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

I had a friend who underwent Laproscopic RNY and told me about it and encouraged me. Before my mothers death she begged me to somehow get my weight under control. My final promise to her was that I would. I was very nervous initially, but the program I was in was a six month program and it helped to educate me, and ease my fears.

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

Talk to your insurance provider, they should be able to tell you what hoops you need to jump through prior to surgery. Keep them updated also.

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

Well, I was very nervous at my first meeting. My insurance does not allow a first meeting until you meet the 5% weight loss goal prior to surgery. I was not able to meet him until a bit before surgery. He is a wonderful doctor and the bariatric team was great too. Having had previous dealings with them would have calmed my initial fears much more rapidly.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

My mother died in January of 2008, one of the last real conversations I had with her she begged me to find some way to control my weight. She knew she was dying - and she wanted the rest of my life to be full and happy.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I picked the Lap RNY because of its outcomes with both Diabetes and High Blood Pressure as I had both.

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?

Initially I didn't have many fears in that regard, but I did end up with complications afterwards. The only thing I can tell you to calm your fears is that you CAN and WILL make it through whatever comes after. And that surgery really is the first day of the rest of your life. No matter what, I'd do it again in a minute.

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?

My family had qualms about my surgery at first, but have been very supportive since.

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

They under-reacted initially. But the response has been incredibily supportive since.

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

Initial stay in the hospital was 4-5 days. You need to bring your comfort items. Hairbrushes, makeup .. scented lotions candles. Its probably different for guys (don't know many of them with scented lotion or candles).

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

Yes, after 10 days I was back in the hospital with vomiting and nausea. The doctor had discovered hernias in the initial surgery but hoped we could repair them at a later date after recovering from the RNY. Unfortunately part of the bowel slipped into the hernia and became obstructed. I had an additional surgery requiring another 7 day hospitalization. Recovery from the second surgery was very difficult. Once I started feeling better, my recovery began to progress rapidly.

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 lucky in a way, because of the second surgery I was home and didn't face as much anxiety as I might've. My only thing in those next weeks was sleep, eat when necessary and sleep more.

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

I was tired because of two surgeries within days of one another. I didn't use the pain med probably as often as I'd like. I could not get comfortable in any position to sleep. But once that initial period was over I improved quickly. People need to take it slow and discover what works for them in the life after surgery.

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

25 miles. The travel was never a problem

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.

As they will tell you prior to surgery, you will have no tolerance for anything with sugar. Well, I found a few more things my stomach wouldn't tolerate well. Any kind of bread initially made me feel sick, even toasted bread. Also, I could not, and still cannot tolerate milk. I can't stand certain smells still. After surgery that was the worst part. I have always liked milk, and for some reason still crave it. Its just not going to happen though.

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

After the second surgery, it was minimal for a while.

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

I take Bariatric Multivitamins, Bariatric Calcium, B12, Iron and B1.

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 have been experiencing some hair loss. Right now seems to be the worst time so far. Coping with them is a small thing because I feel so much better they are trivial to me.

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

The worst part about the bariatric surgery process was for me the second surgery and recovery, not the initial one.

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

Memorial's Bariatric Program at Springfield has a support group. I've been able to attend about half of the meetings since I've recovered.

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

Scars are not bad, especially considering the alternative of not having had the surgery.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Sometimes my weight will plateau or go up and down a few pounds for a week or two, then boom - I'll have a week where I lose 8 to 10 lbs in a week. Just keep working, you will get there.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

People do treat me differently now. I have to admit that sometimes I'm flattered, and sometimes I'm extraordinarily unhappy about that. I am the same person inside, and some folks (especially men) seem to not get that fact.