Women Who Have Had Bariatric Surgery: A Phenomenological Investigation

Abstract

This study examined women’s experiences before, during and after having bariatric surgery. By conducting an in-depth qualitative examination of the lived experiences of women who have had bariatric surgery, this dissertation sought to provide a framework for psychotherapists to assist patients with pre-surgical assessment, as well as with the provision of psychotherapy to bariatric patients as they prepare and recover from their surgeries. Open-ended interviews were conducted with five women who had bariatric surgery more than 3 years prior to the study. A qualitative data analysis within the three temporal domains (before, during and after having bariatric surgery) was utilized to find commonalities in the women’s experiences.

For the experiences of the participants before deciding to have bariatric surgery, the first topic that emerged pertained to the social life and experiences of the participants before deciding to have bariatric surgery. The second topic pertained to the reasons for undergoing bariatric surgery. The third topic pertained to the nature of social support expressed and received prior to bariatric surgery.

For the experiences of the participants with the bariatric surgery process itself, the first topic pertained to the preparation that the participants engaged in prior to having bariatric surgery. The second topic that emerged pertained to the perceptions and experiences of the participants during the actual surgery and inpatient recovery.

For the experiences of the participants in recovery from bariatric surgery, the first topic that was formulated pertained to the feelings of the participants about recovery after undergoing bariatric surgery. The second topic that emerged pertained to the problems that the participants encountered after undergoing bariatric surgery. The third topic that emerged pertained to the life changes that the participants experienced after undergoing bariatric surgery.