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

Actually first found out about it when my sister in law had it done in 1980 (old fashioned way - opened from breastbone to pubic hair! At that time, I thought no way would I ever ever have that done no matter how fat I got.

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

I really had no problem getting approval (have Blue Choice). I was a little worried about not being approved as I had no "medical" problems. the waiting to hear was hard. Probably had to wait a month or more, can't remember.... Never heard for sure until the morning before surgery.

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

first meeting was fine, other than the fact that is was very short, to the point and rushed.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

Going to the Informational meeting that my surgeon holds once a month. He answered all my questions, explained the benefits and risks and the thing that actually finally made the decision was hearing that 80% of folks keep the weight off. Those were good enough odds for me

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Surgeon told us at informational meeting that he performed the "gold standard" of surgeries (Roux en Y)

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?

Was a little apprehensive about death -- but my children are all adults and living on their own, and I am not married. Also have a very strong faith and knew that if I died, it was in His plan.

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 told very few people (under 10). I would do it exactly the same again. after surgery they were very supportive

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

My boss was fine with it. Just listened when I told her. I asked her to keep it confidential, knowing she would. She has never told a soul yet, even two years past! God bless her.

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

My stay in the hospital was not too good.....I went in on Tuesday morning about 7am and came home Friday about 10 am. The care left a lot to be desired. Hours would go by with no nursing personnel coming in to see how I was. If I rang the bell, it would be 20 minutes before someone came in the room. I was in a bed for extremely obese. The bed was very very very uncomfortable. The bottom bent down to supposedly make it so you could stand right up on your feet. It didn't work that way with me! It was very difficult to get in and out of. the nursing personnel did not help me get out of bed - perhaps they were afraid of back injuries?? I had a feeling from time to time that the nursing personnel had a discriminatory attitude towards us "obese" patients. The best thing to bring with you is an advocate. A relative or friend who will help you, find nursing personnel, get your pain medication, fight your battles and generally make sure you are treated right and well.

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

No complications

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 quite sore and tired the first week. After that I felt better each day. By three to four weeks out I was fine. No anxiety.

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

I was happy it was over. Curious about the future. Calm, but had questions. Somewhat apprehensive about trying new foods. Anxious to lose the weight... excited, but not sure if I would really lose the weight.

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

20 miles.

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.

First few months unable to eat much of anything. Teaspoons, or quarter cups -- full all the time. It was a wonderul feeling. Started with one week of liquids, then four weeks of pureed, then four weeks of soft, then back to normal. So it was nine weeks before you were back on regular food. I highly recommend this process. It gives you a long time to heal properly. My surgeon was adamant about it. It also gives you an extended period to get used to eating three meals, and protein first....good habits to hopefully last a lifetime. I was somewhat apprehensive each time I tried something new. I have not had much trouble with many foods. I cannot eat bananas (make an uncomfortable lump in my stomach!) Do not drink milk anymore ( I previously was a milkaholic and I am sure that caused me many pounds in weight gain) Now, milk gives me almost a dumping syndrom feeling. Although I can use it in coffee, or cereal with no problem. Just cannot drink it straight (which is a blessing calorie wise for me). Cannot eat ice cream (also a blessing) because it gives me dumping syndrome. Cannot drink hot chocolate (dumping syndrome) Don't eat beef (not willing to try it, and not much of a beef eater anyways), don't eat much bread (sits like a lump in my stomach, much like bananas!) And cannot eat tuna (kind of makes me sick) Have not had much trouble with anything else. Can eat any vegetables or fruits, pasta, sauces, cereals, popcorn, snacks, chicken, turkey, eggs, Indian, Mexican, Italian !, cheese, yogurts, grains, spices, soups, coffee, soda, juices, etc. etc. etc. no problem. (Just can't eat nearly as much as I used to. I am 18 months post op. The first 6 - 12 months I could eat very little. After about a year I could eat more and more. Now there are days when I feel I can really eat a lot (although am probably not eating nearly as much as I think I am). I am still losing. I have lost 150 so far (over 75% of what I need to lose. I am completely satisfied and only hungry after four to five hours after a meal. It is wonderful. (also, I can now drink quite like normal. Can drink probably a cup at a time, and can gulp again.)

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

Fine. No problems. I am not an exerciser.....but I do love to walk and walk about a mile a day.

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

one multivit a day in addtion to my trinsicon (Iron, B12)

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?

The worst was dumping syndrome (first time I had it was six months after surgery when for some strange reason I went through a MacDonalds drive thru and got a small vanilla milkshake as a treat to myself. What a mistake. Was sick (chills, nausea, shakes) for next two hours. Never again will I drink a milkshake! (Yea!) I have had dumping syndrom maybe 5 - 10 times since, all my own fault! Never had any sleep disturbance, or vomiting. Had a brief period of hair loss from 3 - 6 months and then it all came back

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

The pain after surgery. The fist four days I had extreme pain at the site where they took my gall bladder (had lap, but the site where they took the gall bladder was a little bigger than the other "holes". ) That site had extreme raging pain for about four days. It was painful to breathe, move or anything. That was by far the worst, even with Vicodin.

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

I started a support group in my town when I was six months post op as the only other support group was about 30 miles away. I now have about 30 regular attendees as it has steadily grown over the past year. I am PASSIONATE about helping others go through this and am delighted when I see people decide to have the surgery, get their surgery date and become a post op. It is very important to me to support, help, inform, guide, care for, educate, listen and pray for all those in my group

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

no scars. Lap. cannot even see the sites anymore. Miracle of modern day surgery.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Weight loss slowed down dramatically at about one year. However, I am still losing. I will go two or three or four weeks without losing, and then all of a sudden will drop two or three pounds. Before that, for the first year, I steadily and quickly dropped. I dont know yet at this point when it will stop. I just eat whenever I want and whatever I want (keep in mind the when and what is much, much much different than before...now what I want is very little and when I want is not that often!!! and that is what makes ALL THE DIFFERENCE!! and is the miracle of this surgery.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Not really --- but If they do, it is only because I AM ACTING SO MUCH DIFFERENT --- happy, energetic, flirty, talkative, etc. My real personality is now out for all to see.