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

I like so many people first became aware of the surgery after watching Carnie Wilson go through it. My first impressions were both a mixture of awe at the ability to drop so much weight and fear of such a drastic procedure.

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

My approval for surgery was quick and painless for when I applied for the RnY and again the same after I had cancelled on the RnY and changed to the Duodenal Switch. I had expected it to be harder the second time around since I had cancelled the other approval a year earlier but I was approved even faster the 2nd time around so it made no differene to them which surgery I chose or if I changed my mind and chose another one as long as I qualified.

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

My first visit was great, I felt completely at ease. He was upfront about everything and I was made aware of everything that would happen. I had read everything I could about the duodenal switch so everything I was told I already knew. I think it is important for everyone to go in armed with all the knowledge they can that way it allows for more time to discuss issues that you are not that clear on.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I made a pro and con list and added to it everytime I thought of something and in the end I let that decide for me. I had kept going back and forth on why I should try again with diet and excercise but in the end the list is what helped me put my decision in concrete.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

That was hard because I started off going for the RnY because other than the lap band I thought those were the only two options. Over time I came across the post of a Duodenal Switch patient and I then read everything I could on the procedure and from then on I was hooked on getting the DS and only the DS. If I could not for some reason have had the DS I may have also chosen the vertical gastric sleeve but the RnY and lap band was not a long term solution for me.

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 had a lot of fear just before the surgery but I knew that I was getting any healthier without it so I was resolved. I think it is natural to worry about any surgery, we all wonder if we will wake up at the end but I knew it was my shot at taking my life back and it was so worth the it even with the possobility of severe complications or death.

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 immediate family I knew would be supportive even if the idea of such a big surgery scared them but it was the my other family memebers that shocked me. I was certain that my grandparents would be horrified and so dead set agianst it but to my shock and amazement they were so happy for me offering emotional and fiancial support in my quest for surgery. I have not told every family member or friend but that is because I didn't want everyone watching everything I put in my mouth or asking me constantly how much weight I lost or whatever. In the end everyone will know I am not ashamed of my decision, I have no intention of pulling a Star Jones. I would hate to think that if I was going around telling people I lost it through diet and excercise only, they might go around telling obese people they know that it can be done naturally and just look so and so lost over 200 lbs and keeps it off so you can too you so you don't need surgery. We all know how bad we have felt in the past when we didn't seem to be able to attain those fantastic results others did and ended up feeling like a loser and so ashamed of ourselves for failing.

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

I was on disablilty leave at the time so this was not an issue for me. I will say though that in my case I could not have imagined going back to work until about 8 weeks after my surgery.

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

My stay at the hospital was good as far as hospitals go. I had no problems getting help and was in a private room so noise was not a big issue. I was in the hospital for 4 days. The only thing I would have brought if I had known was a fan because the hospital was so hot but luckily I had a nurse who scoured the hospital to find me a fan the next morning. As for bringing anything else the hospital provided everything a toothbrush, lotion, lip balm, gripper slipper socks for walking and soap and toothpaste. The book and music I brought went untouched, I only had enough energy to turn the tv on from time to time and it was mostly for the sound after my mom would leave. I didn't need pj's either because it is so much easier to just where the hospital gown and put a second one on backwards when walking there are just to many tubes and you just hurt to much to want to make to much of an effort.

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

I didn't have any surgical complications even with the suprise hernia waiting for my dr when he opened me up and to an allergic reaction at the start of surgery to the antibiotic they were pumping into me.

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

Elated, nervous, happy scared, excited about the future and sick to my stomach. I did a lot of talking to my mom who helped me through the nerves and I also spent every other waking moment on the OH site gleaning information, devouring profiles and going through pages and pages of posts. I always felt so much better when I connected to the OH site and the people because I had so many others going through everything I was. I also of course used my tried and true if not destructive method of coping with anxiety and that of course was eating.

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

The first 8 weeks were hell, I had buyers remorse and was going through a psot operative depression. I also developed severe acid reflux, started vomitting violently the night I was released from the hospital and developed an aversion to eating so that it was actually painful to eat. I kept telling myself that things were not that bad that others have real and serious complications but I just couldn't seem to shake the depression and extreme fatigue and pain just made it that much worse. I did not have a typical recovery just as most people do not have serious complications most people do not get food aversions and vomitting so my recovery is not necessarily someone else would deal with.

