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

I have always known little bits about it. Ive secretly wanted to explore this as an option for a few years but society tells us that this is bad and you should be able to lose weight by eating right, working out and drinking water. Ive tried that I did okay for awhile and now Im regaining, Ive tried pills and Ive tried joining a gym. All of this and I am still 240 lbs at 5'2. I think it was harder for me to look at this as an option because my family more then anything makes it seem like I have failed.

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

My whole process began 11-27 and after seeing my PCP having a referral for consultation approved in less then 24 hours, seeing the surgeon on 12-27 today after finishing my preop tests I was approved. I made sure to make friends with someone at the IPA I have and called only her, if she wasnt there I wasnt gonna bother. She was pulling for me and she helped SO much. I suggest everyone who is workng on approval call often and make a friend, they can only help you. Good luck!!

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

I spent a lot of time on this and other sites learning about WLS so my consult was basically just getting a feel for my new Dr. It was informative and very helpful. I suggest you make a list of questions and have them with you so you dont forget to ask. I faxed mine over and he was able to read them before I came in so we knew what to talk about. I should add the list was 72 questions long :)

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I havent battled with insurance yet and I have yet to see a surgeon but I know I will have this surgery. The fact I cant run and play and do all the things I want to do with my two year old daughter made me decide I have to get serious once and for all.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Again before seeing anyone I know based on the research I have done that I will have the open RNY surgery. It is more perminant and thats what I need.

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 scared I wouldnt wake up after the surgery, or the night after I would die in my sleep from a blood clot. These fears are normal and I found talking about them helped me so much.

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?

The only family and friends who will know are my husband, mom, grandma, 2 aunts and my best friend Melissa. They are all 100% supportave for my choice.

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

I only plan to tell my boss that I am having surgery and I will be out 15-20 days. I never told my boss but I think she knows by now. I was out exactly 3 weeks, it was tough coming back Monday I went home after 1/2 day Tuesday I was fine Wednesday I couldnt get up so I came in at noon after that I was fine.

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 okay, could have been better. The nurses were in short order so there was a quite a wait after pressing the call button. I arrived Friday at 6 AM and was discharged Tuesday at 8 PM, just long enough, actually another day wouldnt have hurt. I brought a lot of stuff and I did use a good bunch of it. I didnt read my book, didnt use my shampoo and conditioner and I didnt use a pen and paper. I did use my nightgown, slippers, socks, cd player with relaxing cd's, my brush, hair tie, and thats about it I think.

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

I only had a breathing problem when I was waking up, turned out my EPI needed to be regulated and my binder loosened. Easy as pie.

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 just got my date today and I am SO excited!! I will have surgery on 1-18-02, 14 short days away. I am anxious and nervous and excited, but I am keeping busy, there is always cleaning to do right :O)

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

I slept a lot the 1st week, walking to the bathroom was hard :O). Now Ive been home 2 weeks and I have so much more energy and I can move so much better! Take your time and dont push yourself, youve had major surgery and you cant expect to be 100% right away.

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

My surgery will be at a hospital that is about 20 minutes from my home. Remember to bring a pillow no matter how close it is the ride is tough!

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.

So far 13 days po, my only food issues are with Flintstone Vits and Tea. Not to bad! I do get dizzy if I drink to much milk or have to much sugar. Now at 12 weeks out I have learned I cannot eat ham, grilled cheese, chicken, ice cream, chinese food and a large amount of milk. Well 6 months out I still cant eat anything listed above LOL . One year out I still cant do ham, I can do some chicken, very limited. No grilled cheese and I ate something recently that almost killed me and I cant remember what it was. No ice cream still and no chinese food. STill pretty much the same I guess!

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

My energy level is finally rising. I feel like I can do so much more then I really can. I try to walk every 30-40 minutes so I can keep moving since some of the time I could sleep where Im sitting.

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

None, I have my follow up appt on 2-7 so maybe that will change. I am now 12 weeks out and I take a childrens vit daily and sublingual B12 1x a week

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?

Right now I just have a rash :O( It started Wed the 23rd and its not showing signs of going away anytime soon. I just use calamine lotion, oatmeal baths and benadryl. At 12 weeks I am starting to lose my hair, at first it wasnt to bad but now its clumps, guess its time to get a cut!! I also get nausia often if I eat to fast. I started losing my hair about 4 months out and now 6 months out it is finally slowing down!

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

Relearning what to eat. Also watching people eat foods I loved preop.

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

My only after care program is the chat room on here and my wonderful family and friends! Though my Dr claims he is setting up a support group we shall see!

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

Its ugly right now makes me dizzy to look at it :O). Its about 4-5 inches long and red and scaby, is that a word? It is better then what I expected I had a very ugly image in my head. 12 weeks out it is raised a tiny bit, pinkish, and 4.5 inches long. I love it and i love to show it off LOL. At 10 months out it is pretty well faded to skin tone, pretty wide and icky but soon it will be almost all gone!

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I hit my 1st plateau at 3 weeks didnt move an ounce then bango down like 10, now at week 12 I am slowed down but thats it. I am still averaging 10-12 lbs a month. At that rate Ill be at goal by my anniversary! Okay plateaus SUCK. Im 10 months out and in the past 2 months Ive lost 5 lbs! Im working out now and trying to eat better I hope it helps cause this SUCKS!

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

People seem more interested in talking to me, is it my weight loss or the fact I am more out going now and allow people to talk to me? We go dancing A LOT now and the guys actually look at me more then my friends its AWESOME