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

My family doctor mentioned it to me, and said I should really consider it, that it would be very beneficial to me and my family if I wanted to be around to see them grow up and to spend a lifetime of happiness with my new husband

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

I really don't have any, I did not have any problems with my insurance, probably because I had so many other health issues they thought it would beneficial as well

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

I had a list of questions and asked the risks or chances of complications , asked what to expect after the surgery and how much and how fast I would lose it

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

When the doctors said if I wanted to live it needed to be done and I was sick of all the medications I was on and sick of carrying the oxyge tank EVERYWHERE

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

They told me that open would be best so they could take my gallblatter out since 9 out of 10 patients have to have it removed within 6 months to a year of the WLS

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?

Don't be scared, If you follow the doctors instructions everything will be fine

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 had the most supportive group of family and friends around, although I was hesitant to tell some of my family, once they found out much to my surprise they were very supportive

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

I am on disability and have been for 6 years due to PTSD, so the only person that I really had to worry about was my kids and my husband, and he was great about it.He gave me 2 months off, which helped and worked miracles

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

The doctor that performed my surgery was Dr.Hanafy and well the hospital "Pioneer Valley Hospital" sucked. The staff was not informed on WLS they kept bringing me straws and soda. I ended up in ICU on day 2 because I got nemonia " I dont think I spelled that right". And the ICU staff was even worse, I had a few accidents in my bed because they would not respond when I beeped them, which made me feel totally like crap. The most important thing I took was books, laptop and portable DVD player, so I wasnt so bored

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

I am still currently going through some complications, I went home from ICU and started to vomit continously and have not stopped I ended up finding a new surgeon Dr.McKlinay and he has been awesome, we have done 3 scopes, upper GIs and a million other tests, I found out on scope 1 that I had an ulcer so they put me on protonix and then on the 2nd scope they seen my tummy had shrunk so they stretched it out and then the same thing on the 3rd scope and now we cant figure out why I am constantly vomitting and have sever stomach pain due to all the complications I have experienced I am currently 30lbs ahead of goal

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 went to therapy alot and still continue to do so, with out my thereapist I would not have made it this far, nor would have my husband or children.

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

I was very tired and irritable, but as the weeks passed my energy came up slowly and without my B12 shots I dont think I would have the energy I do now, thus I have also been on patassium bags and constant IV fluids

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 cant drink milk, or eat ramen noodles, but I can eat cheese , I cannot stand the texture of cottage chesse and other foods like this, Chocolate is another thing that I cant even smell let alone eat. as well as meat, since surgery I have become vegatarian which is way odd for someone like me who loved pork, steak and that stuff. I also cannot drink protien shakes, due to they give me dumping syndrome and or make me vomit.

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

Because I was so dehydrated I didnt have alot of energy and still dont, takes all I have just to shower, and then it takes me 3 hours to do my hair and makeup

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

I dont take vitamins or supplements, other then B12 injections every 2 weeks and IV fluids with vitamins and potassium

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 had vomitting, nausea, sleep problems and major hair loss and still do I had my surgery December 28th 2005 and these symptoms are still very active, I cope by venting to my therapist or my husband and doing alot of reading, typing and writing on the internet

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

It has to be the vomitting and stomach pain

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

I didnt really have an aftercare program, untill i found myspace.com WLS groups and they have been a tremendous amount of suppot

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

My scar is huge and totally ugly, it is nothing like I thought it would be

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

none

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

I notice people are not laughing at me anymore or starring, and that I actually get noticed by men and well women too. almost as if they didnt know I was fat at one time