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

A good friend had it done in December of 2001. My first impressions were; "Wow, isn't this extreme?'' and through the last several months, I have watched her get skinny and she answers all of my questions and concerns, every step of the way.

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

GREAT!!! Thank Heaven. One week, I called today and it was approved and so I set up my surgery date.

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

Great as well!! He answered every question, my husband and I had and was very supportive. He also seemed impressed with what I already knew.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

Seeing Julie, as well as the Support Group, I have attended since March. They have all been so wonderful and helpful.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Research and more research. Plus, I know I would cheat on the band with my little ones around and finally, after making my decision anyway, I found out it was a good one as my insurance doesn't cover the band, yet.

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'm scared. I want to be around for my children as I said. That is why I'm doing this in the first place but, I know it is in God's hands and I will continue to pray for a wonderful outcome. I have many praying for me as well.

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?

Most have been really great. Some where a little scared until I explained to them what I was doing and why, as well as, how it all worked.

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

Great! All Very supportive. Fortunately, I did it over the summer so I didn't miss any work. They continue to be VERY supportive and have "cheered" me a long the way..even our secretary who was VERY concerned can see the happy new me and has given me some of her size 10 clothes! FUN!!

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

Really nice. The hospital was great and the staff wonderful. I had surgery on Thurs. and went home on Sat. Most important thing to bring is a big pillow. It worked great as support on my side and helped for the ride home too.

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'm about 2 weeks out. I notice I'm tired a lot. I also find I get the hiccups a lot and dry mouthed.

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

I'm tired a lot. It will be 2 weeks tomorrow and I'm already down 21 pounds. That feels good.

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

Almost 3 and half hours. My regular Dr. took my staples out and I check in there to weigh myself. I'm going to try to do that once a week. Fortunately, My surgeon comes to Ogallala once a month, which is only an hour away so, I will see him then.

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.

At first I struggled with meats, pasta and rice. Eventually, I did better on all of them. I'm now 6 months out and am lucky (or not?) that I can tolarate anything, just in much smaller amounts.

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

I went back to work as a second grade teacher one week and one day after my surgery. The first week my mother-in-law kept my girls for me so I could rest. Believe me I was tired but I'm not sure if it was from the surgery or starting back to school after sleeping in most of the summer.

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

Flinestones children's chewables -3 times a day and tums for calcium. I think I'm going to chang when all of this runs out to some other choices I was given in the hospital as I find it hard to remember to take all that and you can't do it all at once. At 3 months, I switched to an adult multi-vitamin chewables and caltrate chewables twice a day. I also started using the generic for Viactiv, which is a chewable calcium that taste like a tootsie roll. They are good!

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?

Probably the worst thing was throwing up when I eat to fast. Next is dealing with constipation. No dumping, I sleep better than I ever have and fortunately, I haven't lost much hair. I waited until I was 6 months out to get a perm. Within days of getting that perm, my hair started falling out, A LOT! I'm now 10 and half months out and have just noticed in the last few weeks that it has seemed to stop or at least slow way down. I would NOT recommend doing anything to your hair until you are at least a year out!

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

Using the bathroom again, normally.

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

I belong to a Support Group in NO. Platte that I have been going to since March. I also have several freinds who have done this surgery before me. It is wonderful to have someone to talk to who is experiencing the same thing as I am and also to have others ahead of me to ask questions of...what worked for you? what did you do about this and so on. So I find it VERY helpful!!

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

6 little incesions. Nothing major...my triplets did more damage to my stomach with stretch marks than these!

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I'm at my first palteau right now. Since 4 1/2 months until now at 6 months, I have been inching VERY slowly to that 100 pound mark. Before it was like 30 pounds here and there, now it is 6 to 10 pounds.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

YES! Men LOOK! Men open doors for me. Women visit with me about things like fashion. It is neat but also sad as I'm still the same person I was at 263 pounds.