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

About six years ago when I watched a special on it in the discovery channel. It looked very complicated but i was desparate, but didn't go through with it.

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

Well this part was easy for me. I went for my consultation. Dr asked me when I wanted to do this, i said YESTERDAY.. and he submitted all my paperwork. His secretary called me about two weeks later informing me that it wasn't approved, I have to write a letter of approval. I then wrote a two page letter explaining my dilemna with my weight, and viola I was approved.

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

Well since I had done so much research on this surgery years ago, and then again prior to going to my initial consultation. I also had help from this website. My consultation went very well. I asked him about his history. And also my girlfriend had the same surgery done with him. Like i said i was in a desperate time, and i knew via my girlfriend that he would be quick. He didn't send me for any exams as far as mental therapy, or sleep apnia. All i had done was an upper GI a week before my surgery. I went in march to see him and in april of 01 I had it done.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I was fed up with my weight. I knew that if i didn't do something about it right then and there, i would end up dying. I just had a baby, and I wanted to see her grow up and play with her. And did not want her to feel embarrassed about her mom as my other two kids felt growing up.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I just wanted something done didn't care which procedure as long as it worked.

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?

Well to be honest, I wasn't afraid at all which shocked me because three months prior to my surgery I had a baby that weighed 10lbs 8 ozs and I delivered her normally. After that ordeal I thought I wouldn't go through pain again. But I had to have something done, and what I did was just close my eyes and pray to God that everything works out for me. I went in there with a clear head. The day before my surgery, I sat with my kids and husband and explained to them why i am doing this. They cried and my son was very afraid for me. My husband did not want me to do it. He said he was ok with the way i looked. But it wasn't about him, it was about how i felt about myself. I even wrote a good bye letter to my family just in case. The day of the surgery, i woke up showered, and my bag was already packed and i felt no fear at all. When i got to the hospital (mount sinai) i wasn't afraid, i changed to my gown, met with my surgeon and anesthesialogist and we went into the operating room, and I just said LETS DO THIS... Think about what your going to look like after the weight loss, that should be your main goal, and focus and the fears would go away. Its worth it, trust me.

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?

Well my husband did not want me to do this. He loves me big, for his own insecurities i found out later. My dad was afraid for my life, my sister encouraged me, and my best friend did not want to support me on it. The majority of my friends supported me on my decision and understood. I should have sat with my kids and explained to them how i felt about my weight, as opposed to telling them that i was having surgery because I was too fat. My husband helped me out a lot, and my friends were there for the most part.

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

I didn't want to tell anyone. I was embarrassed. So I told them that i was going for surgery, but kept it confidential. Told them i have to go on disability as per my doctor to recover. I explained to my manager that there was something wrong with me, but did not get into details. I was out for about a month.

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

My surgery was done at mount sinai. I was there for six days. I had my own room and they made me feel so comfortable. The only bad thing was that they had to conduct tests on me that consists of me getting up and moving to another bed, which hurt me alot. But they helped me out a tremendous deal. Important things to bring, is comfortable pj's. For the most part, you will not care what you look like or have on. The hospital staff was very very helpful and made me feel so good. One staff member even came in to tell me, you are going to look beautiful, i can just tell. Made me feel so much better.

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

No complications what so ever. I must say i have been very lucky. What ended up happening to me was my cut wouldn't heal right away. I had this nasty part of the cut that would not heal. The rest of it healed nicely expect this one part, and puss would come out all the time, and it stunk so bad. It was so nasty that i would get sick. I had to squeeze it and it would come thick white and nasty. I had to change my bandages at least six to seven times a day. My doctor finally had to reopen me and clean it out. The only bad thing is that i get alot of heart burn. It gets so bad at times that I have to make myself throw up. But thats my own fault. This only happens when i eat sweets or spicey foods. Which i have to stay away from anyway.

In the weeks after you got your surgery date, how did you feel? How did you cope with any anxiety you might have felt?

After my surgery, when I got home. It was tough. I had to adapt to new eating habits. I had to learn to stay away from the regular foods i was use to eating. Maneuvering around the house was tough. I had to stay in the sofa for a while because i couldn't get on my bed because my bed was so high.

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

Well when you get home, you are not going to be able to move right away like normal. Well the surgery i had the long cut... Your eating habits will change instantly. You no longer crave to eat at this time because your in pain. Be patient with your weight loss it doesn't happen over night.

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

Not that far. I live in staten island and had it done in manhattan.

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.

All i could eat was fluids, and jello the first week, but i didn't really eat at all. I was too much in pain and very drowsy. After surgery I could no longer tolerate certain foods. Fatty foods, sweets.

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

After a month i was walking alot better and faster. I did not start exercising after three months after my surgery. I actually waited until my cut had healed up a bit. But I felt much better by the third week, almost back to normal.

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

I take a multi vitamin everyday, and CLA pills (fat absorber)

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?

vomiting was the only thing that happened to me. I couldn't keep my food down, because i didn't learn how to eat well. I was eating the same foods as before and kept getting sick. Then on my own i started learning how to eat better.

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

The worst part was my cut. It was horrible looking.

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

I had no after support at all. I went back to the doctors every week after a month, but that was it. He did not recommend anyone to me. But i highly recommend this for everyone. I wish i had this. Another friend of mine had the surgery done recently and she attends meetings every other week. Its important that you get into a program to help you cope with the changes in your life. Trust me its a life change.

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

My scar was horrible, it was thick and very long. From the middle of my chest to my belly button.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Well after six months i stopped losing. I lost a total of fifty pounds, but it took a long time to lose it. I went from a size 26 to a size 20 in about six months. But i was stuck there for a while. I am now 2 years post op and am now fitting into a size 11. I am still 208 and have 55 more pnds to go. Its a slow process for me, but I haven't gained a pound back.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes. When i was heavy no one would talk to me the way they do now. I am what society calls "normal".