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

Being in health care I have heard about WLS for years and was afraid of the complications etc... The new techniques and refinements of surgery impelled me to inquire for more information

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 from Wednesday until Sunday. The hospital, Hackensack University Medical Center, is a physically beautiful institution. I was dismayed with the care, or should I say lack of, that I recieved. Only one nurse every checked to verify my identity before instituting a med or procedure. The most important thing to bring is a pair of comfortable walking shoes/slippers. It is so important to get up and ambulate and if you have a good pair of shoes, it's easier

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

I still have complications from the surgery. I have trouble swallowing and it feels as if the food and sometimes liquid gets "stuck" I have had at least six esophogeal dilations. I never feel better afterwards but, each time it makes it a bit easier to get food/liquid down. Then after a few weeks its back to the way it was before. When it feels stuck, it is incredibly painful and I usually end up vomitting for several hours. My MD has told me that there is nothing more that he can do for me and this is just the way that I will have to live. Does anyone else have this problem? I am getting desperate for some relief.

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 felt absolutely awful. I was unable to drink and this was in July/August. I got terribly dehydrated and had to have IV fluids three times. I had no energy, not eating and drinking will do that/ I didn't suffer from overt anxiety until several months later. I began taking perscription antianxiety agents

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

I looked like I had gotten beaten up. I had massive bruising on my arms and legs from the heparin injections and I developed a huge cold sore on both my upper and lower lip. I was lethargic and very sore.

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

The hospital with which my surgeon was affilitated was about an hour to an hour and a quarter away. This did affect my after care because I just didn't have the energy to take myself for post op visit and had to rely on friends/family for help. It also made it difficult to attend to the post op complications in the facilities that the surgeon recommended

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 couldn't eat anything with texture for several weeks. I used to love cottage cheese, but I couldn't even look at it for about a year or so. Now I can eat that with ease. I have a problem eating any protien in the form of meat, esp eggs and chicken....lots of vomitting. Any food with high sugar or fat content makes me nauseated and lethargic. It's easier just to stay away from them, but sometimes, I sneak a little, and pay the price. I find it unusual that I can tolerate pretzels. For some reason, I can swallow them without much difficulty and I tend to snack on them during the day. I can now eat about 1/2 to 3/4 of a sandwich at lunch, but that is it, no other foods or drink.

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

Very low activity level even now after 17 months. I have to push to do anything and everything.

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

I take a multivit most days....sometimes they make me nauseated

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?

The side effects from the complications were and are the worst. I still deal with them on an almost daily level. It's getting harder and harder to cope with them. Luckily there are good days mixed in with the bad ones

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

Post operative pain. I have had major abdominal surgeries before and have used the PCA pump. I felt much better with the pump then with the IM injections

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

I have had no after support group. I am hoping that I can get some guidance, advice and maybe a little understanding from this site

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

My scar meets up with my other surgical scars, so it goes from my pubis to right under my breastbone. It is mostly gone now, not so red/pink any more

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I hit plateau after about the first 100lbs. It has been slow going since then but a steady 5lbs per month. I am sure it would be more if I exercised, but I just don't have the stamina or energy

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes, I notice that people say unkind things about overweight people in my presence. Most of these folks don't know that I had WLS or that I was morbidly obese