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

I heard about it on TV and Nursing magizines. I truly thought it was a easy way out. I thought I would never do it. But after gaining 40 mor pounds to tip the scale at 301 I knew that something had to be done because I had lost control completly. It has only been 1 month and I already knoe that it is the most important decision of my life.

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

The process take a long time from start to finish, just make sure you keep contacting them and demand answers.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

This is the procedure my neice and best friend had done before me, so it was the one I knew the most about.

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 only fear was of a post-op infection. I am an IDDM so I normally have troulble healing so I felt it was a valuable fear. That God I had no complictions so far. Fear is a good thing it keeps you on you toes and makes you stick to the program, keep you fear.

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 family is always supportive, but they needed a lot of education on why I was doing this. People always asume it is for cosmetic reasons. Once you explain the health risks of being obese and the improvemnets this surgery can make they changed their tune.

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

My supervisor was very suprised but very happy for me as well. I was out of work for 4 weeks.

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

My stay was 3 nights long, I had a PCA until Friday night and I went home Saturday, so most things were a blur until Saturday. Bring a robe and slippers, toothbrush, and chapstick(this is a life saver) also some sugar free hard candies help with the dry mouth from the pain meds.

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

no complications

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 anxious, but I had Christmas to focus on so I dealt with that and made sure that I was ready for Christmas before I went into the hospital. I also talked to the people I knew that had already had the proceduce to help ease my fears.

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

Depressed, in pain, and very board. Make sure you have people around you to support you and to help take your focus of food that is the hard one.

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

about 30 miles.....no effect

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.

The first week was liquids, then 2 weeks of pureed, then I started advancing to regular food, I am in my forth week so I am still trying different foods to see what will agree with me, but when they say stay away from sugar and high fat food..........LISTEN if you don't you will pay the price, contstant nausea and diarrhea

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

They have you up walking the day after surgery, when you come home you can climb steps and resume light housework but no lifting over 20 lbs. I was walking on my tread mill 3 days after I got home for 10-15 minutes at a time.

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

2 flinstones complete and 2 viactive chews for calcium. I still have not found a protein supplement that doesn't make me vomit so I am still looking.

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?

The nausea has been the worse for me, I have not experienced the others yet except for vomiting and as strange as it may sound it is not a big deal.

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

I had alot of back pain from laying in the hospital bed and ended up with a pinched nerve in my back from laying so much.

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

I haven't went to any

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

It is about 14 inches long from my sternum to my belly button and with cocco butter I don't think you will hardly see it in a year

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

too early for me

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Not yet