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

I did a web search looking for help to lose the weight.

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

My surgon's nurse took care of all this for me. I say thank-you to her for ALL she did.

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

It went very well. I was scared to death not knowing what to expect. I did not know how he would react seeing someone on my size ( was well over 700 pounds at this point ). Do your homework on this. Find out all you can and ask questions. If the Doctor is right for you as mine was he or she will answer any and all of your questions gladly.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I just wanted help. Life was just there I was liveing it but yet NOT liveing it. Dr. Tentenstrand made me feel like he cared about me as a person. I needed that !!!!!!!!!! I knew if I went on the way i was I was going to die soon. I was not ready for that to happen. So I did something about it.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I have to be honest here I left that completey in my surgon's hands. I went in with an open mind and 2 years of researching Gastric Bypass Surgery. He helped me so very much.

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?

Ok I was scared to death, but I knew that I could die on the table or even after from complications from the surgery. But I also knew that I was killing myself from being so very overweight. TALK to your doctor also a family member, a friend, anyone even ME. There is NO shame in being afraid.

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?

There were great after the shock of my telling them what I was going to do. My brother was the greatest, and as for friends the ones I told help also. I have a friend now who is wounderful and so is her family, her daughters help me as I need it, they and my family support what I am doing 100%.

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

My stay in the hospital was hard on myself and family. I was in for 18 and 1/2 weeks. After my surgery I had many problems. Something to read, phone numbers, I kept a journal.

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

Yes I had many.One at a time. The nurses and doctors were great. Also the physical therapest was outstanding. On days I did not want to move he was there and got me going.

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

Scared,Happy, Nervous all at once. I just kept comeing back to this site and read and reread everything I could. I knew this was the only way to help myself and I was ready for it.

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

Well as i said I was in for a much longer time than most so my first few weeks home were much differnt tnan most people's. You are going to be tired and sore, but whatever you do let people help you!!

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

Just 20 minutes. I had my surgery at Wilson Hospital. It is very close to where I live.

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.

As I said i had a lot of problems. I was NPO for the first 3 or 4 weeks after surgery. Than i was on a soft diet, could not eat beef in any form for a couple months after that. NO SWEETS, NO CARBONATED DRINKS EVER, NO GUM, I can now eat regular foods, I just have to eat smart !!!

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

The first few weeks after surgery I had all I could do to just walk a few short feet at a time. But I kept at it and just anned a few more steps every day. I was so very week for so long.

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

My family and special friends are my main support group !!!! I also belong to my surgon's support group, This help a great deal, and yes is most helpful to me.

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

My scar had faded over the last two years but is very long. yes

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Iwas so weak after surgery the it was like I took 3 stseps forward and got knocked back another 10. So I not only had to make up thoes 3 tseps but also the other 10, this went on for a very long time.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes