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

I first knew of the so called "stomach stapling" and I though that I was a failure if I needed to do something like that. It really was when Carnie Wilson made it so public that I started hearing more and more positive things about it and I took the ball and ran with it from there.

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

I had no problems with insurance approval but was scared to death that I would. I listened to many people that were having trouble so I was scared but very proactive. I drove the representative at my insurance company crazy since the day I decided to have surgery. I work for a health system and they are self insured so I knew ultimately it would be up to them and I had faith in them. It turned out fine.

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

He was very friendly but very busy. They are surgeon's so do expect delays with emergency cases and such. You would want the same treatment from him if you were having an emergency. Just have all your research done and questions already written so you will not forget to ask anything. Also bring family members because they will remember to ask questions also...from a different perspective. I brought my hubby, sister and mother. They all had different questions.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I decided with all of the publicity with Carnie Wilson that I owed it to myself to do some serious hard research. Well I did and I found out that I was not the only person so overweight...lol. I wanted a life that I was never able to have and I needed a taste of this life and I'm on the road to it right now.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

My surgeon only does Open and Lap RNY. I was not a candidate for the lap because my BMI was too high...which left me with open RNY.

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 feared that I would not come home to see my hubby and 2 wonderful children...that scared me to death. But in reality I knew if I didn't do this I would not be around long for them anyway. All I could do was be a mother for them partially because I could not go to the park with them and play...I couldn't go on amusement rides with them...and I was missing out on so many family things. My advice to everyone is to pray everyday and have faith that you are making the right decision for YOU...YOU ONLY!!! Keep in mind how much energy you will have and what a different confident life you will be leading.

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 only discussed this with hubby at first and he was very supportive..of course my first reaction was "You don't like me the way I am"...lol. That's a woman thing I guess. Well he was supportive and went to a support group with me prior to me deciding and he kept it confidential from everyone in the beginning. After that phase..I then told my closest friends...showed them all my research and they were very supportive but concerned...they were the ones who asked me more questions about dying...go figure. The next phase I did not do until after I met with a nutritionist and that was to tell the rest of my family. Actually I thought my mother would flip because she would be afraid I wouldn't make it through surgery but she was the most supportive. It turns out that she has been losing lots and lots of sleep worrying about me and my weight for a long time now. My sisters were great. So that is why I took a sister, hubby, and mother to first appt with me. After surgery everyone has been very supportive but I will tell you my hubby's support has dwindled a bit. I think it's hard for him since I am emotionally and physically becoming such a different person...he is just trying to grasp the whole concept right now. It is very difficult for the spouses. Sometimes that is hard on me because he is the one person that I always want by my side and being supportive 100% of the time...but we're working on it.

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

I was out of work for 6 weeks...I did not need that much I could have goine back at 4 weeks but I had the time and I'm in management so I can technically work from home so I started working PT at home after 4 weeks. My employer was very supportive and I did not hide from them. They were happy to see me do something so positive for myself...remember I work in a health system so they would be more supportive for surgical type things. Not all employers would understand so well.

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

My hospital stay lasted about 4 days and I was ready to go home by them...I just wanted the comforts of my own home. All of the hospital staff were so friendly and positive...I was very lucky. The staff from the Admission office to the nursing staff were great. An example is that the Admission rep the day I presented for surgery...switched seats for me very nonchalantly to a chair with no arms. The only person that really noticed was me. I thought that that was such a nice gesture. The staff on the floors were great. They were very attentive but I was a good patient also. They kept commenting because I was up walking every half hour with hubby..they liked that and it did help me recover faster. Just make sure you bring crossword puzzles or magazines...things that will keep you busy at times alone in the hospital room. TV got very very boring to me after a bit.

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

I had no immediate complications from surgery other than some constipation from the pain meds. They just told me to take 2 Senokots before bed and whammo..I was fine the next morning. The only other complication I have been having since about 3 months out was a couple gallbladder episodes. They are very painful and caused me to take some good painkillers but I have only had 2 episodes of that and an US didn't show anything so I guess I'm fine.

