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

I was home on leave from work after having a hysterectomy from weight and the birth of my daughter.

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

call them first - let them know you are serious abou this process. My insurance company was great and they did not waste anytime in getting me approved.

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

It was emotional, knowing that someone out there was willing to help me and who could understand where I was coming from. Ask a lot of questions and don't be afraid of the doctor or visit. You are doing it to help yourself.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

My daughter - I want to enjoy life with her and my husband. I wanted to live life to the fullest - besides I hated looking in the mirrow. Believe it or not, I was at church one day when I decided, I told my mom and she was trying to find the words at that momment to tell me to go through it.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

There was no decision - I had to do the right thing for my body.

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?

Any surgery is a risk - you don't necessarily die from this procedure but from the other complications you have had while being overweight. Believe that you are doing what is best for you and your body.

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 all were 150% supportve of me and still are today - Everytime they see me, they see a new and revived me. They love it.

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

She was not sure about it at first - but supported me. I told them since I was the receptionist, I am the first person people see, I can't represent the company looking this way. I was out of work 3 months.

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

My hospital stay was good - I was there 3 days. Bring your get up and move attitude, you will feel so much better.

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

Nothing from the surgery specifically, I did however expierence alot of vomiting but that is because my stomach took longer to heal than normal people.

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

Like not wanting to eat - I really didn't have any anxiety, my family took care of everything so I could just heal.

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

Some pain, tiredness, not wanting to eat anything. Just learning not to wan to rush the healing process, because it takes a while.

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

10 miles - It has not affected me aftercare.

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.

In the beginning I was doing liquid, I even hated doing soft foods, by as the weeks went on how I craved something that made a crunch in my mouth or the bubbles in my liquids. It took me little longer to heal so my eating was different than normal. We have 3 stages of food we work from. Stage 1 (Pureed) you are on that for 2-4 weeks, then Stage 2 (can mush with a fork)you are on that for about 2-4 weeks, then Stage 3 (mostly anything but red meat, things with shells (as they can block the hole to the intestines) i.e. corn. You can at about 6 months out start eating lettuce again which was nice. What is nice is how you can change your way of cooking and how much better things taste. You learn to appreciate the value of your self, and how important you are to everyone around you.

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

I walked everyday, and started working out in January. It helps greatly because the more calories you burn off while working out with eating so little you actually burn fat then. What a difference it has done for me.

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

4 multi chewables/per day 2 B-12/ day plus injections every other week (I am very low) 3 Potassium/day - was a 6/day - better since I can enjoy salads now. calcium Folic Acid

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 really didn't encounter too much of anything - my worst was the vomiting, but that was because my stomach was taking longer to heal. I just took my eating very slow and and retrieved back to the soft foods. Gave my stomach a rest.

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

I really have not had a worst part - maybe now is all the vitamins I have to take. But it is worth it.

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

I belong to the one associated with my surgeon's office. It is very help and very important - it gives you a chance to ask questions and every month we have a different speaker.

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

I have 6 little marks on my stomach from the lapro. done on me. I was expecting it to be bigger. But who ever said beauty is not without pain or scars to show your journey.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I have been able to wear a seatbelt, not have an extended seatbelt connection on planes and the tray can go down flat. Runand play with my daughter without getting exhausted so fast. Fit on the my husband's Harley with him withour bottoming out. Cross my legs and weigh the same as I did 12 years ago.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Very diferently - More people take notice in you and what you have to say, so are surprised that someone of my age went through the surgery (I am only 26). But I like the attention and I love to tell me story and show pictures.