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

I went to the surgeons office to get a cyst removed off my head and saw a business card with surgical weight loss on it. I ask him about it and started researching the internet and asking his patients at his support group meetings about it that had already had it. I thought it was my only option left to do since I had been on every diet and done everything I could to loose weight. It was between surgery and being in a wheel chair on disability. I was in awe at the big weight losses of everyone in such a short time. I couldn't wait for it to be my turn.

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

I had the orthopedic surgeon write a letter stating that I would benefit from wls. I had a letter from the phen-fen dr. stating that I had been a patient there and gained all my weight back.

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

My first visit was with a group of people. I didn't like that. He held up red sponges supposed to be stomachs of different surgery types he had done. I was ready with questions but he explained everything I had on my list. The next appt. I was alone. After more research on the fobi pouch that he was going to do he explained in more detail so I would fully understand what I was about to do.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

Talking to people on the internet and in person that had already had the surgery. I needed to loose 200lbs without gaining back 300lbs. Every diet I had been on I'd loose 80lbs and gain back 100lbs, loose 100lbs gain back 120lbs. Surgery was my only hope in loosing weight without regaining! I couldn't walk without tears in my eyes from the knee pain I had to do something.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

The dr had more success with the fobi pouch than the vbg. So I researched the fobi pouch and went with that.

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 was confident in my dr. I had more fear in not being able to walk because of my weight and being a burden on my family than I did of the surgery. I did make out a will before I had surgery. I thought the % of people dying from the surgery was less than the % dying in car accidents on the roads I drive everyday (Atlanta Traffic!)

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 family didn't like the idea until I told them I was having surgery because I weighed 367lbs almost 400lbs. I had 1 friend that told me I was out of my mind. She never weighed over 110lbs in her life. I told her to kma. She called me 3 weeks after surgery and apoligized. My husband took 2 weeks off work to take care of me. My sister stayed at the hospital with me the 1st 3 nights. My parents came to see me everyday and took me to all my follow-up appts. so I wouldn't have to drive myself. After surgery 3 months later -60lbs everyone is proud of me!

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 6 weeks. I was open and honest about wls at work and told everyone. They were all very supportive and caring. I wouldn't let them come up to the hospital so they sent me lots of cards and flowers. P.S. I had fmla (family medical leave act) at work for myself and got paid while I was out of work. We get 12 weeks fmla a year.

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

I woke up in terrible pain. I don't remember the first 2 days. The 3rd day I started my period and that was a mess. I had to pee a lot and I couldn't get those squeezie things off my legs by my self. One time I tried and peed all over my white hose and the floor. Ugh. I took change and magazines for my family that stayed with me. The best thing I took to the hospital was my personal fan, chapstick, herbal teas and sf popcicles. I took shampoo and conditioner and used it. A brush and toothbrush. Thats about it. I was in the hospital 6 days.

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

The 3rd day my kidneys shut down so they took me stat to xray sonogram and massaged them back to working. That was the only complication I had. When I came home from the hospital I had a g tube that stayed in for 6 weeks and another blue hard bag that the dr. had to take out 2 days after I got home from the hospital because it started bleeding around my skin.

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 ate everything in sight and then some. I felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders and maybe now there was hope for me to have a happy rest of my life.

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

I felt horrible in pain and tired. I couldn't have anything to eat for 3 weeks after surgery. I didn't think I'd be in pain or hungry but I was. I cried and I was mad at all the people on the internet for saying they wern't hungry and the pain wasn't bad. Every day I started feeling better and life got better when I could have pureed food. I got over being depressed and mourning food.

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

3 miles. Great to be less than 10 minutes away from help.

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.

3 weeks liquids. 3 weeks pureed. Milk always tasted wierd and made me have diarreah. When I could eat regular food I gradually worked up to salads and meats. I haven't tried any fried foods or sugar. Nothing bothers me. some days I eat more food than I think I should and the next day I won't want hardly anthing to eat. Fish and shrimp go down good. I've even had a glass of wine and didn't dump.

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

The 1st 3 weeks it was all I could do to walk from the recliner to the bathroom. Then day by day I could walk a little further.

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

viactiv 2 chews a day for calcium. 2 flinstone chewables with iron. 1 b-12 sublingual cherry.

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 dr. gave me 20 sleeping pills after I came home from the hospital because I couldn't get any sleep in the recliner. After I got the g tube out I slept in the bed and haven't had any trouble.

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

The stress of waiting for surgery. It took me 6 months after deciding. The pain of the surgery and mourning the loss of food after surgery. And the 6 weeks of the g tube.

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

I go to a support group meeting every month moderated by a phycologist. It is very important to me to go and see everyones progress and listen to all the day to day problems wls people have.I also read support groups on the internet. I've learned more on the internet than I ever would have elsewhere.

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

It goes from my brest bone to my belly button. It reminds me where I came from. I'm not worried about the physical scar.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

After the 1st 40lbs I thought I wasn't going to lose anymore. But it was just my body catching up.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

They don't feel sorry for me because I can now walk pain free. Last year for halloween I was MIMI from Drew Carey show they say this year I will have to be MINI_MIMI.