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

As a nurse I came into contact with many patients who had the surgery previous to me.

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

Blue cross / Blue shield approval within one week of papers been submitted by doctor.

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

Dr. Pamela Gastwirt was great. She made me feel very comfortable and she was very informative.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

The thought of losing this weight and running around with my daughters again.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

It was an easy decision. I wanted the open RNY, because I wanted the doctor to see exactly what she was looking at.

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?

I have received only good support, especially from my nurse manager. She gave me three months off works, no questions asked. Eating this healthy is helping my family to make better choices about what they eat also. They have been very supportive.

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

I was at the Faulkner hospital for 3 days and was glad to leave. It was hard to get pain meds at night through the system they use.

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

None

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 felt great almost every day. On about day six and had alot of nausea and was unable to eat all day, but was fine after that day.

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

Getting in the proteins was hard at first, but the Obesityhelp.com helped me get organized.

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

To Boston from Whitman, about 45 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.

I haven't had any real problems. Started soft or pureed fodds 2 weeks post op no issues. Can only eat very small meals per sitting.

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

To tired to exercise until week 3. Can now walk 20 mins every other day and feel fine.

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

Calcium, Pepcid Ac and Flintstones chewables. Trouble holding down actigall. Only take once a week. Also sublingual B12 once a week.

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

No real issues. Just had to get used to the new anatomy.

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

Obesityhelp. com is great, plus contact by phone with a person who had surgery the day after mine. We also only live one town apart.

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

My scar is alot smaller than I thought it would be. Only about 6 inches long and healed very quickly.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Down 21lbs now. First two weeks lost 16lbs. Nice and steady does it. Will slowly increase activities.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Not yet.