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

I heard about it in the media of course but it really hit home when some relatives (somewhat distant) were having it. I thought quite honestly that they were crazy. At that time, I made up my mind to lose weight and for a year and a half I practically killed myself to lose 73 lbs. When I gained it back and got to my highest weight ever (288 lbs), I started to rethink the surgery. I finally decided that I'd screwed up my body enough and had stretched out my stomach so much that eventually it would catch up to me and I'd have to starve myself to lose weight.

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

My doctor would not sign the form when I went to her in November. She said she would refer me to an endocrinologist who would assess my situation and deem if surgery was "medically necessary for me". I had to wait until February to see him though so I did have a weight. Once I met him, he signed the form and I had my approval 13 days later. The number one problem with getting approval seems to be that doctors are not filling in enough. What I did was - I used the online form and filled most of it in by typing. I only left the doctor's part (tissue damage etc) blank for the doctor. That way he couldn't forget the important stuff like my BMI or weight - which a lot of doctors seem to do.

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

My first visit to my surgeon was a seminar/group consult. While I hated that it was in group form, my doctor does that so that he can do a consult for free so that was good. I had 10-15 minutes alone with my surgeon and asked him the appropriate questions. To be honest, I'd done A LOT of research beforehand and really did not have many questions other than: when can i swim? do you use an ng tube? and what's my next step in the process...Make sure to brain storm your questions. READ READ and READ. Take someone with you as well.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

The seminar really did it for me as well as seeing my 2nd cousin who'd gone from being bigger than me to about 140 lbs. I decided that I'd just have had enough of the yo-yo. It took me 36 years of dieting and I could not shake the obesity thing. When my mother had a heart attack at age 59, that's when my thoughts turned to this surgery.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I wanted something that had been studied long term. I won't get laser eye surgery because it is so new. I don't want anything new or considered experimental. I wanted something with a long and proven track record. My cousins had the surgery and I talked to them about their experiences. I read numerous books. One surgery did not appeal to me because it was newer,not approved and still considered experimental. Another one scared me because of the extreme nutritional deficiencies that I'd read about and had read about on people's webpages. I decided I wanted to go with the standard - there is a reason why it is the most performed surgery. Sugar dumping also appealed to me since I have a weakness for all things sugary - cakes, ice cream, candy.

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?

Everyone thinks of this but as I got close to surgery, I forbid myself to look at the memorials any longer and I was going in with a positive attitude - no writing letters to anyone or saying last goodbyes. Dying was just NOT an option for me. I was very healthy beforehand so I figured that if for anyone, this surgery should be a piece of cake for me. It was my first ever surgery and my first time ever being in a hospital as well. I would say - don't let it be a option. Get the thought right out of your mind and focus on what you are going to do AFTER surgery. The day before surgery if you can go to the show or something and keep your mind off of everything - that would be good. I made myself physically the sick the day before surgery because I was such a nervous wreck.

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 husband was supportive but the week before surgery, he really started to freak out asking me if there was any way I could cancel the surgery because he was afraid I would die. My staff (I'm a teacher) was incredibly supportive. I chose not to hide anything from them - I AM NOT EMBARRASSED TO HAVE THIS SURGERY. They know how fat I was. My Mom was less than thrilled about me having this surgery (again, she worried - she was not against it persay, but was afraid I'd die) but she has been extremely supportive. Now that I'm post op and losing, everyone is extremely supportive.

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

My Principal was very excited for me. She'd known another teacher at another school who had it done and was doing great. She was fantastic and even gave me a hug on the last day of school (I had my surgery the following Wednesday) wishing me good luck. I had my surgery on Summer Vacation so I did not need to ask for time off.

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

I went in the hospital on a Wednesday morning, and then was released by noon on Friday. My stay in the hospital was wonderful. The staff were amazing, accommodating and sympathetic. I went overboard packing. I never once put on my robe or pajamas or slippers. I walked in my flip flop type shoes and wore the hospital gowns while I was there. All I could do in the hospital was sleep - I couldn't keep my eyes open for anything.

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

During the surgery, my surgeon cut an artery. Apparently, I had a genetic defect and had an artery where an artery was not supposed to be. He said it caused about 10 minutes of "excitement" for him where he got to do his thing and tie it off. I lost about a cup of blood. Thankfully my surgeon is very experienced so he had no problem with it at all.

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 thrilled to get my date. I just had a long weight because I had approval in February but could not actually get a date until May because they do not book that far ahead. Once I actually got a date it was great. My date did get moved back two days but that was hardly a long wait!

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

I actually felt very good. I felt a bit "zoned" out for a week, but was fairly mobile. I sort of felt like I had a hangover for a few days - like I was outside of my own body - The zoned feeling. I walked right away - it is really easy to say "I just had surgery, I need to relax" but I knew that I needed to push myself to walk. The shakes were pretty good. I mostly sat around on the couch and watched television and then walked every hour or so. I felt really good after a week.

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

I had to travel about a half an hour away (plus depending on the border crossing it was more like 1 hour). I chose one of the furthest places to go in Detroit but it was well worth it. We made quite a few trips over to Ypsilanti but also managed to do a little shopping over there while we were at it =)

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.

I have not had a lot of problems at all. I seem to be a total exception to all the post-op rules. My tastes have not changed at all. I've had no foods off limits (except for the ones that I will NOT let myself eat). I have had no bad reactions to any food other than just not feeling great after eating something and one time dumping on broth that had not had the fat removed from it. I've never thrown up. I've never sugar dumped.

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

After a week, my energy level was pretty darn good and after another week, It was higher than normal. (JULY). In September however, my energy level went down the toilet. I was fine during the day at work but found myself crashing in the evenings. Bloodwork revealed that I'd developed iron deficiency anemia which explained that. I've been on liquid iron since to get my iron levels up and am starting to feel my energy levels rise again.

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

I take a multivitamin two times a day, B-12 sublingual strips, Caltrate type supplement for Calcium and now liquid iron.

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?

No problems thus far other than the energy loss in September. My hair is somewhat falling out but not bad at all. I have thick, course hair so it gets easily tangled and comes out when I brush out a knot. It's not a big deal since I have so much hair anyway.

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

I haven't had any worst part yet. The head hunger at the beginning was rough to get through for the first three weeks of liquids...but if you can get through that, it's not a problem. Three weeks is a small sacrifice.

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

I have the whole Barix team behind me - I can call a phone number and speak to a doctor or nutritionist any time that I want to. I have the Barix support group meeting that meets in Windsor once a month and I have all the lovely friends on the Ontario forum at obesityhelp.com as well.

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

I have five small incisions because I had my surgery laproscopically. They look tiny and fabulous! Such a small price to pay!

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I had a plateau three weeks probably due to hibernation syndrome. The scale did not budge for a week. That's when I looked at my measurements for reassurance that I WAS indeed losing. I am overall a slow loser but I'm okay because I am indeed losing!

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Not yet, other than compliments I've received from people at work like staff and parents of my children. No major changes other than that so far.