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

I heard about it a long time ago and thought it was rather drastic approach to take. I didn't do a lot of research at that time. It sorta scared me. About 3-4 years ago, one of the ladies at the office did it so I chose to sit and watch how it was for her. I got transferred within a year so I didn't get to watch much. Then my brother had the surgery so I watched him for a year (while doing research) before I decide it was for me.

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

I didn't have a problem. I had a BMI way over 40 with co-morbidities. I did the required testing, supervised diet and pysch evaluation.

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

My first visit was at a seminar. My doctor is not a man of many words, but he took the time to explain the procedure and discuss different procedures. I guess to get the most out of it - do research ahead of time so you know what you want to ask.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I was hugely fat, tired of it, my quality of life was terrible and I was starting to have comorbidities.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

After talking to the surgeon, I decided RYN would be a more permanent solution.

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 have always had fears of dying on the table. I've had two other surgeries - a c-section (in which I was awake so no fears) and a foot surgery where I had similar fears. This is the major reason I waited so long and watched to see how other people did with their surgery. I would tell others that fear is normal, probably actually healthy, but what you are doing is going to make your life so much healthier.

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 brother (who had RYN) was supportive. My close friends were supportive (wasn't sure how they'd be). My mother was worried but she's a worrier by nature.

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

I wasn't required to and didn't tell my immediate boss what type of surgery I was having. I still haven't. I was out of work for 3 weeks.

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

Boring mostly. First day I was pretty out of - hit the morphine pump and slept mostly to block out the screaming kid across the hall. Second day I walked but not as much as I needed to because the people across the hall let their kids run around unattended and I was scared that I would fall down. I finally complained and then I was able to walk more.

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

No

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 tired and slept alot the first few days. I was sore and it was hard to get in and out of bed, but the pain wasn't terrible. I only took the pain meds so I could actually sleep at night. Pain went away pretty quickly. Didn't really have any anxiety.

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

Tired and sore the first week. Second week, tired and a teeny bit sore. My energy level was good enough to drive 3 hours to go the water park by mid-week 3 although I didn't participate. But I did a lot of walking. It took 3-4 weeks to be able to lay on my right (sleeping) side.

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

10 minutes

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.

First three weeks I was on clear liquids. I had broth, yogurt, s/f pudding, protein shakes. Three to six weeks I was on smushies - I had scrambled eggs, cottage cheese, string cheese. I threw up on the scram. eggs the second time and wasn't able to eat tuna. After six weeks, I was released to normal food. I slowly added other foods. Dense meat and tuna still went down slowly until someone suggested adding mayo to the tuna and it was better. I still can't eat much meat for dinner - couple of oz. I can eat a bit more for lunch. I'm four months out and I can pretty much eat anything as long as I eat slowly and don't eat a lot. I rarely dump. When I do, it's carbs. If I eat a lot of carbs or fats, I get very very tired and want to sleep a lot of several days.

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

I walked around the house a lot. After a week, I think I was going on walks outside and within two or three I can walk around our retention pond.

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

1 flintstone 2x day 1500 mg calcium citrate 500 mg B12 sublingual My labs came back great at 2.5 months, except my protein was a tad low.

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?

Not being able to sleep when I was sore was the worst. It only lasted about 4 weeks but was getting better during that time. At 4 months, I've just started losing hair. It hasn't been too bad so far other than what's in my hand.

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

I don't really have a worse part - probably the head hunger. That doesn't go away with your stomache.

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

I go to CyFair Hospital support group. Very important. I also have the boards at OH.

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

Didn't know what to expect, but I just have 5 or 6 tiny scars. They'll fad in time.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Ever since around month 3, I play with 3-5 pounds. I lose it, gain it, lose it, gain it and finally it's gone and I start on the next 3-5 pounds. I feel it has a lot to do with adding more and different foods (carbs) in my diet that the losing isn't going as well. But then I look at my stats - I was at 220 for my 3 month and my 4 month anniversary is tomorrow and I'm at 205-207. So I have actually lost 12-15 pounds this last month even though it seems like I'm playing.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

No. Some notice the weight loss.