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

On the tv, and I was all for it. Was not even scared at first just wanted to do it to feel better.

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

I did not have any problems with my insurance company. my doctors office handled everything for me and called me when it was aproved which was a couple of weeks.

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

It was supportive. He even drew a picture on a board of the surgery for me. My suggestion is right down any questions for him and bring it with you, it helps to remember them.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I was tired of being tired. Tired of being the one left behind from the fun things.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Actually it was the only one I was told 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?

I was just scared of the pain not really of dying. Im a big baby of pain. But it was nothing like I made it out to be.

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 husband was VERY supportive. My grandparents were okay, and my aunt was and is jealous.

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

My boss was very incouraging. She said I was more couragous than she was. I was out of work for 2 weeks.

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 4 days. It was typical i think. They made me get up and walk every 4 hours, even during the night. I believe that they supplied everything I HAD to have, though you might be bored especally if no one is going to be there with you. my husband was with me the whole stay. I would bring books magazines or like puzzle books otherwise.

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

I had developed Penoonia (SP?) and they keep a watch on that and put me on meds for that and took alot of xrays to keep up with it.

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

The thing that mostly bothered me was not being able to sleep on my tummy. I have always slept on my tummy and it was hard not to. I felt fine, But I had a couple of insidents of eating to fast and getting VERY sick. The feeling of not knowing if you are going to throw up or die.

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

Do not do to much, yes your bored but dont do anything to strain or pull a muscle, it's not worth it. Let others help you, you will have a hard time doing things you have took for granted, not to be gross but like wiping yourself after using to restroom pops into my head.

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

We live about 120 miles from the Center. It took us about 5 hours due to traffic and such. Coming home was faster only because my husband saw how uncomfortable I was and hurried. We have unfortunatly not been to all my appointments because of the distance and the surgery has put us in a bad financial situation becasue of my missed work. But as my husband says, Im worth it!

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.

There has not been much that I cannot eat, which is very BAD. I secretly wished for the dumping so I would not eat sweet things, but this has not happened. I did have experienced bad episodes with drinking and eating, otherwise I can eat anything and everything.

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

In the days after surgery I was not very active, just around the house and a few trips out of town for doctor appointments. Two weeks and I was back at work, and that was tiring to say the least. Even now at seven months post op I am having problems with my energy levels because of malabsortion of vitamins.

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

Liquid vitamins are the best for me and the only thing that seems to hae helped the tired feelings.

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?

Nausia was the worse, I threw up acouple of times and had stomach aches frequently. They still happen to me. And I just try to get through them the best I can.

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

The adjusting to the eating.

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

I unfortunatly do not belong to any after care support.

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

It goes from my belly button up to my breasts. It has lightened up and I barely notice it anymore. I was worried at first that I was losing all this weight and now I could not wear a bikini but im proud of it now and I plan on wearing one anyways.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

My wieght has plateaued a couple of times and now my loss has slowed down to 5 pound incriments and they come off every couple of weeks to a month. VERY SLOW!

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes, It might be in my head but I think people I meet for the first time look at me differnet than they would have a year ago.