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

I've known about it for years

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

Blue cross has been wonderful. I have 2 policies with them and COB was great.

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

All of the preop teaching was done including social worker, dietician nursing and appt with surgeon the same day. I had already "gone throught the hoops" with the previous 2 programs

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

almost 300 pounds, fibro flares all the time

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I had had a lap Nissen fundopliation and so needed an 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?

None

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 dear spouse is completely supportive. My kids were a little wary because of the extent of the surgery. Coworkers very supportive

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

Still out for another 4 weeks. Unfortunately my fibro was so bad that I had to use my cane and was out 6 weeks before my surgery. So am very ready to return to work!!!

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

Surgery on Thursday afternoon and out on Sunday morning. The hospital is a 6 hour drive for us so couldn't wait to see my home again and settle in. Staff was great---since I'm a nurse I wrote down my fluids, changed my sheets etc. the nurses laughed that they hardly had to come down as I walked without prompting forgot I was there. My bed didn't have a trapeze over it and that was difficult moving in and out of bed

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

no

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

It was transient but I really recovered well from previous surgeries and knew it would be short-lived

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

Listen to your body. I thought I would be off pain pills right away and have learned that my body is directing my recovery. My fibro has settled down so that is a wonderful bonus

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

6 hours

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.

Amazingly I don't care much for sweets as much. I am on soft foods and have to work at eating

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

still no tub bath 2 and a half weeks out. But I can walk the mall without much slowing. In fact I crave movement now

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

children's MVI, Citracal twice a day. Sublingual B12 daily. Protein 65 g a day. H2o 64 oz. Will start b-complex on the 14th

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?

nausea vomiting. When I had the Nissen I could no longer vomit.

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

eating

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

At work I have several coworkers who have had the surgery

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

Healing well

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

none yet

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

No