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

I found out about bariatric surgery on the television and by asking questions to different bariatric groups. My impression was that they had this operation down to a science. It was not an experimental operation, but one that would change one's life.

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

My stay in the hospital was not a very good one. I stayed at St John's Riverview Hospital. They were short-staffed to begin with. My needs were not taken care of and my medications overlooked. After the operation, my breathing was difficult and my level of pain was great. The head nurse tried to get better service from her staff, but the attitudes had exceeded my welcome. If it wasn't for my family members staying with me as caregivers, I don't know if I would be here today. The hospital was not clean.

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

Breathing and pain. I was allergic to morphine so the pain medication I was using took more than a day to kick in.

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

Once I got home, after two to three weeks, my strength, breathing and healing process got stronger. My sister-in-law flew up from Florida to help me, along with my husband and other family members. I was well cared for at home. Now, after 7 months I lost over 92 pounds and I am feeling great. My hair has been coming out the last month and continues to every day. I am taking all kinds of hair vitamins and drinking my protein, eating vegtables and fish, but my hair continues to fall out. I am very stressed over this issue. Nothing seems to help stop the hair loss.

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

Laying flat on the bed will be very hard. You will probably have to sleep on your side with a couple pillows and food will not interest you. You will find that you are eating to live, not living to eat!! A family member will be shooting blood thinners in your stomach twice a day to make sure your blood does not clot. Sleeping in a lounge chair might be helpful. Going up and down stairs will be impossible until the third week and then very very slow. Chew chew chew. Take one food at a time and be very strict on what your doctor tells you to eat, drink and do. Find a protein before hand that you enjoy drinking. Try Soy milk instead of water to mix with your drink.

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

45 miles I traveled to have my surgery. It did not affect my aftercare because I had family members drive me back and forth to the doctor's office.

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.

Jello, broth and water was the only thing I could eat. Then it followed with mashed scrambled egg and oatmeal. I slowly added tuna fish, canned sammon and other foods one by one chewing very slow and carefully. Canned veggies came next and then by the third month I was very fortunate to have tried just about everything I could legally have. I am a carb eater so I had to learn to elminate them in my diet except for Carr's Table Water Crackers and a half slice of well toasted bread. The mental cravings have left me by the 5th month. I have no desire to eat bread anymore. My worst enemy.

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

By the second month I began to notice more energy and by the 5th month, I found myself dancing and having no trouble picking up something or sitting on the floor afraid I would not beable to get up. This is my 7th month and I have plenty of energy. Infact, I have more energy than my husband.

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

I take a daily supplement of Country Life's multi-vitamin, hair loss vitamins and bariatric supplement, along with 2 protein drinks.

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 had and have very little nausia and hardly any vomiting to mention except for 3-4 times after surgery. I don't know what dumping is, though I have heard that term used many times. I have had severe pain that lasts for a minute or two, but nothing to complain about. I usually eat too fast or swallow too fast to encourage that happening. I have had hair loss into my 5th month and still do. I am very stressed out because of this.

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

The worst part about the entire bariatric surgery was the hospital. It was a nightmare for me and I will never forget it. I two months of washing and rewashing my breathing mask (pap machine) and clothes to get out the hospital smell which reminded me of my ill treatment. Other than that, nothing to speak of except that I am very unhappy about the way my bellybotton looks after surgery. It use to be an inner and very attractive, but even though I have lost over 90 pounds, it looks horrid. I want to get that fixed after I reach goal weight.

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

I really have no support group to mention. They do have a group that meets once a month in Warren, MI but I live over an hour away and that is impossible. I read and ask questions when I need some advise. I do desire a support group very much.

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

My scar is 7 months old, so I don't have any opinion yet about it, except the looks of my belly button. This needs to be fixed as I had mentioned before.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I have reached several plateau's. When that happends I only drink my protein drinks, fish and chicken. No carbs at all, not even veggies for two weeks. That seems to break the plateau. Pretty soon I will be clucking like a chicken because I eat so much of it.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

I seem to get more respect from people now that I am thinner. They listen more carefully to me and I am taken more seriously than before. I have even had a couple of the opposite sex pass a flurt or two, not to mention my husband who even though has always been supportive of me, pay more additional attention my way. Its nice!!