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

I read something in a magazine and then saw a blurb on TV, sent for information and asked my GI doctor his opinion - said he'd drop me as a patient if I had it done. That was about 1991. Am now so glad I didn't do it then since the procedures have changed so much.

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

My insurance has only recently started approving the surgery ( in the last 2 years or so), I just had to need to lose at least 100 lbs(that wasn't a problem for me)and prove medical neccessity which was really easy. For others, document every ill health problem you have. Drive your doctor nuts and make them write down every single medical complaint about joints, back, reflux, diabetes, and all mobility problems. Also keep records of every way you've tried to lose weight.

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

Pretty comfortable, he was ready to tll me anything I wanted to know, but I was already ahead of the game since I had done an enormous amount amount of internet research. Go in as prepared as possible, know what you want and expect to get it.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

One day I was re-reading an update letter from my insurance and there were questions about the exact information needed for surgery approval, I hadn't realized until then that this information was in my possesion, maybe I wasn't ready to know until then.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Internet research and talking to the surgeon.

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?

From the day I saw that my insurance would cover it I never looked back, was never scared, just knew that this was my only hope of living. I had a few anxious moments, but never about what I was having done or why, just normal thoughts of hoping there would be no problems with anesthesia and healing. I would tell people to go for it, you are the only one who can reclaim your life, and the "other" side is sooooo worth it.

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 was afraid my family would think I was nuts, but they were behind me all the way from day one. Friends were a little different, I think some were jealous, envious and some just downright against it. Family support has been amazing, although my husband has had some issues of his own, like thinking I'd lose weight and leave him, which is insane to me, but I do my best to reassure him that will never happen.

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

Don't work outside my home, haven't been able to.

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

My hospital stay would have been great if the nurses had known/understood what I had just had done. I was in for 3 nights (my option to stay the 3rd). You really just need personal stuff, slippers, robe, brush, toothbrush, maybe a book if you can stay awake! And of course phone numbers to call all those people and tell them how wonderful you're doing!

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

Nope, went just like a text book case. I was even able to have it done by lap.

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 pumped, I felt like I had a reason to live. I concentrated on losing the weight my surgeon required me to before surgery, and doubled what he asked.

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

The first 10 days were sore but fine, you certainly won't sleep on your stomach though! At day 12 I got the stomach flu, scared the crud out of me because I was terrified to vomit, thought I tear everthing up inside. I was wrong, ended up back in the hospital so they could rule out a small bowel obstruction, but after that batteling the nausea was the worst I went through. You need to take it easy, but still get back into your normal routine asap.

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

Done in my home town.

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.

Only had high protein Boost, water, juice and bullion for first 3 1/2 weeks, then went to blended and pureed foods, like beginning baby food. Baby jar meats are terrible, it's better to puree your own and use ice cube trays for serving size and freeze them. Do mashed potatoes the same way. Baby fruit is great though, and the veggies are alright, the good thing is there's no added sugar or salt. At this point I also added protein powder to my diet by way of making smoothies with orange juice, banana and frozen strawberries and the protein in the blender. Have not been able to tolerate the smell of fatty fried foods, haven't had sugar except natural in friut, can't eat beef, anything with cream, butter, all the things we want to stay away from. I am now 4 months out from surgery and have even been eating salad for over a month. Just chew everything really good!

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

In the beginning it was amazingly high, but I had decided that this would be my new life, so I was going to go for it. Then I got the flu and lost all energy for a month or so, it was slow to rebuild but finally was back (and beyond) normal. I went from using a wheelchair 95% of the time to no chair in 2 months, just used a cane, and then got rid of the cane in 1 month.

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

Calcium-Magnesium, Centrum Silver, B-12. B Complex, and Flax Seed Oil capsules.

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?

Nausia was by far the most irritating. Did some vomiting, but at least it happens fast, you know right away if you ate something that dosen't like you and it comes back up. After a little over 4 months I'm happy to say I've lost no hair, haven't dumped and sleep like a baby. For the nausea, I just stayed away from food smells (cooking)and if I get to where I eat that one more bite that can make me sick I have to have the food out of my site and I usually do fine, my husband does the dishes and cleans the kitchen a lot so I don't have to be around the food when I'm full and can't handle it.

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

Having to do the bowel prep, face it, it just isn't fun.

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

We have a local suport group. My surgeon works cooperatively with two other local surgeons, so patients from all three docs are part of our group, we're pretty open to anyone too. It's not usually a formal session, sometimes we have a speaker, otherwise we talk about whatever is going on currently in our progress and answer questions for people who attend that are pre-op but scheduled. I think the support group is major, no one else can even begin to imagine what we are going through - which is ok, so we need to talk to each other and be able to keep a handle on ourselves and be there for each other. We're each others best friends in this new venture.

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

I had my surgery done by laparoscopy so I have 5 little 1 1/4" scars. They're no big deal, were exactly what I was told and healed quite nicely. As I lose weight they have all formed kind of a circle and are moving closer together all the time. I figure that by the time I'm ready for my tummy tuck they'll just be pulled into my belly button.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

After losing weight for 29 consecutive weeks (I started 2 1/2 months before surgery on my own) if finally only lost 4 ounces, but I guess that's still a loss. It does slow down after about 3 months though, I averaged 23 to 25 pounds a month then dropped to about 15-17 a month.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Sure, being 126 lbs smaller and not using a wheelchair anymore puts me on a little bit more even playing field than before, but those not nice before who are acting that way now are still the same stinkers they've always been.