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

work in medcial field, read up on it, thought it was a good idea, although pretty drastic.

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

no problems, surgeons office took care of everything, appproved on first letter. I really dont have any advice sonce I didnt have any problems, but with any insurance problem, be persistent, appeal, appeal, appeal. get medical documentation as to why bariatric surgery is medcially necessary

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

pleasant, informative, at ease. write down your questions so you dont get flustered and forget. research as much as you can prior to inital visit.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I'm 34, was at the heaviest in my life, weighed as much as a linebacker for the Pgh STeelers. failed at all atemtps to loose in past. want to have a baby, couldnt at pre-op weight and other co-mordib problems (mainly severe asthma)

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

discussed pros/cons with surgeon and self-researched RNY vs banded surgery. RNY seemed better with better long term results. MD recommended laproscopic, of which I was greatful.

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 just figured everything would go smoothly, and worrying aboutit wouldnt change anything. be sure you inderstand the risks and benefits of anesthsia and the surgery in general, I was a well informed patient.

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?

basically only one person (who knew 2 others who had it done) was in support, others (parents, sister, friends, co-workers) were against it, fearful I couldnt' adjust to the lifestly change since I love food so much, and fear of the surgery itself due to my asthma. Boyfriend was supportive of my decision, but later revealed he didnt think I should do it (after the surgery). Everyone did resepct my decision in the end, and have been very supportive aftrewards. some still very worreid about nutrional intake, always wantingme to take extra vitamins,e tc.

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

Supportive, no problmes. ahve missed a lot of work due ot asthma, so sense was that if I were thinner, asthma may not be as bad, wouldnt miss as much work (whichhas turned outto be true so far). Missed one month of work, but I travel alot (driving) for a living, if I had a sedentary job, could have gone back after 3 weeks.

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

3 days total, but that was becasue asthma got worse, not necesarily becasue of surgery complications. dont remember much of the first day after the surgery, PCA pump was a Godsend. bring loose pants or a pullover dress to wear home, so elastic doenst touch surgery site. socks, toothbrush. soemthing to read.

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

not from the surgery itself, but asthma got worse. my pulmonologist wroks out of same hospital, so he took care of respitory therapy.

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

actually made dinner for my family the day I got home from surgery. pain was pretty severe first week, but only wehn getting up/down form lying position. learned to take pain meds before I got out of bed in the AM, used regularly for hte first week or so, then didnt need it after that. I didnt have any anxiety to speak of, was so excited I waslosing weight so fast, thatwas the predominant emotion.

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

it hurts (a lot) to get up/down form a lying position. ask for help! follow the diet exactly, dont cheat! try to maintain your fluids. have things to do (rent movies, books, etc) so you dont get bored and feel sorry for yourself.

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

5 miles, am fortunate to live in Pgh, PA, whcih has UPMC, a major hospital system.

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.

fluids onlyfirst two weeks (diet jello, apple juice, white grapefruit juice). lots of applesauce and mashed potatoes first month. couldnt tolerate ground up beef or chicken first 6 weeks. still cant tolerate pasta 2 1/2 months post-op. EAT SLOW, wehn I vomitnow, it isusually becasue I eat too fast, waittoo lon got eat, am famished, so Ibolt down my food. dont eat just becsue there is food there. dont buy tempting foods. you can eat out in restautarnts, jsut choose wisely. soup is usually good. I could eat French fries past moth or so. had first episdoe of dumping syndrome at Xmas party, drank 3 differnt types of alcohol, not a good idea. glassof wine is fine.

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

actully much higher first two weeks thansecond two weeks. verytired weeks 4-6 psot op. about normal now.

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

FLinstones chewable, sublingual vit B, two tums daily(have calcium los due to long term steroid use from asthma)

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?

one dumpin gepisode outlined above. nausea and vomting only if I eat too fast or foods I have learned to avoid. trial and error.

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

getting the drain pulled out after the surgery. inital pain few days after surgery.

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

surgeonvisits onregular basis. ther is a Support Group offered monthlythat I attend. find one and go. find someone on the Net to chat with.

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

5 small (less than 1 inch) scars, had laproscopic. actaully better than I expected. truthfully, I could have railorad tracks all over mystomach, and I wouldnt care.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

currently in one 2 1/2 months post op, havent lsot any weight in past week,onnly 2 punds week before that. I have been eating Xmas cookies, tho

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

only in that they are pleased I am losing weight, for health reasons. Ihtnk I may be acting differntly, tho. more confidnet.