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

I called my insurence rep and she told me about the site and also informed me my insurence pays for the surgery. My sister is the one that got me thinking about it seriously, and I am so glad.

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

I just found out yesterday that my insurence approved my surgery and my surgery date is Dec. 30, 2002. I called my insurence about every other day but things got to moving when I emailed my doctor and told him it has been 2 weeks and my insurence has not recieved anything on my request for surgery. Once I did that things got to rolling and in about a week I had my approval. Just have to be patient but not to patient, got to keep bugging them so they will get you out of their way. Dania

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

MY SURGEON WAS VERY HELPFUL AND ANSWERED MOST OF MY QUESTIONS BEFORE I EVEN ASKED HIM. MY HUSBAND AND 18 YO DAUGHTER WENT WITH ME AND GOT TO GIVE THEIR ON OPENION ON WHAT THEY THOUGHT OF HIM. I WAS AFRAID I WANTED THE SURGERY TO I MIGHT BE BLIND, BUT THEY LIKED HIM AS MUCH AS I DO.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I AM TIRED OF HURTING IN MY BACK AND FEET AND AS OF 11/15/02 I LOST MY JOB DUE TO THE WEIGHT PROBLEM, SO NOW MY KIDS WON'T GET A VERY GOOD CHRISTMAS BUT THEY ARE OLD ENOUGH TO UNDERSTAND. PUT STILL I AM THE ADULT AND SHOULD NOT DISAPPOINT THEM THAT WAY. EVERYTHING WILL WORK IN THE LONG RUN.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I LET THE DOCTOR DECIDE, WHICH EVER HE WAS MORE COMFORTABLE DOING THEN THATS WHAT WOULD BE DONE.

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 AM VERY WORRIED ABOUT COMPLICATIONS AND DYING BUT I JUST HAVE TO PUT MY FAITH IN GOD AND HE WILL CARRY ME THRU ANYTHING. I FEEL LIKE I AM GOING TO DIE ANYWAY BUT I AM GIVING MYSELF A CHANCE WITH THE SURGERY. DANIA

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 EXCITED THAT I AM HAVING IT DONE, MY FATHER-IN-LAW IS TOTALLY AGAINST IT. I HAVE X-COWORKERS THAT ARE FOR IT AND SOME JUST TOTALLY SHOCKED AND SCARED FOR ME.

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

I WAS FIRED NOV.15, 2002 SO I THINK IT HAS TO DO WITH MY WEIGHT MAINLY. WHICH I WASN'T SURPRISED AND IN A WAY IT WAS A BLESSING IN ONE SENSE THAT I CAN GET AROUND BETTER NOW SINCE I AM NOT ON MY FEET 8 HRS ON CONCRETE.

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 very pleasent. The nurses were very nice and kind. I was in the hospital for 6 days. All you really need is a fan incase you are hot natured, deoderant, soap, toothpaste, toothbrush. You might want to bring some reading material.

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

My complication came after I went home, my hole where the drainage tube was become infected and had to go back in hospital for infection. Then when I went home they had nurses coming twice a day to change my bandages.

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 very excited and very scared all at the same time. Everyone was involved in christmas and stuff so it helped me cope with the waiting better.

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

You are sore from the incision but its not too bad but the first few days I wear a attends so in case of an accident and only had one the day after I got home.

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

I only had to travel about 40 miles for my surgery. I wanted it as close to home as possible for incase of any problems.

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.

I could only have a popsicle or 4 oz of cream soap every 3 hrs. Now that I am almost 6 mos out I still have some problems, after my first couple of bites my stomack starts spazing and sometimes I throw up then afterwards I am ok and can finish my meal.

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

I gpt a lot of energy about 4 weeks after surgery. When I was 3 mos out I would go outside and do all kinds of yard work which is one thing I never did.

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

I take one multi-vitamin a day. For the first 6 weeks I took a protein pill 3 times a day but no longer.

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 have not had any problems with dumping but I throw up and nausea a lot. I have also lost a lot of hair and still am.

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

Actually you don't realize how much you depend on food until you cant eat anymore like you did before. Once you get over that you are doing really great.

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

I had none

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

My scare is long and red, I went and layed on a tanning bed for about 2 weeks and it helped the scare some. Which the scar doesn't bother me anyways.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Have had some depression because I have slowed up on my losing weight.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

I get more stares from guys which is actually kinda nice and scary all at the same time. But mainly I have noticed people do not reconize me anymore.