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

A friend of mine had gastric bypass. I was frightened by it, didn't have enough time to take off work, then saw commercials on the lapband, after an initial visit with my doctor and talking with other people that have had the lapband, decided that it was what I wanted.

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

I was at first denied. Even though I had been on prescribed diet pills for years, they wanted me to go to a different doctor specifically for weight loss for 6 months. I went once a month for 6 months, took phentermine (which is not the best for you), then after the 6 months and losing only 20 pounds (now mind that was all lost the last week because I was sick and couldn't hold anything down including water). After that the insurance approved my surgery, gave me a 2 month window in which to have it done.

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

My first meeting was great. He explained to me that he had personally had the surgery, therefore knew what I was going through. He answered all of my questions and put my worries at ease.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I just finally made up my mind that if I could have lost the weight without it, I would have done it way before now and decided it was time to take control of my life.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Time, severity of surgery, less invasive, less complications

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?

Actually, I wasn't afraid. I was excited. That is why I chose this surgery, less invasive, therefore less chance of complications.

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?

They have all been very supportive and excited as the weight has been coming off.

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

Very supportive. I told her exactly what I was doing, that I was having the lapband procedure to assist me in losing weight. I was only out of work for one week.

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

Mine was an outpatient surgery, therefore I was out of the hospital that afternoon. While I was in the hospital, the nurses and doctors were great. Very friendly, they treated me great.

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

None

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 was sore for a couple of days, started walking right away. Didn't really have much anxiety..

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

Your eating is much different than before. My family was afraid I was going to starve myself for a while, (imagine that, a 270 pound person starving to death). Well, when they saw that I was not going to die from my eating behavior, and that the weight had started coming off, it all got better.

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

I traveled a little over 100 miles. I travel the same distance for each fill. I chose the doctor because I like him, he is a good doctor. I would rather travel a ways and be comfortable with my doctor that to travel less and have something go wrong.

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.

The first week it was liquids only. The next week my doctor wanted me to start with soft foods and the following week to start with solid foods. I have not had any problems with any foods. I have swallowed too fast a couple of times or not chewed good enough a couple of times. Other than that, everything has gone great

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

Walking the first week or so, since that I can do anything that I could do before the surgery and now 2 months out I can do much more than I could with the 50 pounds less.

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

daily multivitamin

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?

Constipation for about a week and a half... since introducing more foods, got better, no problems since then.

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

Wondering why I didn't do this years ago

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

Mainly my family and friends. If I need to talk to someone that understands something exclusively to WLS, then I come to my friends here at OH

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

I hardly have a scar. My stretch mark scars are worse.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I had a 3 week plateau where I didn't lose anything, then I started to get discouraged and eat all the wrong things thinking if I am not losing, why try. We had 2 birthdays and fathers day in there so I used them as an excuse. Then I woke myself up and told myself to get it in gear I didn't do this for nothing. I am back on the losing track and have lost 12 more pounds since then.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes. Believe it or not, I am still well over 200 pounds, however, people seem to be treating me with more respect, or maybe just noticing me more. This might also be because of my attitude towards myself.