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

a co-worker had the surgery a year and a half ago. I worried about him, however, he has been so successful and it really inspired me to enquire about the surgery. When I went to my doctor we talked about the surgery and he supported me strongly.

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

When I went to see my surgeon I already had a lenghty noted diet It took no time for CIGNA to approve me. I took with me on my first visit to the surgeon my lenghty and failed at past diet history. Also my family health history was nothing to brag about, high blood pressure, history of stroke and heart attacks, diabetes. I really had no trouble getting approved. The hardest part for me was just being patient. I am not a very patient person, never have been. Even if you are denied the first time, just keep appealing and don't back down. If it is as important to you as it was to me it will happen for you it just may take you a little longer to get there.

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

I was scared! Embarressed that I could not lose weight on my own and totally felt like an out of control failure. The surgeon was great. We talked a great deal of the options available to me. If I was a good candidate for the surgery. What I could expect from the surgery as well as all of the complications that could occur. He was very honest and upfront, which I totally loved about him. I also asked about his experience with the ryn and how long he had been doing them? What kind of success rate he had, and what type of follow ups would he do with me following the surgery. I didn't want to fail again! I felt it was my last hope.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I really didn't have much of a choice. My blood pressure was totally out of control. I was really starting to have a lot of health problems that I didn't even share with my family. So for me I knew that if I didn't have this surgery, I was going to die soon, I knew I needed the surgery to be able to also continue to care for my ill husband who suffers from MS. The thought of having to leave him and burden my adult children with his care just seemed so selfish. So I might as well take a chance on my life. I could die being fat and my family wishing I would have gotten my weight under control, or die during the surgery trying to make an attempt to get healthy.

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?

Be brave it is so worth it. I would do it over again a 1000 times. I feel wonderful.

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?

All of my family and friends with the exception of one brother and one sister-in-law were fine and supportive of my decision. But my brother and sister-in-law even today almost 16 month out still make it a point to let me know that I made a wrong decision. That is just their opinion, and no matter how long it takes me at some point they will see it was the right decision. I don't love them any less just wish they would keep their thought to themselves. Sometimes I think they would love to see me fail. But I am not going to this time, so far I have lost 195 pounds and am 15-20 away from my personal goal. I look ASSUME.

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

I was gone from work 6 weeks. My employer and supervisiors were in total support of the surgery. I was not the first employee to that the surgery in my department.

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

I stayed at Carle Foundation Hospital and was treated as if I were some high class famous person. The staff were terrific. I had my surgery on Friday morning and came home on Monday evening. I brought way to much stuff. The only things I really needed was my tooth brush, house slippers and clean underwear. I didn't even us one of the nightgowns I brought with me, it was just easier to wear there hospital gowns.

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

No complications what so ever

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

The first 2 weeks were a little rough. However the remaining 4 weeks I was home was almost like a vacation. I had no anxiety, only that I was on liquids only for 3 weeks and then to soft foods.

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

The first couple of weeks are rough and you are very weak or at least I was. But the more I was up and walking around the stronger and better I felt. The last four weeks of my leave were more like a vacation.

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

20 miles, it had not affect on my aftercare

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

I am part of the Carle Bariatric Support Group. We meet the 2nd Thursday of each month. They are great and really help to keep me on track. I will always attend it is important. We have guest speakers and also talk at great lenghts about our struggles. My support group is like family to me. I talk with some of them most every day on our group website. I read somewhere that those bariatric patients who attended a support group were more likely to keep the weight off. Remember it is just a tool and I want my tool to work forever.

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

I have a small scare about 4 1/2 inches. I have a friends who is over 15 inches. I think every surgeon is different.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I have experienced some plateau's. The longest one lasted about 5 weeks. Don't give up, you didn't put the weight on overnight and I believe that your body had to go through adjustments periodically. Usually when I was plateauing on the scales I was losing inches instead.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Everyone treats me differently. People who would not give me the time of day when I was fat, go out of their way to say Hi. At first if bothered me, because I have not changed only in size. Also it seems that some of my bosses have more confidence in me now that I have slimmed down. Which totally seems crazy because I still do my work all the same. I have had a little trouble coping with this however, that is what your support groups are for. I am part of a terriffic group!