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

My mother had the procedure done in 1988 and she has lost about 250lbs. She had other medical problems that concerned me, but I figured that if I didn't want to end up in the same shape she was I had to do something.

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

If you find the right doctor, they know how to handle insurance companies and they know what the standards are for having this surgery

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

My first meeting went smoothly. I pretty much knew the answer to all my questions because the doctor I saw had already done 2 other members of my family, but he did refresh my memory on alot of things

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

The pain in my knees and back and not being able to walk from one room to another without being out of breath

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I didn't really care which procedure was done as long as it was done right.

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 really didn't have those fears because I figured if I didn't have the surgery I would have died anyway.

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 was concerned like most families are, but they knew I didn't have a choose because I was so large and my health was getting worse. I could not have asked for any more support after surgery from my family or anybody else they were great.

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

My employer is very supportive and so are my co-workers they have been the best support team anyone could ask for. I simply told them I didn't have a choose because if I didn't have the surgery I didn't think I would be able to work at all. I was only out of work for 3 weeks. I would have been back to work sooner, but I had some problems with my blood pressure medication and didn't realize it for about a week. I kept getting dizzy and didn't realize my pressure was dropping to low, but once I stopped taking the medicine I was fine.

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 as well as can be expected for a hospital. I only stayed for 2 days (went in on Tuesday morning at 10:00a.m and left Thursday morning at 9:45 a.m). I was so happy to get home. There was really nothing I wanted while I was in the hospital I just wanted to go home as soon as possible.

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

The only problem I had from the surgery is my wound weeped for about 2 months after the surgery and that really bothered me, but Dr. Williams figured out what the problem was and fixed it during an office visit and it was dried up the next day. I was a happy person.

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 just really tired in the weeks following surgery. I was some what scared to eat certain things, but I got over that and just tried stuff to see if I could tolerate it and its been fine.

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

My first week home from the hospital I really just rested alot. I would get up and walk around but really mostly rested so I could get my energy back. It takes a while to get you energy level back up to where it usto be.

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

I had my surgery done locally so I was very lucky.

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 3 weeks after surgery where mostly liquids or really soft mushy foods. Now I look for foods that are high in protein and easily tolerated. Broccolli is a bad thing!!!! I can't tolerate broccolli. As the weeks passed I began to add ground meats after the first month and just slowly added foods that could be chewed to nothing, but no broccolli. I don't eat any kind of refined sugars what so ever or any kind of fresh bread. I probably could, but I just don't want to start that habit again.

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

The days after my surgery I only moved around when I had to, but slowly but surely I started moving around more and now I'm better than ever.

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

I take 500 mg Vitamin C twice a day, 300 mg Biotin twice a day, 250mg Calcium 4 times a day and 1 prenatal vitamin a day.

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 really didn't have a problem with any of these things because I would only eat a little at a time and tolerated things very well.

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

The worst part about the surgery was not being able to sleep on my side for about a week.

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

I have a wonderful online support group that I just couldn't live without and my family and co workers are great support as well. I couldn't live with out any of the support I have. They are great.

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

My scar is about 4 inches long and its slowly disappearing except for the spot where my wound leaked its a little bit darker. My scar was alot smaller that I expected and I am thrilled with the end result so far.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

No real plateaus yet, but I do have months were I don't loose as much as I did the month before, but I only weigh once a month so I don't get frustrated if I don't loose every day. I don't like the diappointment I've been there and done that with the diets I was on before I had this wonderful surgery.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Everybody just tells me how good I'm looking all the time and that is a great feeling to be complimented.