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

My unkle had it done 2 years ago. Even though he had some troubles with it. I thought that this might just be the one chance that I need to start a new healthy life.

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

I have a medical card (medicaid). I didn't have to do anything with it. My surgon and his office did all the work. I was approved within 2 days.

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

Dr. Argotte was very informative and very nice. He seemed very concerned with me and my questions and he explained every thing to a tea from the actual procedure and what he would do (actuclly drew a picture)to the recovery to 2 years down the road. Just be sure to ask all you feel uncomfortable with.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

My health! It was my last chance.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

It was what my medical card would pay for and the surgon was close by and it was all he did.

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 a little nervous but no fear. I knew that once I went under I was not only in the surgons hands but mainly in Gods hands. And if God wanted to take me then apparently it was my time to go.

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 and friends were very supportive before and after. My family was scared for me to have it done but they also knew that if I didn't have it done that there was a huge chance that I could die any way because of all my health problems. Now they are all so proud of me and think that I was and am a brave person.

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

I am on disabilaty so I did not have to answer to any one but myself.

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

The hospital stay was good. I was there for 6 days because I started getting nausiated. But I never vomited. I was really glad that I brought my house coat and sandles. Because they wanted to get me up and about. So no one could see my hinny.

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

of course i had no idea that i had any complications until the day after surgery. But the surgon had some trouble getting my gaulbladder out because of my anatomy. Also they were giving me a demeral drip for the pain after surgery and I was pretty allergic to it.But that was quickly changed. So nothing really bad went on. Thank God!

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 really felt no anxiety. I did how ever have head hunger. That was pretty awful at least for the first 2 weeks. The pain was bad for the first week and a half. Then it started to go away. By the 3rd week I had very little pain at all. And by the 4th week I had no pain what so ever.

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

I am just going to say one thing. If you make it threw the first 2 weeks it will all be ok. The first 2 weeks for me were horrible. For one I could only have liquids to eat or should i say drink. And the pain was at a maximum. I couldn't lay flat on my back nor on my side. I had to sleep in my recliner which was ok cause I could stay up late and watch tv without bothing my husband. Even at the 3rd and 4th week I finally could lay flat on my back but when I tried to lay on my side I couldn't until I wised up and Put a pillow under my side. That really helped me.

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

It is only 45 miles from my house. But my mom lives in town which makes the drive shorter, if I stay there, about 23 miles away.

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 that first 2 weeks were liquids, like, jell-o, water, ice, ice cicles, sports drinks, juices, chicken and beef broth. Then on the 3rd week I moved up to full liquids, like, strained cream of chicken and mushroom soups (Campbel's 98% fat free), sugar free puddings, milk (1%), and still all of the liquids. At about the 4th week I was supposed to be on a pureed diet. I didn't follow that at all. But I mostley ate cottage cheese and tomatoes (non pureed). But I did try some grilled fish during that time and it really made me sick. So I lived on cottage cheese (made with skim milk and small curds) and sliced tomatoes for a week and a half. At the 5th week I moved up to soft foods. Like cooked non gassy vegies and chicken, pork, and fish. I tried fish again and it made me sick again so I think that I am going to leave fish alone. Any way high fatty foods made me have to run to the bath room, so i avoided them. Even 2% milk me me run to the BR. Other than that I ate what I wanted like scrambled eggs, cottage cheese, tomatoes, green beans, sasage, grilled chicken, smoked boneless pork chops, mashed potatoes, baked french fries, baked potatoes, cooked carrots and peas. Just pretty much soft foods that break up really easy. At week 6 to now. I eat any thing that I want even my 2% milk (it don't make me run to the BR any more. Meat I can only take so much of (like 2-3 bites of) but thats ok. The only beef I have attempted is hamburger meat ( like in spaghetti or tacos). But now I eat anything that I please. And I am doing really great.

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

The first 2 weeks out were HELL! I really didn't do much but walk back and forth to the bathroom. And at the 3rd and 4th week I started walking more. Now I am up to 7/10 of a mile in a walk. I also have started doing some Yoga at 6 weeks.

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

Flinstone Complete (chewable) and Vitamin B-complex (liquide) and 4 Tums with calcium (2 in morning and 2 in evening)

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 have not had the dumping sendrom. Every now and again I do get nausia but that only happens when I dont eat and when I do eat I eat too quickly. I have only vomited 3 time, 2 of the times were when I ate fish and the other was when I ate way too quick. I am 7 weeks out and I am just now starting to loose a little bit of my hair. I am using a protine condisioner. And that is helping a little.

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

The first 2 weeks are the worst. Get past that and it is all down hill from there.

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

My scar is about 8-9 inches long. It really is not that bad.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

People are noticing that I am losing the weight and inches. People make comments and compliments to me all the time.