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

My sister was considering it, so I thought I would look into it.My first impression was looked good but seemed too extreme. How could I survive without eating the way I was accustomed too, but I knew I could not survive if I did.

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 hard time getting approved. I was denied three times. With my first denial came a letter stating they wanted me to go to LIndor instead,they would even pay for 1/2. I appealed and blue shield held up the denail, this time stating I need more tries, with a dr's help. I appealed this to a board, and the upheld the denail. I went back to I did not lose hope, when at times it did seen hopeless. My primary was great she knew I needed it, so I worked with her for a while on weight loss and we had some nutritional counsling and I started seeing a pulmanary guy for the breathing problems that I stared having. A couple of months after my last denial she sent in a new request, this time they approved. It took almost a year but I am 1 week post op now.

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

My visit went great, I was a bit nervous, but Dr. Chin had preformed an open RYN on a freind of mine. I wanted a lap, I got the impression he would of rather of done it open. Have all your questions ready. Do research before you see the surgeon.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I am 37, and I have a lot of living to do. I have 2 children, I want us all to have a long healthy life.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I wanted and had a lap rny. The RNY seemed like the best procedure and having it lap, the recovery time would be better.

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?

It's only natural to have fears, and my poor kids, what if I did die from having this surgery> My kids would have no mother and it would all be my fault, for choosing this and not another form of weight loss. So I had to get that negative thought out of my head. It is my turn to be a success story, and thats what I focused on.

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?

OH BOY, did I get mixed reactions. Most of my freinds were excited for me, a few thought I did not qualify and I was looking for an easy way. MY mom, and my husband were still not beleivers, and neither was my 12 year old son. So honesty about how much I really weigh brought them over to my side. They really had no idea how much I weighed. My weight was always a secret, only me, my dr. and that poor nurse who had to weigh me at the dr's office only to have to keep adding weight to the scale knew the truth. So, I started telling people how much I weigh, first my husband and son and they were shocked, and I explained honestly and open about how, I am not built to be this heavy and the probems this is causing me. They have been very supportive now!

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

I informed my boss about a year before my surgery, thats only because I did not know it was going to take me almost a year for my insurance to approve. But her reaction was supportive and I was out of work for 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 5 days, I was not counting on being in there so long, but I guess it was nice to have all that care. I got a lot of well needed rest, and I did not experince a lot of pain, so it was good stay

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

I had no complications, I feel very lucky, my recovery is going remarkebly 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 stayed home and did not get out much the 1st few weeks, I never had any anxiety, I always felt postive about the steps I was taking.

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

I was tired the first few weeks, so I got rest, Thats important, your body needs time to heal and your head needs to get used to a new way of eating and thinking about food, I took it easy and I am glad I did. I am now only 10weeks out and I feel great, I've already lost 51 lbs and have not had any negative side effects.

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

The hospital and surgeon are local for me. (nice)

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 started slow, I followed my dr. recommendation with Cottage cheese, puddings and yogarts the first few weeks and I added egges and pureed chicken breasts and cheese and crackers, I am now 11 weeks post op and I have tried a lot of things and thankfully, nothing has given my any problems, I even had a couple bites of a hamburger from McDonalds (at 9 weeks)and a few bites of a soft toco from Del Taco(at 10 weeks)

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

I took a month off work, and I am glad I did, I was tired and did not do too much the first few weeks. Your body needs rest, and I am glad I rested because my recovery went very well

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?

So far, I am 12 weeks post op and I am pleased to say I have had no side effects,except I was a bit constapated a few weeks ago, so I drank prune juice and that took care of that.

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

I had a pretty easy time of it, but if I had to pick the worst part it was drinking that oil stuff before the x-rays to make sure there was no leakage.

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

There is a weekly support meeting that is put on by my surgeon's and is lead by a pyschologist. I have found these meetings very important, and extremly helpful. I went to a couple of them even before I had my WLS

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

I had a lap, so I have six small scars, I still put neosporin on every day and am hoping they will fade, but there not too bad.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I think I am still to new (almost 13weeks out) I have not had any plateaus yet, I just keep losing!!:) update:12months post op/I have hit several plateaus in the past months, I always stay positive, and its not always easy, I am one who needs instant gratifaction. But as long as I keep walking and excersising and drinking lots of water, my body keeps shrinking even when the scale stays the same.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

no, not yet. update at 12months: yes, people treat me different, its hard to put it into words what has changed> It might be that I am the one who is different so I treat people differently so they respond more favorly too!