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

I first found out about bariatric surgery because my sister had a procedure done. When she began loosing lots of weight I started researching WLS on the internet and I went nuts! This help has been here this whole time and I was unaware! I spent hours and hours reading everything I could fit into a day on WLS. All the different procedures, risks, benefits, doctors, etc... I finally decided to go with the Open Divided Gastric Bypass.

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

I had a rather difficult time getting insurance approval in the beginning. I originally had PacifiCare HMO and was flat out denied. We appealed and lost that too. Then, during my husband's open enrollment time I enrolled with his companies insurance - Cigna HMO. Again, I was denied and very depressed. So, my open enrollment at my work came around and I again changed to another insurance carrier. This time I chose Prudential PPO. I was approved almost immediately!!

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

My first meeting with my surgeon, Dr. J. Alexander, was very informative and lengthy. He shows you on a white board exactly what he is going to do to you during the operation. I would suggest that you first research what type of surgery you want, then compile a list of questions to ask your surgeon of choice. Make sure that you write these questions down and take them with you so you do not forget to ask something important to you.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I felt it was my last chance at good health. I was slowly dying an obese woman and this was going to help me with my health problems. Just to get the apnea alone cured was worth the entire thing!

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

After much research, I decided on the open gastric bypass because it seemed to have the best overall results in all that I had read. I still believe that this is be best and safest procedure being done today. It is worth the scar!

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 did experience fear of loosing my life during the actual operation due to my extreme sleep apnea. I did not have any fear about my surgeons skills. If you have sleep apnea just make double sure to inform everyone envolved so that you can be closely monitored during and after surgery. This is very important to your safety.

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 and friends of course voiced their concerns over my choice of such a radical means for weight loss. However, they stood behind my decision and offered me tons of support. They still are very supportive of me and are now all better educated and understanding of this procedure. Knowledge is power!

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

I did not tell my employer or my supervisors of what surgery I was actually having done. I still feel that this was a very private decision I had to make for my personal health.

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

My hospital stay was very long due to my being the first WLS patient in this particular hospital. The most important thing to bring with you would be chapstick! Your mouth and lips become so dry going without any thing to drink for a couple of days that was the worst part of the whole visit!

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

Absolutely complication free :o)

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 felt really good after surgery. Within one week I was out shopping with my Mom and driving myself around. I really did not have any anxiety after surgery.

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

My first few weeks after surgery were uneventful. I felt really good and relatively free from too much discomfort.

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

I was really lucky that I only had to travel about 20 miles for my suregery.

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.

Immediately following surgery, I was on a totally liquid diet for 6 weeks. This was really hard to do after about the 3rd week or so. But I did stick it out and believe that is one of then reasons I have had great success with WLS. In the beginning when solids were reintroduced, I had terrible problems trying to eat brocolli or carrots. Cooked, raw, mushy... it did not matter what form they were in, I could not tolerate these 2 things period. It has gotten better, but I still shy away from them just in case. LOL!!

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

I was reasonably active following surgery. Shopping trips and walking around the neighbor hood daily.

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

I take a multivitamin daily. I really can not tolerate any of the protein shakes and bars. I have tried them all and I hate them all.

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 mainly had vomiting if I ate too fast or something too fatty. I still so this today, 2 years out. You just have to retrain your self in eating and drinking. This is a lifetime commitment you are making to improve your health forever.

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

The worst part of the surgery process was the gastric pouch tube that my surgeon leaves in for 4 weeks post op. It becomes very painful and irritating, it was wonderful the day he took that thing out!

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

I belong to several on line support groups and one for my surgeon. We meet monthly to support and praise each others success stories. This is very helpful. When you are in touch with others going through some of the same things you are, it helps alot to have others that understand. As much as your family and friends can sympathize, they do not truly understand what you are going through because they themselves have not experienced this surgery.

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

My scar is about 5" long from under my breast bone to about one inch above my navel. It is exactly what I expected.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

There will be may plateaus experienced after wls. Just be patient and know that they will pass.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Absolutely people treat me differently. Men hold doors open for me now, smile and make eye contact now. Women are friendlier to me now and tend to include me more often now in the work place. Before I was truly shunned by others and that hurts alot. I am still the same person I was before, only lighter. Sometimes it angers me to have the very same people try to be nice to me now that absolutely went out of their way to pretend I did not even exist 2 years ago.