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

A friend of mine and my husband urged me to have it. I thought you were weak and taking the easy way out. I thought it was a copout.

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

I was lucky. I had a lot of weight loss diets that were supervised by my doctor.

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

It was great. I loved De. Hallowell. The nurses were nice and patient. They seemed very supportive.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I couldn't take this weight anymore. I felt like crap. I needed to to something and diet and exercise was not working.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

The doctor decided what was best for me and I trusted his judgement.

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 wasn't afraid of the surgery. I was afraid of failing at weight loss.

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 husband was pushing me into it. My mom dad and brother were against it but were very supportive. Now with all the complications post-op I see why. I didn't have surgical complications. I was very good at it all until about a year after. Then all heck broke loose.

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

One of my supervisors actually called me a fat ass before I quit that job. The other job was very supportive. My co-workers came by and helped me emotionally and send me notes and cards to let me know they cared. I was out about 4 weeks then I returned on light duty until 6 weeks post-op.

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

It was great! As soon as recovery brought me to the floor I was up and walking the halls. The staff was great. I was out before 72 hours. The best thing to bring is a will to survive and a positive attitude. Those are things no one can bring for you. Also, bring slippers. Those socks suck.

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

No. I was the textbook case.

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

It wasn't bad. I just put my life in my creators hands. I knew he would work through my surgeon.

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

That is a funny story. Thanks God for my husband. I could not wipe my own butt and boy did that crap stink. The boost tasted aweful. I was so embarrased to have my hubby wipe me. I tried myself once to soon and this orange gunk came out of my incision and the nurse said it was ok it was just fat. All the pain from the surgery was nothing compared to the embarrasment of him wiping my butt.

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

About 20 miles. No.

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.

Boost, Boost and More Boost. LOL. Water and lots of it. When I started foods I tolerated all ok except for any sugary drinks such as juice. Being a diabetic it wasn't too difficult to adapt. I hated fish. The first time I ate it i puked. Cottage cheese and string cheese were my best friends and I don't tolerate beef well still to this day.

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

A lot. I started walking right away and as soon as doc let me it was to curves. I worked out 4-5 times weekly.

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

I took chewable prenatal vitamins but they changed the formula and now I have an allergy to it. I take Natures vitamins with Iron and it is a gel tab. I don't digest pills well and often find them in the toilet. I tak b12 injections weekly and Chewable caltrate 600+ D. 300 mg COQ10 and vit b complex and geratol

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 more nausea this year then I did after surgery. Lately anything I eat or drink makes me sick.

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

Now. After you loose the weight and gain some back and the docs tell you that it is something that you are doing wrong even though you are doing what you were told to do. Even though they don't test you to see if there is a problem with pouch or what not.

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

The one at the hospital wasn't too helpful. It was mostly the same old same old. Some stuff helped but it was hard to go when I was working at the time of the meetings. I think a good support group is the best way to go. We all need to talk to folks that know what we are going through. I just wish that any hosp would take anyone who had the surgery and not just their patients. I didn't like mine but a friend of mine loves hers and they wouldn't let me in.

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

Normal scar. It matches my c-section and hysterectomy scars. big deal it is just another scar.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I gained and nothing is working to get past this. I lost over 100 pounds after surgery actually around 140 pounds. It came off without difficulty. I worked out and ate right. I didn't stop eating right and working out but all of a sudden gained it back.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

I did. People who wouldn't want to hang with me were wanting to be my "friend" and once I started gaining weight they backed off. People are funny. The way I look at it, like me as I am or get lost. My hubby was even different with me. It really aggravated me until I just let it go.