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

My cousin had it done a few years before but he had the gastic by-pass. One day there was a advertisment in the paper for a weight-loss seminar and I told my husband that I wanted to go check it out and we did and I haven't looked back since.

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

I paid for the surgery myself, I have United Health Care and they absolutly refused.

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

I think it went alright, he expalined the surgery and the fills really good, but I wished I had done more research so I could of asked more questions.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I just felt like I really couldn't stand to keep waking up looking like this anymore and I was soooo afraid of developing major health problems and I want to be healthy for the rest of my life which hopefully will be a very long one.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I chose it because it is less invasive, faster recovery time and you lose the weight slower, it just seems like the right one for my and my lifestyle.

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 didn't have any fears, I'm not afraid of surgery, I was more afraid of ending up dead or so obese that I couldn't carry around my own body.

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 haven't told everyone in my family yet and I'm I had my surgery in May. I told my oldest sister, one of my cousins and my adult children and of course my husband. I haven't told my other sister or my brother, father or any other family members. They're not very supportive people, they are pretty negative and that's the last thing I want right now. This is hard enough to go through. The ones I told have been very supportive though.

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

My supervisors have been very supportive. I was only out of work for 1 week but I was limited as to what I could do, such as lifting for 1 month. I work in a book store so lifting heavy boxes was out for that long.

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 out-patient. I went in the morning and was out by 5pm. I was suppose to have my surgery at 10am but didn't have it until 1pm. The most important thing to bring is a book or something to occupy your time while you wait. Don't bring any jewerly, take it all off, there is no where to store it.

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

no complications at all

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 didn't have any anxiety to speak of, I was so up beat about it. All I could think of was how this is going to help me be a healthier person and hopefully happier in some ways.

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

ALOT of GAS!!!!!! I was sore for only about 3 days but I only took pain medicine about 3 times. I followed the Drs. rule to the tee. I got up and walked, first up the block then around it then 2 then 3 then I stated going to Curves and have been there ever since. I couldn't sleep laying down for 2 weeks. I slept in a recliner. Sip everything very slowly, this is important. DO NOT try to eat before the Dr. or nutrionlist tell you to. I didn't drive for 2 weeks either.

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

Only about 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.

I can't tolerate most breads or pasta, no lunchmeats either. Salad is hard, I have to make sure to really chew it to pieces. I am sick of eggs but they are easy to eat. Some meats are harder to eat so I mostly eat fish and dark meat chicken. If I put a beef or pork roast in a crock pot and let in go all day then it gets tender enough to chew. No corn, it's to hard to chew cuz it's so small. We don't go out to restaurants hardly anymore cuz it's to hard to find something healthy, My husband loves eating at home again. When I first started to eat "regular" food, I really didn't have a hard time with what I could as much as how much to chew it. Believe me, you want to chew reallllllly goood.

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

I started walking the day I got home and now I go to Curves 3 to 4 times a week. I am looking forward to winter so maybe I can walk outside again. I live in South Florida and it's just way to hot and humid to walk even in the evening. I do walk at the mall sometimes.

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

I take vitamin C, a multi-vitamin and calcium everyday.

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 only felt some nausea for about 2 weeks after the surgery and for 1 week after my first fill. I am just now starting to experience some hair-loss but not much. I actually am slepping much better. before I had insomnia really bad, only slept 2 or 3 hours a night, now I get about 6 to 7.

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

I had the lap-band and so far there hasn't been a worse part.

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

I go once a month to a support group meeting and I enjoy it and it really helps to talk to other people who are going through the same thing. I think it would be harder for me without the group.

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

I have a lot of little scars but they kind of blend in woth the stretch marks so I really don't care.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I am on a plateau right now, I haven't lost anything in over 1 month. I am frustrated and depressed about it. But I realize that my body has been through a HUGE change and has to adjust so I am hoping that that is all it is. I go to the dr.s in 2 weeks and will talk to him about it.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Not really, everyone at work treats me the same, so does my family, I have still experienced so fat discrimmation in certain department store.