Welcome to My Surgery Story...
This is the personal story of my weight loss surgery, from the first time
I walked into the surgeon's office through my post-op time.
Please remember this is my personal experience
and everyone is different....

The First Visit to the Doctor's Office:

I contacted the surgeon who had done 3 previous hernia repairs on me, as well as removed my gall bladder a few years ago. I told him that I was ready to have my hernias repaired yet again, but that I hadn't lost the weight which he had recommended, hopefully insuring the next repair would be my last. However, I was in a lot of pain from the hernias and needed to have something done soon. He immediately recommended Dr. William Sweet, a Bariatric Surgeon, to me to discuss the Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass, a type of weight loss surgery (WLS). I made an appointment with him as soon as I was able.

On August 27th I had my first appointment with Dr. Sweet's Office. I was surprised that in the course of that 1/2 hour (+/-) visit I never met Dr. Sweet. My appointment was with his nurse. She weighed me, figured out my BMI (Body Mass Index - click here to calculate yours), gave me a very detailed portrait of obesity and the success rate studies of losing weight on my own versus WLS, as well as reading material to take home and study. I was asked if I wanted to take a blood test now which takes 30 days for results which would indicate to them if I had enzymes present which would cause ulcers. I declined at that time, needing more time to consider if this was the way I wanted to go.

When I got home I did more research online, talked to 3 people Dr. Sweet's office gave me who had the same surgery and did a lot of praying as to if this was the way I should go or not. Dr. Sweet's Office also recommended that I attend the support group they had which met once a month. I felt I was not ready to make any decisions until I talked to a lot more people who had this surgery. On September 17th I attended the support group. It was the best thing I could have done. There were about 25 people there, all having had the same surgery with the same surgeon and they answered every question I could think of. I left feeling very uplifted and sure that I was making the right decision. I called Dr. Sweet's Office the next day and scheduled my second office visit.

The Second Visit to the Doctor's Office:

On September 29th I finally met Dr. Sweet. I found him to be very personable, as well as very knowledgeable in the field of obesity and, of course Weight Loss Surgery. He was sure to explain each type of surgery available and why his number one choice for surgery is the Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass. He also went into great detail as to the risks and problems associated with this type of surgery. I told him of my history of hernias and he assured me that all would be taken care of and he would probably not repair the hernias but wait until I lost my weight, then do an abdominoplasty and hernia repair sometime next year. At the end of this visit I was more convinced than ever that this was what I wanted to do. I scheduled my pre-op testing for October 29th and the surgery date for November 4th and went immediately for the blood test to determine if I was a candidate for ulcers. If all went well with this test, I would be able to keep my surgical date. I also had to take a written test to determine if I really understood the full benefits and possible side-effects of the surgery. I passed! They submitted the papers needed for my pre-authorization with Capital BC/BS (Pennsylvania). I had no problem whatsoever with pre-approval. I was approved within a few weeks.

Pre-Op Testing and Third Doctor's Office Visit:

On September 29th I started my pre-op testing day with a visit to Dr. Sweet's office again. Dr. Sweet gave me a brief physical, and made more notes on what he intended to do with my surgery. We discussed the option once again of the hernia repair at the same time and he was still pretty much convinced that it would be too much at once and that I would just have the bypass surgery. The nurse weighed me again and took pre-surgery pictures of me for my files. The visit also centered around my signing the proper authorization papers and being sure I once again understood the possible risks I was taking. I felt like I signed away my first born by the time I was done. From Dr. Sweet's office I walked down the hallway to the pre-op testing room. Here they did a myriad of blood tests, I spoke with the anesthesiologist, had a chest x-ray and an EKG to test my heart. I told the anesthesiologist that I have a problem with being sick from the anesthesia and he said there was a new drug available to prevent that from happening, Zofran. I happily requested Zofran be given to me the day of surgery. After pre-op I had an appointment with an OB-GYN to discuss having a tubal ligation at the same time as the gastric by-pass surgery. After an internal exam and being asked at least 10 times if I understood this procedure wasn't reversible and that I would never be able to have children again, I was approved for this procedure as well. A quick phone call to my insurance company added this procedure to the list of things for pre-authorized of payment. Next came a visit with the hospital registered dietitian. I was weighed on their scales and given a folder with information in it regarding what my hospital 'meals' would be like, my 1-3 week post-op and 3-6 week post-op diets would consist of. After a brief discussion of those things I was finally on my way home.

