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

I had a really close friend whose sister had surgery and years later she decided she wanted to have the surgery also. We had been friends for about 10 years so we were really close and I went to some of her appointments with her.(note: This friendship is over, she did not pass away.) My first impression of gastric bypass was that it was not the surgery for me, but I still wanted a surgery that I was comfortable with. I think I have found that surgery in the lap band surgery.

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

Insurance recieved it on 06/21/05 and have told me it takes at least 30 days for approval. 7/29 I AM APPROVED!!! I can only say the waiting is tough and they aren't going to give an answer before they are ready to...so you might as well get a good book and get ready for the wait.

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

I watched a film on weight loss surgeries and met with my doctors nurse,Cyndy, and she went over information from that film. They took my weight, height, and blood pressure and asked lots of questions. Cyndy gave me a meal plan she wanted me to follow for a few days to show me what it will be like after surgery.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I guess for me it is the idea that I was overweight in clothing sized 16-20 and I haven't been in those sizes for years. But I knew I was past fat when 26/28 clothing was getting too small for me. I can eat salad for a month and gain weight. So it is time to do something drastic if I want to stay on this planet longer than a few more years.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I wanted a procedure that didn't involve rewiring my insides. An ex-friend had gastric bypass and that really seemed unsafe to me compared to lap band surgery. This surgery is completely reversible if I or my doctor feel it needs to be reversed and it gives me more options on how long my pouch will hold foods.

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?

There are risks associated with every day life. I don't like being put to sleep because I always wake up feeling like I was run down by a truck. I am more afraid of not having the surgery at this point. I know that God is going to be with me as I go through surgery and afterwards too, so I refuse to let anything hold me back. If you have tried everything else on the market and it didn't work for you either then I suggest that you look at the surgeries available and go for it. I am looking at this as a tool to help with weight loss.

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 husband was worried for me when I first told him I wanted to have weight loss surgery. We talked about the options available and choose lap band surgery because it was less invasive, reversible and has no malabsorbtion and seems to be a safer tool for loosing weight. My kids wanted to know how long I would be out of commission, but know that I want surgery to have a longer, fuller life. My family outside my household aren't as understanding about surgery. We are all big people so I don't know why they don't see this as the great tool that it is.

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

I am a substitute teacher and small business owner so I am not required to be at either job unless it is pre-scheduled. I did tell my supervisor at the school I work at most frequently and she was excited for me.

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

Everything was great, except I woke up in recovery wet...I was complaining about it and had a nurse keep telling me that it was just cold in there...I complained until another nurse came and checked and got me cleaned up and my bed was changed. I was apparently NOT cathered during surgery. I was a same day surgery and went home that night. It is important to bring a pillow to hold against you for the ride home and something loose and comfortable to wear home.

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

none. I had the scab come off the largest incision and it took a long time to heal. I am a month and a few days out and it is not completely healed yet.

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 had no anxiety at all about surgery. I was excited and ready for surgery.

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

You are healing, make sure you get up and move around. The more I moved the better I felt. Get your fluids in and take your vitamins. Everything has been going fine for me since surgery!

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

30-45 minutes to the hospital.

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 am 21 days post-op and am on the stage called Mushies(pureed foods). If it fits into my blender, I can eat it and have no problems. I have had baked fish and boiled vegetables and Chineese food, minus the rice, blended it isn't very attractive, but tastes fine. Flavor is what I am looking for at this point, baby food tastes like cardboard so I love the flavors of foods. I am a month and a few days out and I am eating anything I want. I have placed rice and bread on the off limits list. ***6months post-op:Bread is a no-no, still haven't had rice, noodles are ok as long as I don't have much.

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

I couldn't walk far after surgery, I just tried to make sure I walked a little farther each time. I am 10 days post-op today 10/21/05 and I walked a mile yesterday and today. I plan to get another mile in today. 11/01/05 I have been getting my walking in almost every day, I can walk 3 miles at a time now. 11/14/05 Haven't been as good about walking since my last post, but I am trying.

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

Started taking (2) children's chewable multivitamin and (1) B12 losenge along with (2) tums with calcium daily on the 3rd day after surgery. This is what the doctor recomended.

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 nausea, vomiting, or sleep disturbance for me post-op. I did have some hair loss about 3 months post-op. It wasn't bad though. I expected the hair loss because I had been doing my research on OH and it was discussed by several people on there that at about 3 months post-op it wsa normal, either because of the anesthesia or the trauma your body has from surgery.

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

Waking up sore and nauseous. And later waking up wet....that just hurts my feelings so bad. You live 34 years and except for a handful of times in life have NEVER wet the bed, that is just upsetting to me that I wasn't listened to about it.

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

I have a support group meeting through my bariatric surgeon's office about once a month. It has been informational on some levels and on others I am not to that stage and feel out of place in the discussions.

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

Scars aren't completely healed yet, but they aren't going to be too bad. 3 really small ones-about the size of a pencil eraser. 1 just a bit wider than my thumb is. 1 the length of my thumb- this is the one that is not completely healed yet. ****6 months later scars are still a bruised color (purple looking) but are all closed up and don't bother me at all.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

1 1/2 yrs. out and I am plateaued for the moment. I need to step up my exercise and get back on track with water intake.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

6 months and 57 pounds lighter and people are definately noticing. 1 1/2 yrs. out and I definately notice that people who know haw far I have come are very complimentry. ***I FEEL, people who don't know seem to give me more of a chance. It seems that people are more accepting of me.