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

2000, HAD THE VGB, REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IT, BUT AFTER ALL THAT PAIN AND TROUBLE, DID NOT LOSE ANY WEIGHT AND BLEW OUT STAPLES AND ENDED UP WITH HERNIA. NOW, 2002, NEW OPERATION, RNY, REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS ONE, WITH THE FAILURE RATE BEING LOWER. LOOKING FORWARD TO THE FUTURE

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

I DID NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEM GETTING APPROVED, UNITED HEALTHCARE IS THE BEST

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

VERY INFORMATIVE, DID NOT MATTER WHAT HE SAID, I WAS GOING TO DO IT.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I WAS TIRED OF BEING FAT, I FELT SLUGGISH, SLOPPY AND TIRED OF THE WAY PEOPLE LOOK AT ME

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I HAD ALREADY HAD THE STOMACH STAPLING, SO THE ONLY OTHER ONE I WAS INTERESTED IN WAS THE RNY BYPASS

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 DID NOT EVEN ALLOW THOSE NEGATIVE THOUGHTS IN MY HEAD

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?

THEY WERE MAD, BECAUSE I WAS IN A LOT OF PAIN FROM THE FIRST ONE, AND THEY DID NOT WANT TO SEE ME LIKE THAT AGAIN, NO, THEY KNEW I HAD MY MIND SET. VERY SUPPORTIVE

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

I TOOK OFF 9 WKS EVEN THOUGH I DID NOT HAVE TOO, I COULD HAVE WENT BACK TO WORK SOONER. BUT, AFTER THE FIRST SURGERY, I WENT BACK TO WORK THE NEXT WEEK, AND DID NOT HEAL RIGHT, SO, I TOOK ENOUGH TIME, TO TAKE IT EASY THIS TIME.

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

I WAS IN THERE 3 DAYS, IT WAS OK, THEY DID NOT ALLOW ME TO FEEL ANY PAIN, AND FOR THAT I WAS GRATEFUL. THEY DID NOT HAVE TO TELL ME TO WALK, I DID IT ON MY OWN. EXCEPT I DID NOT GET ANY REST WHILE I WAS IN THERE. JUST CLOTHES,

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

WOUND TOOK ABOUT 7 WKS TO HEAL. THAT WAS ALL. EVERYTHING ELSE WAS OK.

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 WAS ELATED. BUT KIND OF SCARED. VERY EMOTIONAL, AFTER ALL THIS WAS MY SECOND TIME AROUND, AND I WAS AFRAID OF FAILING AGAIN. I JUST KEPT THINKING IT WAS FOR THE BEST

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

I WAS VERY DEPRESSED. I WOULD NOT EAT OR DRINK, AND I WOULD SIT IN A CHAIR ALL DAY AND JUST WATCH DEPRESSING SHOWS ON TV. I DID NOT WANT TO DO ANYTHING. THAT WAS THE WORST PART. I THINK EVERYONE GOES THROUGH DEPRESSION. YOU START TO MISS FOOD. BUT , I DID NOT WANT ANY.

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

THE HOSPITAL WAS ONLY DOWN THE ROAD.

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.

AFTER MY SURGERY, I DID NOT WANT TO EAT OR DRINK, I HAD TO MAKE MYSELF DO IT. I DO NOT TOLERATE MANY DAIRY PRODUCTS WELL. THE ONLY THING I HAVE FOUND THAT NEVER MAKES ME SICK IS FRUIT, CANNED OR FRESH. YOU ARE SCARED TO TRY DIFFERENT THINGS, AND YOU CRAVE DIFFERENT THINGS. BUT, I STAY AWAY FROM SUGAR AND FATS AND I AM OK, IF I START TO MISS THEM, I REMEMBER THE FEELING I GET IF I EAT THEM, AND THEN I AM OK, DO NOT WANT THEM ANYMORE. I EAT A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING. LUNCH MEAT GOES DOWN OK ALSO.

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

VERY LOW, STILL DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH ENERGY, TAKE VITAMINS AND HOPING THAT WILL IMPROVE

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

I JUST TAKE A COUPLE OF CHEWABLE VITAMINS A DAY, PROB. NEED TO TAKE MORE, BUT DO NOT.

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 HAVE DUMPED 4 TIMES SINCE SURGERY, AND DID NOT KNOW WHY 2 OF THOSE TIMES, I HAD EATEN BAKED CHICKEN AND STILL GOT SICK, SO, I GO EASY ON CHICKEN. I AM LOSING HAIR, SO TRYING TO EAT MORE PROTEIN. I HAVE TRIED TO VOMIT, BUT I AM UNABLE TO DO SO. WISH I COULD, BUT FOOD WILL NOT COME BACK UP

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

I THINK IT IS THE DUMPING, I CAN HANDLE EVERYTHING, BUT SOMETIMES, NO MATTER WHAT YOU EAT IT HAPPENS.

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

DR. STOREY HAS A SUPPORT GROUP THAT MEETS ONCE A MONTH. BEEN UNABLE TO GO, BUT WILL START NEXT MONTH.I THINK IT IS VERY IMPORTANT, TO SEE WHAT OTHERS HAVE GONE THROUGH.

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

9 INCHES LONG AND UGLY, AND ONE PART POKES OUT LIKE A BELLY BUTTON, BUT OH WELL, IT WAS WORTH IT. YES, ACTUALLY I EXPECTED IT, BUT NOT THAT LONG.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

KIND OF SLOWED DOWN THE FIRST MONTH, STARTED WALKING AND TRYING TO DRINK MORE WATER, AND PICKED RIGHT BACK UP.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

NO, NOT REALLY, BUT THEY NOTICE I AM SMALLER AND MAKE COMMENTS ON THAT.