Day of Surgery: (November 4, 1998)

I was told not to eat or drink anything after midnight the night before my surgery. Other than that, there was no special preparation needed. I had to be at the hospital at 6 a.m. for a scheduled 8 a.m. surgery. The first stop on the pre-op preparations was to check in and sit in the waiting room. Soon someone came to get me, I sat in a tiny office with a pleasant girl who checked my information, had me sign yet more papers and put my hospital bracelet on and ask if I had eaten anything past midnight. Back to the waiting room again. The second stop was for me to be brought to a dressing area, put on 2 hospital gowns, one with the opening in the back and the one over it worn as a robe and slippers. My bag was tagged for my room and all my things were locked in a locker to be brought to my room later. They took my blood pressure and temperature and asked again if I had eaten anything past midnight. The third stop on my journey was to help me climb onto a gurney and settle in with lots of blankets (I was freezing cold). I was given a shot to help relax me and a tiny pill, the Zofran I had requested. Then it was time to play the waiting game. Hubby was with me from the time I put on my hospital gown up to this point and sat with me. I only had to wait about 15 minutes before they came to take me to the next stop in my travels. I kissed hubby good-bye and was wheeled down the hallway to another waiting room, all filled with others on gurneys, most of them sleeping. I was wide awake and just looked around at everything and watched the goings-on. I had been this surgical route many times before so I wasn't nervous at all. Finally a surgical nurse came to get me and wheeled me back to the operating room. There were already lots of people there, everyone busy preparing what needed to be done. I was moved over to a flat table and covered once again with blankets. It always amazes me how cold it is in those rooms. I wonder what a surgeon does if his hands get too cold....lol. The anesthesiologist introduced himself to me and told me exactly what he would be doing. I was told to sit up on the table and bend over and put my feet on a chair to support myself. My back was swabbed with antiseptic and I felt a needle going into my back for the epidural line. A tube was run up my back and taped onto my shoulder. The entire thing was taped in place and I was told to lie back down. I was afraid to, but I figured they knew what they were doing so I did. The anesthesiologist started an IV in my left arm and another nurse put a blood pressure cuff on my right arm. They were going to start an arterial line in my right hand, but the anesthesiologist made mention that it would be better to wait until after I was asleep, why make me hurt more than I have to. I love that man!

The next thing I remember is laying in recovery. I wasn't in any pain whatsoever and was just glad to know I was alive and that it was over. The surgeon called hubby to let him know how things went and that post-op didn't allow visitors until 8 p.m. that night. Since we lived 45 minutes from the hospital he went home and came back to see me the next day with my daughter. I remembering laying in recovery wondering if they had actually done it since it seemed to go so quickly. Dr. Sweet had already told me that I had to stay in recovery overnight so I relaxed as best as I could for the long night ahead of me. I remember waking up numerous times with people either taking my blood pressure or loud laughing from the nurses' station. I remember I was extremely annoyed that they woke me with their laughing so many times and even made a sarcastic comment to them about how they obviously didn't expect anyone to actually get any sleep in there.

There is very little I remember from the first day or two in my actual bed. My hubby says that I had a very low level of consciousness. He said I would be awake for about 10 minutes, then drift off to sleep again the first 2 days. I don't remember being transferred to my bed. The things I do remember were: being so very thirsty; I was allowed to suck on Glycerine swabs and they were wonderful! I remember having to inhale deeply into an incentive Spirometer - a tube which measured how much I was able to breathe into my lungs and to help ensure I didn't get pneumonia. I remember walking down the hallway, a little more each time. My first liquid meal of apple juice and Jell-O and my first tray of "pureed" food which consisted of mashed potatoes and some sort of meat and vegetable that they didn't even specify on the food menu. I ate the mashed potatoes but that was it. I took a tiny taste of the other baby food and gagged on it so I didn't attempt to eat anything more. Every 12 hours they came to put more pain medicine in my epidural (I found out much later this was Morphine) and every few hours they put Toradol in my IV line. After hearing my tummy rumble with gas sounds I was finally allowed to sip a tiny cup of water. After I passed that through the catheter they removed it, making it much easier to get around. Somewhere along the way they removed the catheter (I don't remember them doing it). I was totally pain free until they took out the epidural 3 days post-op. Even then I was mostly just aching in my abdomen, but able to get around just fine. On day four I happily went home.

My surgery actually wound up being 3 procedures at once, taking about 4 1/2 hours. Once Dr. Sweet opened me up and saw my hernias he decided they couldn't wait another year so he repaired all 5 of them, I had the tubal ligation and, of course the RNY. My incision runs from between my breasts vertically down to about an inch below my belly button. This length of incision is uncommon for someone having WLS. The only reason I have such an incision is because 2 of my hernias were at the bottom of my abdomen. I didn't have any drains in my incision or cuffs or stockings for circulation on my legs.

