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

My friend had it and she did so well. I was pretty much immediatly interested. I was and still am scared. (I have not yet had it.. but will in a month)

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

I was approved with no problems at all. I did not hav eto write a letter or file any appeal. First time I tried I was accepted.

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

I was fully prepared to ask all the right questions. I had some idea of what to expect, as I knew of others that had gone before me. Being prepared also takes the stress and anxiety off of you. My Doctor was fantasic and very eager to answer my questions!

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

Bottom line,, I hit my bottom line. I tried so hard so many times. This was my only hope.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Others who had gone before me, and that is what my insuracne would cover.

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 TERRIFIED about having complications,, so much so that I nealry cancelled days before. My biggest fear was the blood clot thing, ,I was so scared of that. I did al lthe pre-op things my Doctor suggested but I was still very fearful of that.

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?

It has been 13 months since my surgery. I have not told my family at all, and I have only told very few close friends. I am not /was not interested in hearing the "non-educated" & "non reasearched" opinions of anyone else. Part of me would like to have been able to tell everyone,, but I felt that for 30 of my 38 years I'd been made to feel like less of a person because of my weight,, and I'd felt ashamed for too long. I didn't want any one else to make me feel like that ever again.. so I decided it was my risk, my stress, my fear, my decision and my business. I do have one friend who I told and she has only been mildy supportive. She started out supportive, but once alot of time passed she began to push me to tell others and said things which were just alittle thoughtless and hurtful,, proving to me that it was best to keep quiet about this. She has never had to even consider her weight,, so she kows nothing about my heart and soul when it comes to weight. I forgive her for her ignorance,, but the pain is still very real.

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

N/A

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

My Hospital stay was ok. I stayed at Scripps Mercy Hospital in San Diego. I was there four nights and five days. I had to stay an extra day becasue I had a fever, which looking back, was caused by the morphine. Truthfully, I had mean and careless nurses at night. They were too busy, very bitchy and did not care one bit about me as a person. I was in pain and unable to take certain meds becasue I had a reaction to them, I was miserable because of the fever, and cried alot,, one nurse actually sighed really loud, and said "so when you're ready you call me" The nurses during the day were nice though.. apparently the day shift nurses like being nurses. The other ones I refered to as "Nightmare Nurses" My husband stayed in the same hospital one year later, on a different floor (I was on 7 he was on 9) and he had WONDERFUL nurses.. so its obviously not all of them!

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

No, after that initial fever thing, which really was not surgery relatred at all. I had ZERO complications and my actual recovery was exactly as I had expected. I felt very prepared.

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

In the weeks after surgery I actually felt mild depression. Not regret; really just sadness. A friend of mine, who'd gone a few years before me told me I'd be all better in two weeks. She said I'd be up and moving around back to my normal routine and all in two weeks..BAD ADVISE. well, after three weeks I was NOT back to normal,, still uncomfortable, tired, learning to cope and all, and I felt like I was not doinhg well and that made me depressed. My best advise is this.. just follow "YOUR" Doctors orders exactly.. do what you need to do to feel better and do it on your own terms,, don't expext to get better on some one elses time frame. You will get better, everyone in their own time. I guess it took about 6 or 7 weeks post op until I finally felt like myself again. All the meds out of my system and all.

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

same as above. I used the pain meds for a few days at home,, then stopped. I slept alot, walked alot and worried that I was not eating or drinking enough. Just do what you're supposed to do and relax.. Its very important to have suport at home. My husband was very there for me.

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

about an hour. Not any,, it was fine.

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.

My doctor put me on a graduated diet. I started out on clear liquids, then to a protein shake, then to soft foods then on to more and more,, up to six months to a year. Usually in one or two week time periods. I was not supposed to eat pork or beef for six months to a year,, I tried beef at about 9 months and pork at a year,, it was fine. At 8 weeks post op,, the variety widens alot. It's really a year long process. I still avoid leafy green salads,, and chinese foods. Foods high in fats and sugars. I have experienced severe dumping three times. It snuck up on me unexepecantly .. I think I've learned my lesson now though.

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

pretty tired,, but I walked as muchas I could to avoid those dreaded blood clots! After about 4 motnhs I was getting some good energy.

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

Every day I take a high pot. multi, and a Vit. C ; three times per week I take calcium with magnesium and zinc and I'm suppoed to take iron but don't because its constipating.. I am going to try some thing new.. also I take B12 once a week.. I am faithful in taking these and have been all along. I believe this is very important. I don't eat much so I need those nutrients.

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 lost 50% of my hair begining at about 4 months and it finally stopped falling out at 11 months. Its fine now and looks great. [I had ALOT of hair,, so I could spare it!] Nothing else.

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

Just being cut open and having to have surgery. I have not minded giving up food,, I am so happy,, I have no regrets at all. except that I waited so long to do it.

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

None,, I have great friends,, and a wonderful loving husband. I keep in close touch with other WLS patients via the I-net,, thats all I've needed. Life goes on. I did faithfully attend every single Doctor appointment that was requested of me for the full year after.

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

It is about 6 inches long. After one year it is now faded, close to the color of my skin,, but still very much there.. exactly what I thought. It is a straight up and down scar from my belly button to just below my bra line. I have a shorter torso than I realized!

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I am now 14 months post op. I am donwnv 150 lbs now. \I really have not hit any plateaus',, the loss has slowed down,, but not stopped. I'd like to loose another 20 - 30 lbs. There's still hope for that.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Oh Heavens yes!!! Sad isn't it?