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

I traveled from Ottawa, Canada to Detroit to have my surgery. I took the greyhound there with my Mom and it took us 12 hours to get there. We stayed in Detroit till my 10 day post op and had my father pick us up and drive us back home so I could have frequent rest stops and a roomier ride. Aftercare has been no problem, my family Dr. had agreed prior to surgery to be the primary caregiver after surgery abrring any serious complications. should the need arise I would not hesitate to make the journey back to Dr. Lutrzykowski.

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.

The first 8 weeks diet wise, emotionally and energywise were miserable I developed an aversion to food and tried to get most of my requirements in liquid form since even swallowing pills kicked the aversion into overdrive. By about 8 weeks I had started to get in meat and veggies and found out I was lactose intolerant which was causing some of my problems, my acid reflux also started to disappate so the sour achy feeling in my stomach disappeared and with it the aversion to food waned also. By the 3rd month I had a wide variety in my diet and was tolerating everything I tried. Now starting my 5th month I have indulged in everything I had pre-op and have had no problems the only difference being I have tiny amounts, eat mostly protein, I am satisified and for the first time in my life do not deal with constant hunger.

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

My energy level was nil following surgery I thought I couldn't get any lower in energy than I was at 378lbs pre-op but I was so wrong. Just going up the stairs to the bathroom left me exhausted and after bathing (I hadn't had baths in over 15 years but I had no energy to stand in the shower) I had to lay down. It got better week by week but I didn't see a significant improval until about 12 weeks out when I realized I didn't need a daily nap anymore.

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

I must take vitamin a & d, calcium citrate and a good multi vitamin everyday. I must also get in a minimum of 90g of protein daily. Protein requirements are not that high right after surgery but by 3 months everyone must get in at least 90g but by then it is not an issue or a problem to do so. Withthe exception of the huge calcium pills I do not find it difficult to take my vitamins and now that I am switching to a chewable cacium wafer I will not dread swallowing my calium anymore.

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?

I think the worst side effect in the first 3 months was the acid reflux, it was so bad and so hard to get under control it caused so many of my early difficulties such as food aversions and vomitting. After month three and the easing of the reflux the worst side effect has been the loss of so much of my hair, it just drops out in handfuls. I am scared to take a shower fearing evertime this is the time I will lose so much my scalp will start to show. No amount of vitamins, expensive shampoos or protein intake have helped but I have come to the conclusion that out of all the side effects I could have or the complications I would rather lose my hair even if I end up wearing a wig until it grows back because at least I know it will eventually grow back, so I may not be happy about it and even have cried about it but I console myself with the fact that it grows back.

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

I think the worst part was the loss of my emotional crutch, food had been such a big part of my life and I just didn't realize I would go through such a big withdrawal and depression from it. I had such buyers remorse and hated what I had done to myself I prayed every day to be able to go back and change my mind. That dark time for me was the worse part of the surgery but now at 4.5 months out I am so happy I did this.

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

I have the best support right from my own family my mom always has an ear to lend me or ashoulder to cry in. From a medical standpoint I have an excellent family doctor who sees me every month to monitor me and ensure my medical health and Dr. Lutrzykowski is only a phone call away should I need him. I am also in therapy to deel with the emotonal issues that come up with the weight loss. OH also remains a big part of my support system.

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

My scar has healed well, most of it was actually cut in to a large old stretch mark from my pregnancy so now at 4.5 months it is fading in to the stretch mark. The top of my scar had a bit of keloiding due to the tension being much stronger up there but it is also fading nicely and even starting to flatten out nicely. Although it is not attractive by any stretch of the imagination it is no where near as bad as I thought it would be.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I have not had any plateaus yet, my definition of a plateau is more than 4 weeks without weight loss. My weight loss pattern tends to be 2 weeks with little to nothing lost (ie..2-4lbs lost during that time) and then 2 weeks of large amounts dropped (ie...12-14lbs during that 2 weeks).

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

No. At this point I have just not lost enough to really impact others, I am still morbidly obese so I getting treated like that still. The difference though is that after now losing 105lbs I am different, I carry myself differently, I am more confident when I go out and I feel better overall.