Post-Op:

My first night home I experienced some problems. I had sleeplessness, high anxiety, cold and hot spells and an overall bad feeling. I was pacing the floor at 2 a.m., 3 a.m. and 4 a.m. The episodes seemed to get better as the night wore on. My hubby stayed up with me for hours, even though he had to be up early for work. The next morning I called my doctor's office and they told me to go to the emergency room. When I arrived they did an EKG, blood work and blood pressure tests. All seemed normal and no one seemed to know what caused the episodes. My doctor wrote it off as anxiety, but I am very much convinced that it was de-toxing from the Morphine and other drugs I was given. I've had high anxiety before and never had those symptoms before. If I have surgery again I will request that I not be given morphine again.

Addendum - 8/99

Since my surgery 7 months ago I have undergone many changes, the biggest one being the loss of 110 pounds. I have gone down from a 26/28W (plus size) to a misses 12/14. The first time I bought a dress in the misses department I burst into tears of happiness. I have gone down 2 bra cup sizes and from a 50+ to a 38 chest size. I have had compliments on my legs for the first time in my life and men notice me now rather than turn away.

My stomach is no longer up close and personal with the steering wheel of my car and I can walk all day without my feet aching and burning with pain. I have had numerous people tell me that I look like I'm in my mid-20's when I actually am 37 years old. I have a new life and I am thrilled. I feel great!

My eating habits have changed dramatically. Before the surgery I would gorge myself on all types of foods, eating voraciously whatever I could get my hands on. I was addicted to food. My life was spent wondering where my next bite of food would come from and what it would be. I would stop anytime, anywhere to catch a bite of something - anything that would satisfy my cravings.

Now, I very seldom have cravings for any type of food. At times I don't feel like eating at all and I especially have lost all desire and cravings for sweets and fatty foods. My addiction is broken, now my life can center on other, more important things.

I had an appointment with the plastic surgeon and we discussed my having abdominoplasty to remove the "apron" that hangs from my abdomen after so much weight loss. I also had an appointment with the general surgeon who will repair my new hernias (at least 4 have reoccurred since my weight loss surgery). He will most likely use mesh with this repair to have less of a chance of reoccurrence. The Plastic Surgeon and General Surgeon will be working side-by-side. The date for my surgery is scheduled for August 26, 1999 - pending insurance approval. I would also like to have my arms (bat wings) removed, thighs lifted and my breasts reduced, but that will have to wait for another time.

Addendum - 2/00

I'm now 15 months post-op and easily maintaining my weight between 155 and 160, sometimes going over the edge to about 162 as my highest. I am finding that I am eating a lot more than what I did at 9 months post-op. It really scared me, thinking I was going to start re-gaining the weight I worked so hard to lose. Although some of my poor eating habits (high carbs) have returned, I am finding that I still feel liberated from my food addictions of the past. I was worried at first that I was right back to where I was before (in my head), but in actuality, I wasn't. I was just scared! After talking with some people who have also been in my shoes, they explained that my body has reached it's "set-point" and knows what it needs to maintain it. Therefore, it's OKAY for me to eat when I feel hungry! Who woulda thunk it :)

My arms seemed to have snapped back into shape a little more than when I first lost the weight. I'm very happy with them now and definitely will not be having any plastic surgery on them. However, I put on a bathing suit today for the first time since surgery and all I can say is ICK! when I saw my legs. That is one area I really need major work on! I never had pretty legs to begin with, but now they are just downright horrid! I'm still promising to wait a few years and see where I am then.

I started an aerobics and toning class last month, but only lasted about 3 weeks before the pain in my abdomen started bothering me again. I don't think I have hernias again, but I am still experiencing some pain from my abdominoplasty in August. I spoke with my surgeon the other day and he seems to think it might be a pinched nerve and I may have to go to a pain management clinic. I go to see him in a few weeks to see what may be my options.

Come back often for updates on my weight loss and upcoming surgery experience and feel free to write to me and ask any questions you may have. These pages are for you....

Thanks for being a part of my experience, life and story.

Deb

Addendum 6/00

About a month after I saw my surgeon about the abdominal pain from the Abdominoplasty in August, the pain disappeared! I'm so thrilled that I don't have to go through any more doctor visits!

At 19 months post-op my eating habits have still been concerning me, especially the fact that I'm eating way too many carbohydrates again. It's scary. I am now fluctuating between 165 and 170. Looking back over my last addendum, I see that I have already started the slippery slope of re-gaining the weight I lost. I am trying so hard to stay out of the "diet mentality" by restricting what I eat again, but at the same time, I recognize the fact that I really need to watch how much I eat and be careful of the grazing habits I have returned to. I still can't eat half of what I once did, but the feelings and addictions seem to be lurking just below the surface. This definitely is no miracle cure when it comes to dealing with emotional eating habits!

