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

I went to a seminar held in a nearby large city with the surgeon I had and I found information on the net. I knew right away I wanted the surgery. I also made it a point to meet people who have had the surgery. I first heard about the surgery when I attended a NAAFA meeting and one of the people there had the surgery and told be about it.

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

I knew that I had an HMO and I decided when my husbands open season for changing insurances came time that I would change to BC BS. I had heard that they are the best in paying. When working for the federal government, all insurances must have a "No pre-exsisting clause" when they contract with the government. I suggest if you have a chance to change insurances, stay away from the HMOs. Also I was declined at first and the surgeon wrote a letter to the insurance company and they approved it right away. That letter really helped.

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

Excellent. The best. I felt confident in him. I would recommend anyone to have their surgery done by him. The first visit was very imformative and I felt like a million when I left his office.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I knew right away I wanted the surgery, but what helped me the most is meeting people who had had the surgery.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I knew I wanted a permanent weight loss, so I decided the Roux en Y was the surgery for me. I had heard that you loose less with the gastric banding and it can be gained back easier with this procedure. I also heard that the bypass is a big part of it and I wanted to have the bypass also.

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 had absolutely no fears except for the pain. I worked in the medical field for 13 years and I know not many people die on the table nowdays. I had diabetes, hypertension, and extremely overweight but I knew I was in the best hospital in Pittsburgh and had an excellent surgeon who made me feel at ease.

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?

None of my friends, family, or even my Primary Care Doctor did not want me to have the surgery. I decided on my own to do the surgery with no support from any of the above. But NOW after the surgery, its a different story, now people want to know all about it. Now that I am healthy and loosing weight easily.

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

N/a

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

Hospital was excellent. The Best. I did travel to a big city Pittsburgh. I was in for 4 days. The pain control was excellent. The best part of my hospital stay was the bed. It was a great bed that sat up like a chair and was easy to get in and out of. I also had a private room. It was great. I say do not bring anything. The hospital provided everything for me.

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

Yes I did develop an infection and I had visiting nurses come to help me pack it. I hated the drain, it pulled on my incision so I cut the stitches my self, but I did not take the drain all of the way out. The infection healed in about 2 weeks and now I am fine.

In the weeks after you got your surgery date, how did you feel? How did you cope with any anxiety you might have felt?

In the weeks after the surgery I was sore ofcourse. But my family helped me alot. I did not have that much anxiety and I thought that I would because I am a nervous person. Breathing exercises helped me also.

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

It was painful at first so I added Motrin to my strong pain medication. I just kept thinging that everyday would get better. And it did.

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

I did travel about 60 miles. It was worth it. It was a long drive home but I would do it again in a heartbeat.

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 started out liquids for 3 weeks. I was hungry. Then soft foods for another 3 weeks. Then on solids ever since. It has been six months now and I cannot eat meat, bread, anything greasy, and limited sweets. I do not crave the foods I used to eat. You know the 3 main food groups.........Pizza, Doughnuts, and Ice Cream.

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

Very slow at first. As soon as I healed swimming mostly. I do not like to exercise. I love to swim and I have a pool in the summer and go to a nearby college pool for free in the winter. Most state schools have free swim time for locals.

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

I take a multivitamin, Bl2, Magnesium, Zinc. I tried to take Niacin but had a severe allergic reaction to it. I thought I was having a heart attack. I do take protein when I can stomach it.

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?

I do vomit if I eat too fast or too much. I dump when I eat sugary foods. Sometimes real bad. I am 6 months postop now and still dump.

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

The worst part was the pain afterwards. I had a laparoscopic Roux en Y and still had alot of pain. But would do it again.

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

My doctor has a support group 1 Wednesday a month and by do I appreciate it. I love it. It has helped me. I hope it keeps up.

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

I had a lap and my scars are very minimal. They are exactly what I expected. But if he had to open me wide I would have still done it.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I do plateau then have a 5 pound weight loss about every week or two. I realize by attending the support groups that it is coming off if I expect it to or not.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Absolutely. Everywhere I go people treat me differently and I still have a lot more to loose.