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

I have had two aunts and a friend who have had the VBG with Great Success!!! They had talked to me about the surgery and what it was like and I started researching the net for more info.

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

I submitted the first letter in January of 2000 (A predet letter from my surgeon and PCP) and was denied. It has been a struggle. I had to appeal and after my first appeal with lots of documentation of weight loss history and NIH Guidelines was approved.

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

It was great, I have never been to a Doctor that spent the time to go over a procedure with me in such great detail!

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I was tired of being overweight and tired and seeing my two family members and a friend have such great success made me want to have the surgery.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Lots of research on the net and comparing the after affects.

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 guess I'm really not worried. My surgeon stated he has not lost one patient yet. He has performed over 3,000 and I feel very confident that it will go well and I pray alot!

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?

All of my family is very supportive of the surgery. They realize how important it is to me and my health.

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

My supervisor has been very supportive and incouraging. I plan to take off 4-6 weeks.

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

Very good! I only took a pair of house shoes and my own toothbrush. You won't feel like fixing up any.

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

None other than at one month post I developed a hernia which is very painful at times.

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 was very nervous yet excited. WLS website helped me cope with alot of my fears.

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

I was very tired and was slow at moving. I was also pretty sore for the first week home.

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

I traveled 2 1/2 hours to have surgery.

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 have been very lucky and can't eat pretty much anything. The only thing I have found that I can't eat is pork ribs.

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

Not much! Up until about 6 weeks post.

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

1 Centrum multi vitamin a 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?

Sleep was all I experienced. It was very difficult for me to sleep at first. I am used to sleeping on my stomache and for the first two weeks I had to sleep in a recliner.

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

When the NG tube and drainage bags were removed.

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

There is nothing available here where I live.

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

It looks better as time passes however the scar is much longer than what I expected.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Most diffently, and I am only 37 pounds down.