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

I am really not much into the isurance info. My own experience was way easy! I called them and asked them if they covered WLS. They said with medical neccesity they might. Told me to have doctor write letter. My doctor did and i got a tentitive approval. I then went to my consult and within 2 weeks of that doctor writting my insurance I was approved. Sorry I can't be much help in this area.

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

ASK QUESTIONS!!! I acually went to two different doctors. The first seemed very informed but he never contacted me after. I waited for three months.....I finally decided to find another doctor. I did and he and his nurses were great. It was only 2.5 months from consult to surgery! I guess I would like to say that people need to feel the doctor and his staff out. If you have any uneasiness please find another doctor. It is important to feel at ease with your doctor. Keep in mind though that some doctors don't have the best bedside manner and may seem alof but its his skills that are most important. His staff is who you will be dealing with more.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I was tired of eeling like I was going to die....tired of living life the way I was......and lastly but most importantly, I wanted to live to see my children grow up!!!!

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 was so excited about having WLS. It wasnt until I got my final approval from insurance and it hit me that I REALLY was going to have this done that I got scared. All kinds of things ran through my head. I was in obesityhelp chat every day every min expressing my concerns. I thought that this surgery was too good to be true, that I would never be thin and healthy again and something was bound to happen because I didn't ever think something this good could happen for me. Fear is normal, from what i learned we all go through it. Talk to yoiur doctor or his nurses and tell them your fears. If your fears are due to your uneasiness with your doctors skills then maybe finding another doctor would be best. But if youi trust your doctor and the fears are jsut your fears then do more research and find support. In my case, the chat helped alot.

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 family thought it was a great idea. My kids were scared but understood.

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

I was in the hosptial for 7 days. I was put back a few days due to a minor complication. I wasnt to thrilled with the hospital itsself but the staff was great! They did the best they could with what they were allowed. I think the most important thing I brought with me were the wooden spoons........lol

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

I had a minor complication. From what i gather the doctor tore my esphogus during surgery. I had to go 4 days with no food or water so it could heal. This was hard. I got depressed about 3 days out and cried and cried. Come to find out my blood was low. I recieved 2 pints of blood that night. AMAZING what having enough blood will do for you! lol I felt like a new person when all that was done!

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 had my date before my final approval with insurance. It wasn't until I acually got the final approval that it hit me. I was scared!!! Had second thought!! I dealt with this by going into obesityhelp chat and talking to others there. They assured me that although my fears were valid they were unlikly to happen. I got alot of support and reasuurance.........i am sooo glad I listened to them.

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

I had a hard time. I developed a cold/sinus problem the second week home. That then turned into the flu. I had to go to emergency room. I never hurt so bad in my life!!! I was a bit grumpy the first two weeks home. I didnt want to eat anything. I was scared I would thro up or stretch out my tummy or plug up. I guess I jsut rode this stuff through. Things got better as the weeks past and i began to feel more normal. Again obesityhelp chat helped alot!!!

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

I lived in a small town and had to travel 2 hours to doctor and hospital. There was no support group in my area. I would have had to travel the 2 hours to go to it and well, i never went. I relocated to another state 3 months post op and I am currently looking for support groups here. Obviously I am not able to follow up with my doctor.

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.

In the beginning I didnt want to eat. I really dont have anything I can't eat. I do know that things I liked before I do not like anymore. Milk is probably the biggest problem now. I do not consider myself lucky to be able to eat fried things or sweets. I think this will hurt me in the long run so I avoid these things as much as I can but lets face it.......i do give in to it every now and then and tell myself that I deserve something ood every once in a while.

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

I wasnt very active until about 8 weeks or so. My incision can open a bit so that limited me.

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

The worst thing was and still is is that no food really sounds good. I have to force myself to eat.

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

I am currently looking for one. I think this would be very valuable!!

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

My scare is a small problem. It is a keloid now. It causes pain once in a while and pulls alot. It is still hard to wear anything over it. I am told I can have this fixed later but I am not too worried about it. A scare is a small price to pay for having this WLS that saved my life.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

ARGHHHHH.........i am in pleatu now. I am very frustrated. I lost so much so fast that I am told my body has to catch up with itself now. I have loss about 10 pounds in 6 weeks now. I have tried everything to get it going again......i am jsut really frustrated!!

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

YES! I acually got a cat call made to me the other day! :) not used to that. lol