THE SURGERY IT IS 8-15-02. MAN THOSE PEOPLE AT THE HOSPITAL ARE REALLY GONNA KNOW ME I GO FOR MY SURGERY ON 71-02 AND A FRIEND OF MINE GOES ON 8-5-02 THEN ANOTHER FRIEND GOES ON 8-14-02 THINK THE NURSES WILL GET SICK OF SEEING ME? LOL

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

My hospital stay was pretty good. I was in from 7-1 to 7-5 I had nice floor mates who we walked and talked with everyday which made it nice and we also exchanged numbers and e-mail to keep in contact afterwards. The Drs. Assistant told us to bring a fan but I myself really didnt need it my visitors did LOL I did ask for more pillows because my back was sore so I had one for back, head and one for tummy when I coughed .

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

none

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

Well when I got my date I was elated and excited. I was in overdrive and man did the girls I work with go crazy they told me to calm down and asked what has gotten into me LOL After it sunk in that I was totally approved and on my way I began to have panic attacks and man let me tell you they werent nice. It seems all I was/am able to think about is the WLS. It has consumed me but I think it is a good thing.It forces me to do more research on it. To help me through these attacks I just try to imagine myself on the otherside and that usually tends to help. But all the waiting makes it tough.

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

Well I am only home a few days now and I have been pretty active which I think I shouldnt be but I get bored sitting around and you can ony surf the web so much!!

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

my total distance was about 45 mins

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.

too new to this part but i will say that on 7-6-02 I had a little bit of peanut butter off of a knife nd it went down great. savored it also tried a tiny bit of yellow cheese and that went ok too

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

well it is almost one week after my surgery and i have been going since i got home i walk my stairs everyday 3-4 timesand walk otside a bit too by the evening i am tired but this helps me sleep better seeing i cant sleep in my bed yet and i am normally a side or tummy sleeper

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

today i am going to start my flintstones 2 a 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?

right now it is sleep loss i sleep from like 11 pm to 3 am thenn im up til 7-8 am then try to sleep a little more

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

at first i thought it was the waiting part for appointments and approval but now i have to say waiting for my incisison to heal these staples really bug me lol

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

My scar isn't all that big thanl goodness it's about 4 inches long.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Right now as of 2-24-03 I have had only 1 plateau which is occuring now. It has lasted about a month. It really doesn't bother me though because it's nice to be able to enjoy the clothes I have bought for a while instead of having to get new ones again so quick.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

yes and no some of my frfiends and family ask things like can you eat that kind of stuff is it ok to have a piece of cake when you come to the party stuff like that.
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