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

I wasn't busy at work, went on line, found some sights, obesityhelp in particular, and went from there, after i read about it, i was so excited i didn't care about the aftereffects, or didn't read into that too much, until i was more informed. I knew I could eat less and be happy and satisfied, i also knew i was always eating way to much at one sitting anyways. my impression of the surgery was elation! what a great idea for someone like me who'd been on thousands of pills, diets, and paid out enuf money for them all to by my new wardrobes i would be needing!

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

I was at Bi-County in Warren, MI - and was dissatisfied with the care, they were short handed, i was without pains meds for long periods of time, but all forgotten now, i'm passed that. I went in on 7/2/02 and came home 7/4/02. I brought in a nice big pair of baggie shorts, socks shoes and a t-shirt to walk around in. cared about nothing else!

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

No complications.

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

In the first two weeks, i thought i would be losing tons of weight. But i did not! After four weeks, still not much weight off, but I got terrific support from my husband, and my folks, that, it would eventually start coming off, to realize the small goals are big ones, after what you've just been thru, your body certainly needed time to adjust. I was pushing 230 - 235, it took years, and it wasn't coming off without my positive attitude and help. The body's like a machine, you have to know how it runs, and how to keep it going, , --- that's how i looked at it.

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

Every couple of days or so, certain pains would come up, to the left of the navel, under the left breast, "strain" pains, every week it was something. I was overdoing it at one time, maybe three weeks after surgery, and i know i hurt myself, so i rested, stopped doing so much, it's hard not to. Besides the tiny pains, it's almost like i didn't have any surgery, i just wanted to put that behind me and start getting thin!

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

6 miles,

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.

first week and a half, i consumed, and i mean, Mega consumed sugar free popsicles -- and my bariatric shakes, some water, with lots of ice in a glass was my companion. i like the ice chips. My pureed diet two weeks out, was divine, soups - strained, creamy low fat soups, i was afraid to eat anything with bulk, i ate tofu in spaghetti sauce! with some melted cheese, refried beans with lowfat sour cream, to die for. now i can't tolerate (believe it or not) turkey, and chicken unless really really small pieces, i can't do pork roasts, anything greasy, breads fill me up, only small amounts of tiny pasta pieces, i look for the important stuff in my meals and add them like broccoli, protein stuff. i eat protein bars and drink skim milk with my shakes. I take one centrum chewable and a 'b-12' 1500 under the tongue every day. i still have to take my blood pressure meds, too, altho im down to 20mils instead of 40!

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

Livlite mgmt holds monthly suppport groups, however, i feel i'm not an addition to these becasue i dont have any issues, i'm coming along fine, and i believe they are helpful, just to see 'freshies' coming out of surgery and to hear their stories.

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

Scar is about 12" or more, up just below my breasts, and it goes all the way down to my navel, around the left of it to below it, so my navel looks crooked, it's pink right now, raised somewhat. I didn't realise it would be so long! I coco butter the hell out of it along with other rejuvinating lotions like stuff with retinol and vit e in it

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

after 3-4 weeks, i plateaud, i bummed, but i kept up with my walking. it eventually passed. I kept telling myself that there's no way i was gaining, my engine just needed a push, to overcome this, i'd eat a little more carbohydrates to get it moving again. it seems to work! But after three+ months, i also work out extensively at a gym

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yup, some folks don't want nothing to do with me. They can't even compliment me on my new look! of course, they are overweight. I get lookers when i go out, but hey, i'm with the best man of my life, my husband, once anyone at a bar see's my ring .. it's over!