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

My PA suggested I look into it after struggling with lower back pain and surgery. My initial impressions of the surgery were that it sounded like an easy cop-out... like giving up on losing weight "for real".

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

My approval went through with the first request.

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

a little daunting... so much information, and so many questions asked. I would say, make sure you write down all your questions so you don't forget to ask them!

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

My children.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Actually, it was the only one the doctor put forth... it was his recommendation for success.

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 aprehensive about not seeing my children again, but for the most part I was confident that I make a good patient and always recover well.

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 was supportive, there were some reservations about the procedure until they learned more about it, but my friends and family are always there to cheer me on.

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

I'm self employed.

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

The first day I felt like I was hit by a truck, but that rapidly got better. Each day breathing and movement came easier. The hardest part about the whole stay was not being able to take any liquids by mouth. My stay was 4 days long.. not too bad, but I was ready to go home. The most important thing to bring would be a sense of humor, your patience hat and maybe a book!

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

So far, no complications 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?

I was miserable. The protien drinks were vile and made me ill. I ached and was sore and liquid diets are no fun at all, but I just kept telling myself that I would never be fat again.

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

Expect to feel tired and sore. The liquid diet is tough, but you really don't want to eat anything else.

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

It was an hour's drive to the Doctor and hospital he used. I'm used to having to travel to get where I want to be, so the distance didn't really effect me. My doctor and advice was readily available by telephone.

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.

In the first weeks my diet was all liquids to soft solids then normal solids. As time goes on, I am learning that I can tolerate most things, even the odd bite of sweets. I can't tolerate lettuce in salad form, on a sandwich or such it's fine, but eating salad does not sit well. I can eat beef without trouble. My tolerance for food has changed, in the earlier months foods I hadn't eaten in a while would cause some upset, but now the only real thing that gives me grief is grease... I just don't eat fried foods.

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

My activity level was pretty slow... I took it easy, being sore and stiff, I spent a lot of time resting. I would say that I didn't really get active again for a month or so, and it has grown from there.

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

I take a multi vitamin (prenatal) B12, iron, calcium, and C.

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 worst was the dumping caused by the protien drinks... when I stopped drinking them the problem stopped... i was miserable the first week. Always my stomach hurt and rumbled and using the toilet was a nightmare.. then I stopped drinking the protien... I do have hair loss that bothers me, having a full long head of hair I was proud of.. to cope with it, I actually cut most of it off, which makes the fall out easier to manage, but since I don't like it short, I guess I'm gonna let it grow back out.

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

The first day after surgery. It hurt to breathe, to move, to sit, to stand.. but that rapidly got better. And then I would have to say the first week of pure liquids and nasty protien drinks.

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

My family is my only support group. So far I have not felt a need for anything more.

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

My scar is huge!!! I don't know what I expected, but it runs from just below my breast bone to the top of my belly button... it bothered me at first, but now, as it fades, I'm getting used to it.. :-) My children refer to it as my "zipper"

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

None so far. I don't check my weight very often, but I have seen a relatively steady weight loss.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

No. We have moved to a new location and nobody here knows about the surgery at all.