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

I had heard about it from several different sources. I was against it for the longest time thinking I could lose the weight on my own. Then I had two of my friends go through the surgery and I saw their success and knew I had to look into it.

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

My insurance approved it right away. The process was very simple. Let the Dr's office handle most of it. They are experienced in it. That is what they do, day in and day out.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I just knew that I had to do it. No questions asked. Everything fit into place and it was such a simple process for me.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I let the Dr. decide which was best for me. After all, he is the expert!

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 scared that I would fail. That I would be the only one that it didn't work on. I never feared death. I knew I was in excellent hands.

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?

I told everyone right away. I was proud of my decision. There were a few people that had negative comments but I didn't let them get me down. I held my head up high and stuck by my decision. I had to do this for me, nobody else.

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

My work was very supportive. We had two people that went through the surgery within 2 years, one of them being my boss at that time. I was out of work for a month. I was going back after two weeks but had to make an emergency trip to CA because my grandmother was dying.

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

I did not have any complications from the surgery. I was very lucky.

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 anxious and impatient. I wanted the day to get here so badly. I couldn't wait to get this process started.

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

This was a difficult time. I had depression about a week after the surgery. I believe I was literally missing and mourning the loss of food. I can remember that all I wanted was a cheese sandwich. I never ate them before but that's all I wanted. I cried all the time because I could not believe what I had done and I thought I made a big mistake. I had it worse than most because two weeks after surgery I had to fly to CA because my grandmother was in the hospital and they didn't know if she would make it. I had to fly to CA while still on liquids and then had to transition to food while I was there. I remember eating my first food, Taco Bell Pintos n Cheese in the hospital room. I can picture it like it was yesterday.

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

I had to travel two hours away. I knew that this was the best hospital and program so it didn't bother me to drive and I knew I would have to continue to do that for my follow up appointments.

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 not like most. I could eat and can still eat anything and everything. I remember craving diet pepsi a month or two after surgery and I let myself have one. From that point on I drank them at least one a day. Ground beef and I didn't get along for a few months but now it's fine. Now a year out I believe that my stomach has grown which is scary. I can eat alot. Well to me it seems to be alot.

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

Not much at all. I walked but not like I should have.

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

Multivitamin. I should be taking the calcium but I don't. I know it's bad. This year I need to do that.

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?

Nausea and hair loss were the worst. Nausea still plagues me at times. Hair loss lasted about five months or so. That was a very trying time. I knew my hair would stop falling out but it was difficult to watch it. I had to have faith and believe that it would stop. And it did. Now it's fine and growing back normal.

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

The nausea

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

Scaring is minimal. Just what I expected.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I had to have my gallbladder taken out in June. That was hard.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Much different. It's amazing because inside I am the same person that I was all along. I was just overweight.