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

I LOOKED AT DIFFERENT WEB SITES ON WEIGHTLOSS, AND WAS INTRODUCED TO THE IDEA OF SURGERY, THEN I ASKED AROUND AND GOT INFO FROM DIFFERENT DOCTORS THAT DID THIS SURGERY AND I LOOKED INTO EACH DOCTOR AND THE REVISION RATES AND TYPES OF PROCEDURES OFFERED.. I WAS SCARD AT FIRST BUT THE MORE I GOT INFORMATION THE MORE CONFIDENT I WAS.

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

MY INSUREANCE WAS EASY. (UNITED HEALTHCARE) I HAD THE DOCTOR WRITE A LETTER TELLING OF ALL MY HEALTH ISSUES.. AND I VOWED NOT TO TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER.. ADVICE: STAY ON TOP OF IT.. THE SQUEEKY WHEEL GETS THE OIL.. I CALLED THE DOCTORS, THEN CALLED THE INSURANCE.. PESTERED THEM FOR AN ANSWER.. THEY SAID YES TO JUST KEEP ME FROM HARRASSING THEM(SMILE).BUT STAY ON TOP OF IT...

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

MY FIRST VISIT WAS WONDERFUL.. I MADE A LIST OF QUESTIONS THAT I COMPILED OVER 3 MONTHS, AND I TOOK THE NOTE BOOK WITH ME AND TOOK NOTES AS WELL. THE DOC. ANSWERED all MY QUESTIONS...ASK ASK ASK.. IF YOU DONT TAKE A LIST OF QUESTIONS WITH YOU , YOU MAY FORGET WHAT YOU WANT TO KNOW UNTIL "AFTER" THE APPOINTMENT....

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

WHEN MY 4 YEAR OLD SON ASKEDME IF I AM GOING TO DIE CAUSE I AM FAT....IT BROKE MY HEART.. BUT HE WAS AFRAID HIS MOMMY WAS GOING TO DIE "UNHEALTHY".. THAT WAS HIS REAL WORRY.. I WANTED A BETTER LIFE FOR ME AND MY CHILDERN, I WANT TO LIVE TO SEE MY SONS GRADUATE SCHOOL AND COLLEGE AND HAVE A FAMILY OF THERE OWN... NO THAT IS LIVING....

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

MY DOCTOR SUGGESTED...

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 SCARD THAT I WOULDNT COME THROUGH THE SURGERY.. I THINK ITS A FEAR EVERONE FACES WITH ANY SURGERY... IT IS A NORMAL FEELING... I TALKED WITH THE ANESTHESIOLOGIST ABOUT MY FEARS, HE HELPED ALOT... THEY ALSO GAVE ME A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR MY NERVES IN MY I.V AND IT HELPED...

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?

I ONLY TOLD MY HUBBY, MOM AND SISTER.. THEY WERE WONDERFUL AND MY HUBBY AND SISTER SUPPORTED ME!!!!THEY ARE THE BEST..MY MOM..WELL SHE THOUGHT I WAS CRAZY..BUT SHE NOW UNDERSTANDS MY REASONS..I THINK SHE WAS JUST SCARD SOMETHING WOULD HAPPEN TO ME..BUT NO ONE ELSE KNEW... IT WAS NO ONES BUSINESS... I FELT THE MORE PEOPLE KNEW THE MORE I WOULD HAVE HAD TO DEAL WITH THERE OPINIONS AND "TALKING ME OUT OF IT" SO TO RELEASE MY STRESS BURDEN I CHOOSE NOT TO TELL ALOT OF PEOPLE...

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

MY EMPLOYER DID NOT KNOW UNTIL I WAS BACK TO WORK....I WORK FOR A SURGEON AND HE WAS UPSET THAT HE COULDNT TALK ME OUT OF IT... I TOLD HIM THATS WHY I DIDNT TELL HIM.. IT WAS A PERSONAL DECISION.. MINE... HE DIDNT NEED TO KNOW.. I WAS DISCHARGED FROM THE HOSPITAL ON A SUNDAY AND WENT BACK TO WORK THAT TUESDAY. I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL 5 DAYS.. I FELT GOOD ENOUGH TO GO BACK I TOOK IT EASY AND SAT MOST OF THE TIME. EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT...

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

my stay was for the most part was ok.. The nurses were ok. I found that the best thing to do is to ask your doctor what to bring to the hospital. Every one is different.

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

I had to have my esophagus dialated a couple of times, but all in out I did ok.

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 real excited and scard at the same time.. it was a rollercoaster of emotions all the time... I coped by talking to my husband, calling my doctors nurse (bless her heart)and visiting different web sites.

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

The mind plays bad tricks on you.. i found that i was wanting foods i used to love, i had to try to disapline myself from all the bad habbits i once had. it was hard.. emotional.. the physical pain was easier to handle then the emotional changes you go through..

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

i went 7-8 hours away for the surgery. I live in NY and had surgery in Detroit. My after care has been ok.. my doctor is always there if i have a question or problem.. I like the drive.. i see my doctor every 3 months and it made it great because I am able to see friends i made in the hospital, i just stay with them..

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.

i was on liquids for 3 weeks after.. it was hard.. broths,soups,simple liquids. Then i was advanced to puree foods.. i put anything i wanted in my blender and ate it..(no meat)for another 2-3 weeks, then i was advanced to soft foods for a couple weeks then to regular diet. advanceing to one food at a time. portion adjustment was hard. we are so used to eating so much that it was hard to convince my mind that small was ok..again the "mind" thing...Now i cant eat milk products, or fat... and i have dumped on simple things like mayo, salad dressings,ketchup, bbq sauce..everyone is different, so foods will depend on the individual. OOHH and orange juice made me dump almost for a whole day.. i must do 1/2 water and 1/2 juice for all juices or i will dump..

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

i was drained in the days after surgery, but as time progressed i got more and more energy, and now 10 months post op (7/01) i have all kinds of energy!!!!

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

my doctor has given me a product called bari-plex 2000 it is a protien powder that gives my body all it needs.

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?

hair loss... it went on for about 3 months.. i was so depressed.. it started 6 weeks out from surgery..but now its ok.. i have no hair loss...and just FYI i didnt lose it all.. no bald spots ...

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

life style changes with food. the mind... the body you can deal with but the mind is a whole other story.. my mind broke me so many times....

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

i just had my family, then i designed a support group in my area and got with the doctors in this area that does this surgery and they send me people. I started my group in march 2001 and there were only 5 people it has now grown to over 35 and i do meetings 1-2 times a month. i also have a web site and web page feel free to visit and post it .the address is www.weightlosssupportgroup.com SUPPORT IS SOOOO VERY IMPORTANT.....JUST ASK MY GROUP..EVERYONES STORY IS DIFFERENT WITH THE SAME PROCEDURE...GET HELP!!!!!

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

mine is long, and i am tan so you cant see it that well..it almost looks like a hair line. and it looks better than i expected...

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

i plateaued out for 6 weeks at 166.. it was awful.. but i just continued to keep doing my walk and eating right and remembered my body was in shock and needed to "catch up" , then at 6 1/2 weeks i got on the scale and lost 7 lbs.. patience is important here at this level..

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

ABSOLUTLY!!!! i get hit on by men (and women yes women too...) all the time. I find I have more confidence and I carry myself very confident. I enjoy going out and being around people more now.. Alomost like "i am not hideing behind my fat any more".. LOOK AT ME WORLD!!!!!