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

Friend of mine had it back in the early 80s. Didn't think too much that was good... she wasn't in control of her weight and it wasn't until later when I seriously started looking at her eating habits that I could clearly see that this was not the problem of the surgery having failed but of the patient not following the rules.

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

I called my insurance provider, got their list of requirements and then met them. The biggest problem I had was with the surgeon's office getting the reports to the insurance company.

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

We'll see since I meet him today.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I was tired and unhappy. I am only 44 and have at least another 35 - 40 uears ahead of me and my circumstances needed to change.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Research and first-hand testimony from post-ops. Call me vain, but I don't want some big old purple zipper running down my abdomen.

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?

None... borrowing trouble is a negative behavior from which I am trying to move away. Most of the people I've spoken with who had problems seemed to have spent an inordinate amount of their pre-op time worrying and kvetching about everything that could go wrong and so they ended up having problems. Self-fulfilling prophecy? I don't know but I'm not going there.

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 mother is just thrilled... my son, who is 21, says whatever you want Mom, if it makes you happy then do it. Beyond these two I've been playing it pretty close to the vest.

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

My boss only knows that I will be out for surgery, repair a digestive problem and possible gall bladder removal, an home recovering for 4/5 weeks. I have informed 3 of my counterparts including one in Phoenix of this and one is very positive, one is positive but concerned for my welfare, and the third seems pretty negative.

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 for 51 days. Lucky me... one of the 1% club who suffer ANY complications with WLS but no, I had to be special and have them all... even a few no one could have ever imagined.

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

I had horrendous complications, tore a suture, developed a leak, had an emergecy seven hour operation one week after intitial surgery, had a massive heart attack and stroke in ICU, fever that lasted for 12 days and basically died eight times and had to be pulled back from the edge of death way too often for me. I handled the complications and attendant pain, etc. by being in a four week coma. Man, you gotta laugh about this stuff in hindsight otherwise all you'll ever do is cry. My main concern now is that due to problems caused by the stroke I'm not sure how much longer I'll be able to work.

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

My surgery date seemed like it would never arrive and then, three weeks early I got the call that there was a cancellation and I could be the first 'at bat' the next morning. I jumped on it!

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

I didn't get home until I was almost two months out.

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

It was done right here in town at Abbott Northwestern Hospital.

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.

Once I was off the respirator and had the trach tube removed at about five or six weeks out, I spent one day on clear liquids, one day on full liquids, and then moved on to mushy food. I cannot tolerate food that is greasy and I've developed a lactose intolerance.

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

Unconscious... I was in a coma following complications.

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

Women's multi + iron, vit e, vit b12 (daily oral & monthly shot), biotin, one daily aspirin. In the beginning I did a daily protein drink but now I get my needs met dietarily.

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

Almost dying and knowing, once I returned to the land of the living, just how massive a trauma it was to my loved ones. I was unconscious for over a month... every day they sat there not knowing for about three weeks whether or not I would be dead or alive in the next hour.

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

Friends who are also on this journey, my online list and a local group in Mpls called Renewal. Finding support is critical and because of all my problems I never had the same experiences as others in most of the programs so I rely more on my friends.

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

My Lap scars look like chicken pox... the second emergency operation scar looks hideous and isn't even completely closed still after over thirteen months. On the up side I will require an incision revision which will probably garner me an insurance covered abdominoplasty.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I make it a point not to weigh in more than once a month if that often so I've not really experienced the plateaus that daily weighers always seem to have.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Hell yes! People look at me... they WANT to meet me now... one year ago they wouldn't sit next to me on the bus... today they want to knock boots so yeah, things are different in a size 12 with DD cup than they were in a 28W.