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

I first found out about from hearing about Carnie Wilson and I knew it was for me.

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

Sorry for me this was very easy. I have insurance through the VA as I was in the Air Force for six years. Once I was able to get a referral to the surgeon it was up to the surgeon. He told me to lose 10 lbs and they would schedule my surgery. I saw him for the first time on Sept. 30, 2005 and I had surgery on Feb. 21, 2006.

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

Well I went into the Hosp in Tues and left on Fri. I had to go to the ICU right after surgery because that is the hosp protocol. The ICU was terrible - the nurses weren't helpful at all, but I told the Dr and he had some choice words with them. Then I went to a regular room but was only three for about 12 hours. The most important thing I took was my own pillows.

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

Well at 3 weeks post op I got an ulcer that put me in the hosp for 5 days. Then about 2 weeks later I was just not able to keep anything down so I was back in the hops for 12 lousy days. After a variety of tests it was determined that my body was just having a hard time adjusting to the surgery - I was given a certian anti-depressant that had been proven to help with naseua and vomiting - I took it for 6 weeks and have been great since then.

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 terrible since I couldn't eat or drink.

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

Well I really just slept a lot but that is how I deal with being sick or hurt.

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

I traveled 3 hours to have my surgery and thier aftercare sucks.

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.

Well at 7 months out I can eat whatever I want - I do not dump but wish I did.

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

Pretty much non-exsistence since I was not really able to keep down anything.

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

I take Optisource from Walgreens, it is a Bariatric Vitamin and I love 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?

Well refer to the complications section for the most part. I have had a lot of hair loss.

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

So far the lack of aftercare is the worst part of this experience.

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

Well I go to a support group that is sponsored by OH and I get all the support I need from the Chat room here on OH.

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

My scar is about 6 inches long since I had Open RNY. It is a scar - just like I expected.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

So far I haven't had any long plateus.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

No.