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

I first learned of the surgery from a woman at our local grocery store. She had it done and has lost alot of weight and felt so much better that I began to wonder if I was a candidate for it.I talked to my doctor and he said that it would be good for me. I went to a seminar that a local hospital sponsored and learned all about it. I knew that it was the right choice for me.

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

My stay in th e hospital was from Thirsday until Monday. It was okay. Everyone treated me with respect and did everything they could to help me. The nurses were wonderful. My first night was in ICU, (routine, just to be safe) and the nurse was so sweet I hated to leave her. She washed me off and ribbed my feet and legs down with lotion. I joked about taking her home with me. I took nightgowns, and robe with me to the hospital, but with all the tubes and iv cords, the hospital gowns were more convenient. Houseshoes were important because you will get up and walk, walk, walk. Walking is the best thing for you. the sooner the better.

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

The only complication that I had was not coughing good enough to get the stuff in my lungs up. They had to suction my lungs twice. That was horrible. They stuck a long thin tube through my nose and down my throat. I thought I would choke to death. I survived it though. I would encourage paople to practice coughing before going in the hospital and get those muscles ready to be able to cough sufficiently so they won't have to go through the suctioning. No one warned me of that.

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

Excited and anxious. I tried to stay busy and when I did let myself think about it, I visualized myself smaller and what my life might be like. I also thought alot about seeing people from my past at my new weight and what their reactions would be to the new me.

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

I do not have one yet. I do talk to a woman that my father knows that had the surgery a few months before mine. She has been my support. When I hit my first plateau I was devestated. I called her up in tears and she made me feel better and told me to just keep going, it would pass. She was right. I think that if you don't know someone to call or talk to, it is important to join a group. It helps to have someone to talk to. I also keep a journal to write down my facts and my feelings about things. It helps to have an outlet for those things. things.

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

It looks like railroad tracks. It is long, from under my breasts to the top of my navel. It is what I expected because my doctor told me what to expect. It's funny, but I feel proud of it and will show it to anybody. I earned it.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Just the one that I described above. I had lost 36 pounds on one visit and one week later, after working hard at my walking and watching my intake of fat and calories, I had not lost another pound. I was floored because I did not expect a plateau so soon. It was about 7 weeks after surgery. I called my friend and kept going with what I was doing and the next week, nine days later, I had lost an additional 12 ponds. I was soaring. It felt great to come off that plateau.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

My fami;y keeps noticing things about me like my clothes getting looser and face and shoulders getting thinner. I am only currently 9 and 1/2 weeks post op and have lost 49 pounds as of 4 days ago, so it is coming along and I know that people will eventually start treating me differently. I am ready for that. My attitude about myself is changing and I know that people will sense that and things will probably be different.