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

Impressed. From a friend. I had it first. Now i have to figure out why i did this to myself.

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

Be stern. Followup. Be informed all the way.

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

He knew how i felt and what was a good way to get this done. He wrote a powerful letter.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

My body. My mind. How i saw myself. How i felt.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Doctor did the choosing based on my medical history.

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?

Blood clots. Stay away from the Memorial Page. Think postitive.

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?

No support what so ever. But i had to do this. It was for me. My life. So i did it. They have to accept it eventually right? It's done.

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

N/A

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

I was there 5 days. Hated the nasal tube and the belly port hole for drainage. Day one and two i thought i'd been hit and left for dead. Day 3 no more pain meds needed and by 5 i was GREAT. Not a bad deal at all!

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

Nope. None. Walking. That is the key to doing well. Get up and move. It's all you can do to promote being healthy again and healiing.

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

Great. No anxiety. The drinking and sipping part was tough to adapt too but you just learn. It's really not bad.

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

I couldn't sleep anymore. I felt too alive. Too anxious to get up and take the world on. But really. Your body needs time to heal and recoup. Rest. Drink your fluids. Take it easy. It's a major surgery and the body needs time to adjust as well as the mind. It will get better.

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

206 miles ea way. Not a problem. Now coming home in a 4 x 4 truck was not good. But it was not bad. Not a problem. I enjoy going to see the doc every few weeks. Gets me out. I'm always happy to see the progress.

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.

Dairy. Meats. Fats. I am still adjusting. I vomit a lot. And no it is not self induced. It is old habits die hard.I eat or drink too fast or too much and the body has to push it out. It can't take it. But i am learning. Keep trying. It will eventually be ok. It's all trial and error at this point.

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

Unbeleivable. I never sleep like i did before. I am no longer bed ridden. The MS is in remission and i feel GREAT. I can breath. I can walk. I am alive!

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

Kids chewables. Two per day. They work great. Kids chewables for headaches too. LOL.. but it's ok.. they work.

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?

7 weeks out i refuse to push my luck and dump. No thank you. I've seen people do that and no way. I'm not going there. I don't miss pop or anything. I was ready mentally for the changes. I don't know what hunger is anymore. I do vomit as i eat too much or too fast too soon but i am learning. That is minor compared to the rest of my life being so good because of this surgery.

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

The incision. The length. The nasal drainage tube and the belly port hole. And the staples coming out. But the whole procedure is a breeze. Really. It's not that bad.

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

I follow up w/ the doc every 3-4 weeks. I do water aerobics weekly. I watch my calories and liquid intake. It is working well. You just have to be focused. And yes. I gained. But that happens. The body is adjusting. It comes back off. We use the web and computer support groups. Works wondefully to have someone to share ups and downs with! We do the Montana WLS Support group. Ea state should have one!

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

It's big. And pink. And getting keloids. But i use the Spectragel for keloids and it is really fading fast. Even w/ out the cream. It is healing very well. Not bad for what i had done.. lol

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Of course we all hit them. The body wants to hoard calories and fat. It thinks we are abandoning it. It takes time to adjust. I gained. It comes right back off. Sometimes it's just water. The body has had major trauma to it. It takes time to adapt and heal. It'll be fine.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

The men ck me out again! LOL.. they admire me and flirt more. Women treat me like i'm human again and talk to me more. Society really is bad about obesity considering how much of the world is really obsese. Unreal. It's all a stigma type thing. You just have to hold your head up and show them. In time we all will.