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

It took me well over a year to make the decision to lose weight by surgery. My mother was heavy and as I watched 5 people struggle to put her in a chair after she broke her leg, I decided I did not want to live like that.

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

My insurance covered the surgery without hestitation.

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

The meeting with the surgeon was uneventful. They answered my questions and were friendly.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I decided I would take the chance. If I died trying to do this, it would be better than a life trapped in my body. My knnes would hurt so bad after work, I had to take Tylenol to walk to the car.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Opted for the most permanent solution.

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?

At that point, I didn't care. The OH website was very calming and the before and after photos gave me incentive to go ahead.

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 were supportive.

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

I was off 6 weeks, but also had several hernias repaired during the surgery. In all honsty, I probably could have worked in 2 weeks.

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

Hospital stay was horrible. Day of surgery went well, but post-op care was lacking.

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

The metal staples began to itch several days post op. A trip to the ER and several of them removed took care of the problem.

In the weeks after you got your surgery date, how did you feel? How did you cope with any anxiety you might have felt?

Post op, I was a little cranky from the pain meds, but only took them for a week. Mashed potatoes were my mainstay and I can barely eat them to this day. You get awfully tired of eating them!

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

Had trouble bending over, but it wasn't that bad.

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

I flew to Florida in the 3rd post-op week and had Thanksgiving with my family.

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.

Still don't do real well with torillas and carbonated drinks. A can of Coke lasts me all day. Tried to stay on the prescribed diet as much as possible and added things slowly. I was surprised at the things I could eat, like salad. V-8 juice in the small cans was a staple for many weeks. I developed a dairy intolerance and have to be careful with ice cream. Just have it in small doses. Don't eat a lot of sweets now, and don't miss them, but I do crave fruit!

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

I felt pretty active about a week post-op and I've been going strong ever since.

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

Lots of iron and calcium. My bones are thinner and my teeth are breaking, but I'm getting older and some of it can be attributed to age. My doctor is addressing these concerns.

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 only problem was hair loss. I cut it short and frosted it to minimize the appearance of thinning hair and now it's back.

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

Some of the people you think will be supportive aren't, but others bend over backwards for you. It was very odd. A couple of friendships and relationships didn't survive.

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

No groups, but a few close friends who have had surgery and we share experiences.

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

My scaris at least 14 inches long, but i don't wear a binkini anyway!

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

None.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

People DO treat me differently.