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

From a friend that had surgery 20 years ago. Contemplated surgery for many years. I guess I was afriad. Did not want to admit that I could not lose the weight and that I needed drastic help.

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

No problems. Doctor's office handled everything and Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Tricare were wonderful approved within 5 days. Tricare approved first call on the phone. Tricare was my secondary insurance.

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

Pretty much like everyone else. Doctor had no personality but very good at his job so who cares. Be prepared and asked all the questions you can because chances are you will not see the surgeon again before the surgery.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I had started taking pain blocks in my back and my knees where becoming so swollen and racked with pain that I did not want to have to live with all the back pain and knee pain and have to have more medications added to my daily way of living... But my family was my major decision in this surgery. I wanted to see my daughter get married and have her babies.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

My research made the decision for me and the doctor that I selected in my area. He only does the RNY procedure. There are 4 doctor in my area who does WLS he was the most qualified for me. All of my other doctors felt he was the right choice for me.

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 have had a fear of being put to sleep. Not so much from the surgery. Have been driving myself crazy with worry. But tomorrow is my surgery and I found that today I am calm and excited that the day is near and can not wait to have the surgery. I know things can happen but I feel very confident that I have a great surgeron and that he will take good care of me. We see you all on the other side.

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?

Only told my husband and daughter. They are wonderful and very supportive My mother, father, and brother do not know. My mother has worried so much about my weight in the last few years and her health has not been the best recently so I am waiting till after everything is done and I am on the road to recovery before I tell her. I'm sure she will he very supportive and happy. I finally told my mother 5 weeks after the surgery and she was very supportive and very glad that I was doing well and had been losing weight.

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

Not employed quit because I was having problems moving around and doing my job.

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

I had Open RNY and when the doctor got inside they found all kind of problem the doctor said it looked like a war zone. 5 hernia repairs, growth , etc... I was in surgery for 5 1/2 hours. Stayed in CCU 2 days then to regular room for 3 days. Baby wipes helped alot to freshen you up the first day or two.

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

I developed pneumonia a great doctor took care of the problem. Also developed a severe rash to my medications. Took a week to get that under control. over 80% of my body. Miserable

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

Scared and excited. I told myself what a good thing the WLS was and how much better I would feel and how my whole life was going to change for the better.

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

Cranky and tired. Unable to get comfortable. Lots of pain. God bless my families patiences.

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

10 miles

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.

So far I am 5 weeks post op and I have had no problems with any foods. I have been adhereing to my doctors instructions. The first 10 days was on soup only. After two week check up been on only...Protein protein.

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

I am 5 weeks post op I am still experencing a fair amount of pain I try to be as active as I can until the pain in my back becomes unbearable. I am 8 weeks post op and I still have some pain and difficulty bending over. I am 16 weeks post op and the pain is gone from the surgery. I still have some tenderness and back pain, but I am in a position to now take physical therapy to help my back pain. before I could not have done it.

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

2 Flinestone mutlivitamins a day 4 Tums a day 1 Iron supplement 50 grams of additional protein 1 Prilosec I recently started taking Zinc and Beta Carotene for my hair loss it's seems to be helping it slow down. I just wish I had started taking it a 2-4 week instead of 16 weeks. May have prevented the hair loss.

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?

Nausea - on and off for the first 3 weeks - post op I had diffculty sleeping for the first 6 weeks because I just could not get comfortable. 8 weeks post op and I am beginning to have some hair loss.

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

The pain in my back under my shoulder blades. I also have some discomfort in my stomach apparently at the staple sites.

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

Doctor has a great support group

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

From my breast bone to approximately 6 inches pass my navel. Yes was prepared by the doctor.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I am 8 weeks post op and I am having my first plateau (approximately the last 5 days. But I have lost 50 pounds since the week before my surgery. I am now 11 weeks post op and experencing my second plateau. Trying hard to break it. Well I am 6 months post-op and have been on a plateau for the last 25 days. I finally lost 3 pounds today. I am thirty pounds from my goal and I know that my weight lost is going to start slowing down. I am trying everything I can to help it speed up but only time will help. I have lost a total of 95 pounds in 6 months.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

yes. Everywhere, yesterday I had to have testing done at the hospital. It was noted on my papers that I was a gastric bypass patient. Every staff member that dealt with me made comments about the fact that they could not believe that I was ever large and weight a 100 pounds more. I recently saw my Gastro doctor who had not seen me since my surgery, he was shock and could not believe how small I was and how great I looked.