I will continue to add updates from time to time to let you know of my progress and how I am handling the weight gain problems.

Deb

Addendum 11/00 - 2 years Post-op

2 years post-op and things are great. I have settled easily into a 160-164 weight maintenance. At one point, I had gained to about 171 or 172 and was panicking, but after a trip to Paris and all the walking, I settled back down to 164 and stayed there until recently. A few weeks ago I moved about 15 miles south from where I was living and all the hard work I had to put into fixing up my new place, packing, and moving had me lose about another 4 lbs. I am now maintaining 162 and am very happy here, too! It really is an eye-opener to see how much my activity level and my eating habits can really affect my weight gain or loss. I thought I was pretty much stuck at the 164 weight since it didn't seem like anything would make a difference - then whamo! Things are all settled in at a lower weight. It seems to me, though that I must continue to work at maintaining any weight loss I may achieve. I don't want to have to really kill myself to stay here and I want to be happy with my food and not start restricting everything I eat again to get back to 155. I'm okay to stay here and be able to munch from time to time. After all, a size 10-12-14 isn't too shabby! If I ever decide I must be back in that size 8, I'll start working harder again, but ultimately, I know I won't be able to maintain it.

Happy at 161 - 2 years post-op.

Addendum 1/02 - 3 Years Post-Op

Sitting here at a little over 3 years post-op, I have to smile when working on an update for my site. I smile because it's still hard for me to believe that a mere 3 years ago my entire life changed. 

I lost a total of 130 lbs from the day of surgery. My life changed in more ways than I can even begin to list  here. The biggest one is that I have my health back. I am no longer in and out of the hospital needing surgery every year for abdominal hernias and getting closer to dying every time. I have grown into an independent,  self-assured, and self-confident person that loves life and what I can do for it. The surgery was the tool I needed. I was the carpenter that used it to carve a new life out of what I was given to live with.

Where is my weight now and how am I maintaining my weight loss? I wish I  could say I maintained a perfect weight loss, but I didn't. I let myself  slip back into my old carbohydrate addiction days and started munching every  night and slowly watching the scale creep back up to add 20 lbs to my new  slim build. I knew I had to take action and do something before it became completely out of control again. I went back to the basics and was able to lose 6 of the 10 pounds that I set my goal for. The most important lesson learned from my weight gain and subsequent loss was to realize that the  surgery IS still working for me. I had stopped working for it. As soon as I started recommitting myself to what needed to be done, the weight fell off again. Would I do the surgery again if I had a chance to do it over?  Absolutely! Any regrets? Only that I didn't do it sooner.

Still working to lose those last few pounds again. (I want to get back to 165.)

Addendum - 4 years Post-Op (11/4/02)
174 lbs and holding

I met with a friend today for dinner and I shared with her that today is my 4 year anniversary since weight loss surgery.  She asked me if I can even remember being obese.

My response?  I can only remember now by looking back at my pictures....and I still shake my head in wonder that I ever really looked that way.  Sometimes I still get a twinge and wonder if I can REALLY fit in that chair or behind that booth or squeeze between those two people without knocking them over.   Then it passes and I smile and think.....yes, I can.....and then some.

My weight?  I have maintained my weight for the past year with no increases.  I gained 20 lbs from my lowest weight, but it appears as though the worst of the weight gain is under control and hopefully will stay here (or go down!) with some continued effort and work.

Is it still work?  Yes, it sure is.  I don't feel like I have to constantly diet or avoid all the foods I love.....but at the same time, it is those very things that keep me at the +20 mark and not lose them again.  However, I'm not so sure I want to lose them again and go through the diet ritual all over again.  I know I would feel better at 5 or 10 lbs less and I try not to shrug it off, but in the grand scheme of things, having to lose 5 to 10 lbs is just a drop in the bucket compared to where I've been.

Did my life change?  In ways I can't even begin to measure or count.  I still have some physical disabilities that will always be there - perhaps from my former obesity or not - but they are still there and I have learned to live with them.  What I do know is that if I remained obese, they would be so much worse and I would probably be in a wheelchair by now.

Would I do it again?  A complete and resounding YES.  Again and again and again if I had to.  I'd save my pennies, and beg on the street if I had to - but I would do it again.

Home
A Little About Me and a Great Milestone Story
My Plastic Surgery Story
Before and After Pictures
My Weight Loss History Chart
My Eating Habits
My Favorite Links
Poetry and Writings
One Year Anniversary Musings
Suggested Post-Op Medications
Recommended Items For the Hospital
Reading Eagle/Times Newspaper Article - 11/14/99

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