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

Nothing else was working for me. A friend of a friend had it and I had long talks with her. Learning how much safer it is now than before and that it's NOT cosmetic helped me look at it seriously.

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

Getting approval was suprisingly easy. I made sure I had copies of blood test and results of the sleep-apnea and type 2 diabetes dianosis. I had documents the frequency of ashma attacks. I made sure I had all the documentations - then submitted it and was approved injust a few days. I'm sure I was the exception to the rule.

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

I met with several surgions. I ended up just going with my gut (no punn) instinct. I did a lot of research on line and with people who had this done. I went in prepared and with a list of questions.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

The gradual increase with difficulty doing simple thing - like walking.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

My insurance made the decision 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 had the opinion I was dying anyway. My weight was slowly killing me. My biggest fear was "what if the WLS didn't work." I drank a lot of clear protein in the weeks before-which I hear helped in the recovery. I couldn't worry about any complications because I understood everyone was different. I may not have what they had. I had to wait and take it as, if, it came.

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?

"Hallelujah!" was my sisters reaction. My parents are supportive and say how proud they are that I'm taking care of the problem. There was concern, of course. But I have yet to hear any negitive comment from anyone.

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

I was ashamed of the position I put myself in. I only told people at work that were absolutly necessary. I made sure they understood it was a strictly medical preventative procedure. I'm sure there are rumors but I'm indifferent to them. I was out exactly 4 weeks.

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

I was in the hospital 72 hours. There is actually very little I remember about my stay. GOOD PAINKILLER! The worst part was the routine to get up and walk every two hours. I wanted to sleep. But the gas pains don't give you much of a choice.

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

I was very lucky. I had severe gas cramps a few days and my incisions leaked quite a bit once I got home. I paniced when the incisions just wouldn't heal up. I called the doctors office and the nurse said it was normal and expected. Only if the liquid turned green or smelled should I rush to see the doctor. They eventually healed and all is well.

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 wasn't anxious. I was sad and angry. I didn't have food to sooth me. I missed flavor. Eating became depressing.

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

I was told to listen to my body. To only eat when my body needed to. But the hunger feeling isn't the same as it was before. I didn't have the drop in blood sugar and hollow stomach growl. Without realizing it I went two and a half days without eating anything. My body wasn't hungry. This was a big mistake! By the third day I was feeling horrible. It was the worst. Once I got something in me, I began to recover. I won't make that mistake again.

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

I was less than five miles from my doctor and the hospital.

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.

Jello was my best friend. Broth was nasty. The protein vials were the worst. I cannot express how the clear protein made me nauses. Once I switched to shakes, things weren't so bad. Sweets and carbs have been cut out completly - two things I didn't think I could live without. Breads and french fries don't even interest me anymore. Most meats are tolerated.

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

Once I got home, I worked around the house and walked the dogs. I tired a lot more easily. It eventually increased that I could stay vertical longer then two hours at a time. I first walked the mall because it was way too hot to walk outside (Arizona) My husband wasn't thrilled about me walking the mall. ;-p

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

I had to change my anti-depressants to liquid form because they weren't being absorbed. I take the vitamin B-12 once a week and chewable multi-vitamins once a day. I also try to manage the protein shakes, giving me 60mg, a day.

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?

Again, I was lucky. I've had no real side effects. I only vomited when I over ate, which was rare. No dumping or hair loss, which I contribute to the drinking of the clear protein before the surgery.

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

Eating slowly is the worst part for me. My food gets cold before I can finish. I miss food. I want my flavor back. I've been assured that will return in time. But I find no pleasure in eating. No satisfaction. I'm over the cravings. All of this in a minor inconvenience comparitively.

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

The aftercare support is essential. My doctors nurse calls me every two weeks or so. I have the support group on line, the once a month support group meeting, and by no means least my family and friends.

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

Better than I expected. I have six small scars, three upper abdomen, three lower. The largest one is 1 inch at the most.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I feel like I'm constantly on a plateau. I'm up a pound, down three pounds, up two pounds, down a pound. It's a roller coaster. My weight would determined what type of day I was going to have. My husband finally took our bathroom scale and threw it out. I'm suppose the determine my weight loss by the way my clothes fit.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

I'm not really treated any different. Other than my family and a few close friends, no one really knows. And I suspect are embarrassed to ask.