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

I have known about WLS for many years, my best friends mother had the surgery about 20 years ago and did well. She passed away several years ago not due to the surgery. A good friend of hers had the surgery also and she had to have two revisions and I don't think she does well with it to this day. I just woke up one day and decided to research it to see if any advances have been made in the past 20 years. I was impressed with the statistics of todays surgery and well here I am post-op.

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

Do not hesitate to call the insurance yourself and call them often. Make sure you have a letter from your PCP as well as the letter from your surgeon.

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

When you go for your first consultation make sure you have all of your questions written down. Do not be afraid to ask any questions no matter how embarrasing they may seem.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

All I can say is God directed me through this process. I know this may seem silly to some but it is the truth. I had a terrible time chosing a surgeon and I asked God for guidance and I ended up with the best surgeon around. My husband, family and co-workers have been behind me and encouraged me. At first I did not tell anyone about my decision until after the insurance approved it then I told everyone. The encouragement I received was incredible.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

That was part of the process of research. I wanted the surgery that I was most likely to succeed with and the least likely to require revision.

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?

Honestly with God behind me I had no fears of the surgery at all. I did have to soothe my husband and daughter from time to time. They had fears that I did not. This was my first surgery and I must say I chose a good one!

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?

Everyone reacted very well except for one friend she still thinks it was a very radical decision. I am glad I decided to wait until the insurance approved me before I told anyone. It was easier to tell everyone I was having the surgery than to say I was thinking about it.

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

My manager was thrilled I was having the surgery and she backed me all the way. I was off work 5 weeks and 2 days.

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

My hospital stay was as good as can be expected considering how much pain I was in. The hospital where I had my surgery is a great hospital with a great staff. I was there 6 days, 5 nights. I found the most important thing to take to the hospital with you is your husband or wife....LOL. He did a lot of things for me I could not and was to embarassed to ask a nurse to do. I'm sure you can use your imagination to no what I am talking about.

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

I had no complications from the surgery at all.

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 I got my surgery date I think I was in a fog from that time on. I honestly did not think the day would ever get there. I thought something would happen to cancel it. But all went as planned and all went well. To cope with the feelings you are having I found the best thing was to get on the Obesityhelp.com web site and read what others are going through. That was the best therapy for me through it all.

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

The first week I was very sore and afraid to do anything even though I did because my husband made me. I could sleep in bed even though a lot of people say they can't. I could not lay on my side which I missed a lot. Every night I would roll over to both sides to try them out and eventually by my third week after surgery I could go to sleep on my side. Every day after I came home I noticed an improvment for the better. I did cough and sneeze a lot one day about my forth week and hurt my insides the doctors office said I had pulled a muscle and it would get better. It did! I am now 7 weeks and I am still sore some inside but doing everything I want. yesterday I shopped for 3 hours with my daughter something I have not done for years!

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

I had my surgery about 30 miles form my home. I was lucky there is a very good surgeon close to me.

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

My energy level from the time I came home from the hospital has been better then it was before I had the surgery. At first I was a little tired but mostly just sore. Now I am still a little sore but I feel like I could run a marathon. I am cleaning my house again from top to bottom and shopping up a storm. I am in heaven!

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

I take two childrens chewable vitamins and two tums for calcium.

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?

I did not have any side effects to speak of. After I started on solid foods I did vomit a few times mostly from to much or to fast. I cannot seem to eat eggs they won't go down and I cannot eat Ramen noodles they made me very ill. I can eat meat very well even red meat. I am just starting to have some hair loss but not much yet. I am trying to increase my protein to help prevent the hair loss. I do not have any dumping so far. I am sleeping very well on my own before the surgery I had to tke medication to help me sleep.

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

The pain right after the surgery, I thought I was dying. I must say it was all worth it.

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

I have just signed up for a support group at a hospital other then the one where I had my surgery. A friend I meet through this site is the president of this group and I promised him I would come so I will go to my first meeting in June. I think the group will be helpful just to talk to other people that are going through what you are going through. I mean how can other people feel the kind of happiness you are feeling that aren't going through it!

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

My scar is long but everyone comments on how straight it is and what a good looking scar it is, at first I thought that was funny but now I am glad. Since I have seen some ugly scars.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I am now having my first plateau and I don't like it. Since my surgery I can't stay off the scales. Before I wouldn't get on one if you paid me. I am very close to going under 300 and that is very exciting to me but I am currently stuck at 304. I have tried increasing my protein and decreasing my fat. I hope it works.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Since I came back to work everyone is very attentive to me, I think that will wear off.