I have a lot of strong feelings about this surgery and my experience with it.  I hope that my thoughts and opinions both inspire and inform those who read this.

Like many of the patients who seek this procedure, I have struggled with my weight and dieting for many years.  My parents put me on my first diet when I was 11 or 12 years old.  From that time on, I was always dieting and gaining back my weight loss and adding more.  Likewise, the older I got, the heavier I became.

As my weight increased, so did my health problems.  Both of my parents were dead by the time I was only 45 years old!  They both had diabetes and cardiovascular disease.  Both had their first heart attacks at age 56.  By the time I was 50, I was on medication for diabetes, hypertension, gastric reflux, high cholesterol, depression, low thyroid, pain medication for arthritis and joint and back pain.  My pharmacy expenses were running $200-300 per month with insurance!

I had always wished I could end this battle through the surgery, but until July 2004, insurance coverage was not available.  My husband’s insurance announced that it would begin providing benefits on the basis of medical necessity.  It was then I began my efforts to qualify for the procedure.  My nurse told me that this would be the hardest thing I ever tried to accomplish, and indeed it was an ordeal.  Insurance companies, even the best ones, take time to assess each request.  I began the qualification process in August 2004 and had surgery on March 2, 2005.  So be prepared to hurry up and wait.

The surgery itself was not so bad.  During the procedure gas is injected into the body cavity to allow better access and room for the surgeon.  Residual gas remains in the body after surgery and settles into pockets.  When this occurs, so does pain.  In my case it was in my left shoulder, neck and head; and it was horrible.  By the time this occurred, I was already off the morphine pump and had a pretty bad time of it.  My hospitalization lasted 6 days; longer than usual.  This was not due to complications; my surgery was postponed 1 day due to an unusually long procedure ahead of me.

I had done my research on this surgery and thought I was prepared for everything. I know that everyone reacts to surgery in his or her own way.  My postoperative period was absolute agony for the ensuring 3 months.  I had severe nausea and vomiting constantly during that time.  I had 2 ER visits to stop the vomiting and get hydrated.  I was close to the end of my rope.  My nurse kept telling me her own recovery was like that and that soon I would reach a turning point where things would calm down and I would begin to feel better.   She was right.

Finally, I want to say I think that this surgery is still too glamorized.  Many people including some patients think of this as merely a cosmetic procedure.  Even the medical programming I watched to prepare myself put so much emphasis on the way the patient looks afterward.  I am not going to suggest that self image is not important.  All of us are impacted by our self image, and we all benefit from a positive one.  This is a LIFE SAVING PROCEDURE; serious major surgery is not to be taken lightly.  Getting a new physical appearance and newfound confidence are fringe benefits.  Yes, I am jazzed about my emerging new look, but more important, I no longer have diabetes or gastric reflux.  I am not completely through with my weight loss and still require blood pressure, thyroid and cholesterol meds.  I will likely forever require anti-depressants.  But my pharmacy bill has gone way down.  My aches and pains have diminished as well.

For anyone considering this surgery.  I strongly recommend that you take this very seriously.  It will likely be one the most important decisions in your life.  Be prepared to call up all the courage you have.  You will need it.  The bottom line is that it will be work it and it can save lives.  I wish you good luck and don’t be discouraged.