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

My husband's aunt had Roux-en-y done 1 year ago and has lost 105lb. She is very impressive. My mom had it done 3 months ago and has lost 55 lb, it is very addictive. At first I thougt it was very aggressive, but when you have tried everything its your lasdt hope.

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

As far as my insurance is concerned I was approved with the first letter Dr. Waits sent. My mother had a hard time with her insurance company. It took several months and an appeal to finally get approved but for only 50%,

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

Dr. Waits told me the ends and outs of this surgery. He answered all my questions and I was very impressed with him. I made sure that all the questions I had I written down before hand, and he answered them all. Check out as many web sits as you can and get input from as many people as you can.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I think it had to be my mom. She had the surgery DEC 3, 1999 and she had lost around 60 lb by the time I decided to do it. She looks great and has alot more energy than she has had in years, well that done it for me.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Dr. Waits only believes in the total opening, he said at the time I had my surgery that Lap had not had enough data on it for him to do it.

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?

I was determined to be very postive about this and do alot of praying. The only thing that really bothered me was the epideriol. I have had alot of back problems and did not want needle in my back. I have been put under many times and have always came out of it ok. Dr. waits makes you feel very comfortable before the surgery starts.

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 family is very supportive, my husband is very excited for me. I have a few friends that were not very supportive because they were afraid for me. They are afraid that I will change and not want to be friends with them because most of them are over weight, they must not know me very well. They all see now how much happier I am with only losing 28lb, I have more energy and feel alot better.

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

Donot work

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

I went in on Monday and came out on Thursday. My hospital stay was ok. The day of my surgery was a cluster. The nurses did not want to get me up to walk, but I insisted and so did my mother. They finally did after 7:00pm. The rest of my stay was good. House shoes, toiletries.

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

I was allergic to the morphine that they put in the epidural and it made me itch very bad, but other than that no problems.

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 did not think that my day would ever come. I just went on with every day life.

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

Not being able to lay on my back bothered me. Having a problem turning over in bed. I am 4 weeks post-op and I am doing just about everything. I am carfull of what I pick up but that is about the only thing. I have started water arobects at the gym and loving it.

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

about 60 miles. No problems

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.

No fried foods, sugar foods. I have tried my best to stick with the diet. I had a bite of fried chicken and I had a dumping, so I know I will stay away from fried foods. I try to keep my sugar down to 18 in anything, even though I might only get 1gram of sugar in 2 oz I am careful.

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

I walked every day, and now I am working out in the gym.

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

Flintstones with Iron and Tums for calcium.

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?

Sleep for about 2 weeks. Tylenol pm works best.

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

Not being able to sleep

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

Dr. Waits has a support group the 2nd Thursday of each month. Very helpful. It is very exciting to see the difference in all the people.

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

Very long. Yes. Over time it will fade and it has already faded a little.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Alot of energy

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

NO. After 3months they are beginning to treat me a little different. They are really surprized at the way I look now.