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

I initially heard about WLS in a news story many years ago. I thought it looked risky but worth looking into. I spent a long time researching it and started the process about 6 years before I had surgery. I then changed jobs and my new insurance didn't cover WLS so I had to drop out of the program.

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

It was very quick and easy. In fact, I understood that the request for approval would be submitted after my initial testing was compelted. The doctor's office called me about a week before my final testing appointment to tell me I had been approved and had a date about 3 weeks later. I was shocked at how quickly and easily I was approved.

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

I LOVED LOVED LOVED my surgeon. He had performed WLS on my husband a few months before my first appointment so I already knew him. It was alot of medical history, meeting with (what seemed like) everyone in the office, and learning what everyone does. My advice - ask alot of questions. Read books or research online so you know exactly what you're getting into and what blanks you need to have filled in at that intial visit.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

My husband was my "guinea pig". I saw how well things went for him, knew and loved his surgeon and was therefore much more comfortable proceeding with my own.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I had only ever considered the roux en Y.

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?

My biggest fear was that I would be that one person for whom surgery would not work! It has actually worked beautifully for me and I am so thankful to have done it! But looknig back, I think that one of the things feeding my fear was the fact that I have never in my life been thin. I therefore couldn't imagine myself thin. I still can't but I just have alot of faith in my surgeon and in my progress to date.

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?

I am lucky in that everyone in my life supported my decision both before and after surgery. My mom and husband are my biggest supporters and sometimes keep me going when I get a little down.

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

I was very upfront. I have a good relationship with my supervisor and he was very supportive. I did well and was only out for about 2 and a half weeks. But I do have a desk job.

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

Surgery was on Wednesday morning. I went home Friday afternoon. The things I found most useful to take with me were comfortable pajama bottoms, chapstick and teabags in my favorite flavor of decaf tea.

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

I had minor complications - a popped internal stitch about 1 week out. It was painful but I just dealt with it and the pain was gone after about 10 days. In the hospital, I had a blown IV and my arm swelled to about 3 times it normal size before it was discovered. (It happened during the night while I was sleeping.)

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

Other than the popped stitch, I felt great. I was up and moving around just fine. I had no anxiety, just boredom and finally just went back to work.

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

I had it realtively easy. I had no porblems and, other than the popped stitch, no pain. I had been worried about not being able to eat and how I would deal with a severly restricted diet but was happy to find that I was not hungry and could have cared less if I ate or not.

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

I went to a hospital only 20 minutes from my home.

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 stuck with the diet they gave me pretty closely for the first couple weeks - clear liquids to liquids to soft foods. Then about week 4, I started just trying things and seeing how it went. I did not try raw fruits or vegetables until about 2 months out. I have still not had steak and realy limit my red meat intake. The only completely "off limit" foods for me have been white-flour based breads & pastas. Everything else, I can do as long as I'm careful with the amounts.

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

I was pretty tired and didn't do much in the first two weeks home. After that, my energy level was what it had been prior to surgery (not high but normal for me). At about month 3, the doctor found by B-12 levels were low. I started increasing my dose of B-12 and my energy levels have gone way up.

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

I take a multivitamin with added iron, Feosol, Vitamin D, calcium supplements & biotin daily. I also take Vitamin B-12 every other 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?

No bad side effects. I've had some dumping but it was rare and I made the needed dietary changes to prevent it from reoccurring. I haven't had any episodes in quite a while. The hair loss started about 3 months out and is still continuing.

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

Trying to keep up with my daily protein requirements. I don't particularly care for most of the protein bars and can't stand shakes at all. I have found other protein snacks but there aren't many good ones out there.

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

The hospital has an aftercare program that includes follow up appointments, support groups (monthly meetings and and online group), continuing education and a staff that is easily accessible.

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

I had laprascopic surgery so I have 6 small scars about 1-1.5 inches each. They are still kind of pink but I trust that the color will fade completely as happened with other surgical scars.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

None

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

I notice some changes but attribute it more to the the difference in my attitude because of the weight loss than to the surgery itself.