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

TV---I thought it sounded too good to be true.

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

Approval is the toughest stage. You have to stay on top of the doc's office (who, in my case were understaffed)as well as the insurance company. Call every day to see what the status of your approval is -- otherwise it will just sit on someone's desk in a huge pile. To them you are just a number or a case. Make a pest of yourself. It will pay off.

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

My initial consult was kind of like a sales pitch. I went in armed with questions -- I had in a notebook and took down all the info that was presented to me. Go and ask questions.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I was gaining 20-25lbs a year. I was going to weight over 400 by the time I was 30. I didn't want to die.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I knew I would be able to cheat with a lap band. I needed the RNY to force behavioral changes. The BTC only does open RNY and I wanted to go with a large operation because they have an excellent reputation and an 89% success rate.

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 had no fears about surgery. My fear was dying at a young age and being so fat that no one would want to be my palbearers. In fact, I saw the surgery as my only way to live. Actually, for me the weirdest part was about a month after my surgery. I felt guilty for having cheated death. I had this overwhelming feeling that being fat should have killed me and that I almost shouldn't be alive. A little therapy helped me through that.

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 and friends were extremely supportive before & after my surgery. I announced it and was totally upfront with everyone that this was not for vanity, but to save my life. Everyone is thrilled with my weight loss success. I have my life back.

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

I work for my dad as his secretary. He thought it was great. He let me work when & if I wanted to. He never asked me when I would be working again (and I know he needed me to do the work) --- he only cared about my recovery. I love my dad.

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

I was supposed to be in the hospital for 4 days and 3 nights. I was in an extra day and night because it was believed that I was bleeding internally (I wasn't but after an extra day I was stronger, so I didn't mind). The BTC provided EVERYTHING I needed. The most important thing to bring is someone who loves you to stay with you. I had my mom and I love her & couldn't have done it without her undying support.

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 excstatic. I was counting the days until my surgery. I couldn't think about anything else. I suffer from severe anxiety. I take high doses of anti-anxiety meds every day. I am too anxious to go out in public or hold down a traditional job-- but I had no anxiety about surgery.

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

PAIN. Movement was difficult and the last thing I wanted to think about was food. I think people should expect that something that seems as trivial as wiping your own ass is going to be painful. Not to mention getting up & down. People should expect to be dependent on others. My husband was a godsend. I was a mega-bitch and needed help with everything. He never once complained. I love my husband.

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

Harrisburg, PA to Ypsilani, MI I was able to do follow-up in Langhorn, PA. The only problem really wasn't one. Every hour on the drive home I had to get out and walk for 20 minutes to prevent blood clots.

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.

Week 1: Clear liquids--no problems Week 2-3: Full Liquids--no problems Week 4-5: Pureed Foods--no problems Week 6: Soft Foods--no problems Weeks 7+: Real food--no problems yet and it's been over 7 months

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

20 minutes of walking every 2 hours I was awake. Movement is very important to prevent blood clots.

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

2 Flintstone vitamins a day 3 Extra Strength Tums (1200mg Elemental Calcium) 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?

NO UNPLEASANT SIDE EFFECTS:-)

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

Waiting for approval.

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

I use obesityhelp.com. It is wonderful.

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

My scar is not ugly to me. It extends from the bottom of my ribcage to my naval, as well as a small one to the left of my naval that was for the drain. It is what I expected. I am proud of my scar. I view it as a badge of courage for having the surgery and taking back my life.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Knock wood---7 months and no signifigant plateaus.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

People treat me different because I act different. I am no longer the "fat chick". I am a self-confident woman who is no longer afraid of what the world thinks of me. I think of the surgery as reclaiming my life. And I am going to live my life the way I want, not the way others think I should. It takes courage to have this surgery. Once you have that courage no one can take that from you. It shows on the outsides as you shine from the inside.