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 great after getting surgery date...I was flying high. I did started getting very very nervous 2 weeks prior. I think because of the anticipation and the pressure to get things done at work was just too much. I was also anticipating the week of liquids right befoe surgery. Not all surgeons require this but mine did. The week on liquids I became much more calmer though...so not sure if I really did anything to get calm but I did fine.

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

I have to be honest...this was my worst part. A week out of surgery I remember crying to my hubby "Why did I do this to my body"...lol. Well I had such severe gas pains and they just made me feel so crappy. Plus remember you could be dealing with a whole emotional thing with food..I did. It was hard not to eat any food when you come home. You are on just liquids and you don't feel well. My best advice is that you have to know everyone goes through it...it's over in a couple of weeks....and you will eventually love the size your stomach is. It will shock you on how much you won't want to eat.

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

I traveled about 2 hours away. I did my research and that is how far the surgeon was that I wanted. It didn't affect my aftercare too much...it was nice to take a day trip or stay overnight somewhere when I needed to see the doc. Just a note...I had my surgery in Hershey Pa...the chocholate capital of the world...lots to do there. The only rough thing was driving the 2 hours home when discharged from the hospital. They gave me good pain meds but they made me very sick in the car.

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 in the beginning I just drank protein shakes, ate jello, broth and I did have a scrambled egg...that didn't sit too well with me in the beginning. Each week I was able to add little things like cheese and crackers. My favorite as an early post op was peanut butter on a cracker. I could definatly not handle bread...bread just gets stuck in your stomach...not a good feeling. But the cracker was fine. I ate a lot of them. I eventually added rice which I did fine with but did not do fine with pasta and still don't 5 months out. At about 2 months post op I started craving shrimp and have not stopped yet. I love it. I can pretty much try most things now but can only eat a tiny amount which is fine with me. I did crave salads and was not allowed to have that until 3 months out...I think the day I was 3 months out I had a good salad..lol. I also crave celery with peanut butter on it now. I know it's weird but I love it.

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

The days out of surgery I did walk a lot in the hospital but I did slow down when I got home. I think it was because I was comfortable there but I should have walked more at home. But within a few weeks I was joining Curves for women and loving it and now I am comfortable at a regular gym.

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

I do take multi vitamins but had trouble with the ones with Iron..so guess what my blood work showed that my iron was really really low. I am suppossed to be taking lots of liquid iron right now but I will be honest...I am not consistent with it. It is gross...so my advice is keep up the iron when newly post op. I just bought a new muli vitamin that my nutrionist suggested. It's KMart's brand. It's a multivitamin with iron but the pills are very small so I can swallow them. I had trouble with the chewables...I hated them.

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 think the nausea and constipation was the worse after surgery. That is what made me think I made a mistake but it did pass after a couple of weeks. Just remember your body is going through so much through all of this. I did not have any dumping problems at all and I can tolerate small amounts of sugar also. I am not experiencing the hair loss which was my nightmare. I hate it. It is really thinning on the top up front so I'm very careful when brushing and blowdrying. I do use a biotin shampoo.

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

The worst part was the waiting for insurance approval...surgery date...and the appts. I hated that the most. The surgical procedure itself I am very happy with.

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

The hospital that I had my surgery at has a wonderful support group but unfortunatly because I live 2 hours away...I don't get there much. I do belong to WLSFriends on MSN and they are a great group of people. I love it there...so much support and friendship there. I do correspond with some local people waiting to have surgery and hoping I can be a help to them.

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

My scar is about 5 inches long and it about what I expected. I hate it but I knew I was going to have it. The bottom half of it looks as if it is going away completly but the top half is very thick and visible. I'm actually proud of my battle wound.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

When I was about 2 1/2 months post op I experience my first month long plateau. It was an awful feeling but it did pass. Just up protein, exercise or water. All of one of them should do it.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

People that I have known for a while I notice actually treat me with a little more respect now. I hate to think that they are doing that because I LOOK different but you never know. I am hoping they respect me more because of my decision to change my life for the better. As far as the public is concerned..I do get much more attention now but not sure if it's because of my actual weightloss or because I am much more outgoing and confident now. Whatever it is..it feels great.