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

I found out about the surgery through my conselors secretary. Her daughter in law had it done in 2001. She helped me immencely, with the paper work, with support and just everything. I told her she was the poster child of WLS. She did everything and now looks like a new person. I was very confident in Dr. Ebis and his maner in which he talked with me. He told me everything I needed to know and even helped me with my insurance companies.

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

I went into the hospital on Monday and came home on Thursday. Everyone at the hospital was very nice and considerate of what I had been through. The only thing I had to bring with me was a baggy change of clothes to wear home, toothbrush, and paste, a book if I felt like reading or anything I might want to do. They gave me a fan so I could be cool and even let me open my window some. I am hot blooded.

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

I did not have any complications from the sugery. GOD blessed me with a surgeon that is very good at what he does and GOD guided his hands the whole time.

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

The closer the surgical date got the more anxious I got. I was very nervous, "Do I want to do this?" "Do I want to call it off?" It seemed that once the ball got to rolling the quicker it got here. I kept telling myself that it was this or meeting my maker and I didn't think HE was ready for me yet.

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

Well let me tell you it sure would have been nice to have a bed that could be raised at the head. It was a bear to lie down and get up with all those staples down the front of me. Then having to swallow my pride and let my husband help me with my hygeine things, like going to the bathroom, taking a bath, and flat out moving around. I used the recliner alot. The trouble was keeping my two dogs off of my stomach, they missed me so much that they just wanted me to hold them all the time. But when I told them not to get on my stomach they laid on my lap.

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

From where I live we drove 88 miles to Grinnell, Iowa for the surgery and the check ups. Going home was very difficult. It felt like my husband hit every hole he could find. Thank goodness his front seats lay almost all the way down. So I was able to sleep most of the way home. But the distance didn't bother me that much.

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.

After the surgery you are on a fluid diet for about 1 to 2 weeks, then you go on a pureed diet(that is nasty). I did eat some baby food, applesauce, cottage cheese and tried a pureed egg but that was too much to bear. I drank lots of water and still do. Some days I can do 64 ounces and others it is close. Now I am on solid food, but have trouble with chicken, wieners, and sometimes potroast. I have learned to chew and chew and chew and chew. Sometimes when I eat cheese it seems to grow while I am chewing it. FUNNY huh? If I eat too fast then things will get stuck and come back up or if it doesn't agree with me it will come back up. You have to change the way you fix things, you either bake, broil, grill or boil. But that is okay because I like to grill most everything.

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

Well let me tell you, since my surgery was in September and it was warm outside I felt great. My fybromialgia wasn't bothering me that much and I coud move without hurting alot. I wanted to do things I wasn't suppose to. I got ansy, after 3 weeks I did get on the mower and mow the yard. Rough at first but I just slowed it down and took my time. I haven't used my cane, walker or power chair since the surgery. Now that it is cold out my fybromialgia is acting up so it hurts my knees to walk but other than that I bless and thank GOD for allowing me to have this done. I feel like a new woman and everyone at Church can't believe how well I am doing. PRAISE GOD

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

Along with my prescription medications I also take a chewable vitamin, chewable calcium and an iron pill. But then I was taking these before the surgery just not in chewable form. It has to be chewable so it will go into the stomach opening better. FANTASTIC

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 had a lot of vomiting to start out with because the food didn't agree with me, but now I seldom vomit. I have had a small amount of hair loss. But that wasa because I wasn't taking my protein shakes like I was suppose too. BAD ME. But now I am taking them and the hair loss has stopped.

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

The worst part about the surgery was getting from my cart to the bed. It hurt like the devil and the poor attendant that was helping me has probably got a perminant bruise on his arm from where I grabbed it so hard. Otherwise I really don't remember to much before or after coming out of the operating room.

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

I attend a support group in Washington, Ia that consist of peope who hae either had the surgery or are waiting for clearance from their insurance company. It is very helpful to go to one because they tell about their own stories and give you a high five because you have done so well. They cheer you up when you are feeling down and remind you that things will go as you want them too. You need to have this support group because it gives someone to talk to who knows what you are about to go into or what you have gone through. If you don't have the support at home from family and friends then you need the support group to keep you up and going.

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

My scar goes from the side of my belly button up to the bottom of my breast. I don't have a problem with that because I know that with time it will lighten up in color. And at my age(53) I know that it will somewhat disappear.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I have reached a plateau right now. It is depressing but I know that I will get past it and continue to lose the weight. I have come to far to stop now.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

The only way peope treat me different now is to tell me how nice I look. They have even told me that if I keep losing that they will net be able to pick me out of a crowd. WHOA what an idea. It is awesome.