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

Through a tv commercial for barix clinics. Went to an appointment with Dr. Brader in Langhorne, PA office. He was wonderful and the staff were nice. Although it took my insurance company a year to get approved, I would have never changed doctors.

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

It took us an entire year to get approved. Usually Horizon BCBS takes a short time to get approved but apparently they wanted everything and anything from us before they approved the surgery (psy eval, nutrition eval, doctors notes, medical records, etc.) Finally 1 year later it was approved but the day of our PAT's we found out we each have a $5,000. deductible but all of a sudden the insurance company considered the hospital out of network. We plan on appealing that.

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

He was very nice and thorough. He went through all the pros and cons and told us what to expect weight loss wise after about a year. He was a great doctor.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

My health problems were not getting any better, they were getting worse. The weight continued to creep on and I just felt it was time to do something about it, after trying so many diets and medicines.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I had the lap RNY done. It was recommended to have this procedure done by my surgeon. He was just starting to do the lap bands but it wasn't suggested.

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 surprised I wasn't as afraid as I thought I would be. I was very calm when I was being prepped and going into OR and I wasn't in there but 5-10 minutes before I was under. My worst fear was that I think of pain but it really wasn't that bad and they give you the pain pump to help if there is any. The worse thing is having to drag all that stuff around with you when they make you walk all the time.

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?

Family were ok with it. Friends thought that it didn't need to be done and I tried to tell them mine was more for health problems. They were pretty supportive after the surgery. Alot of my friends that were there when I had the surgery are no longer around which is kind of hurtful sometimes.

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

I was out of work prior to my surgery due to severe depression. I actually went back about 6 weeks after my surgery. Ended up going back out on disability because of some major depression issues. 9/2007-Depression is somewhat better. Still use 1 medication, but working and finally skinny!

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

The hospital stay was ok. From the time you are taken to your room from recovery til the next day you are kind of out of it from the anesthesia. The next day I had to have a swallow test (xray) to make sure I didn't have any leaks then I was able to eat or drink clear liquids. I went in on Friday and came home on Sunday. The days are long because you aren't doing anything but walking and laying in bed. Books are good if you like them or stuff to keep you busy.

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

Minor, but I had no immediate problems. I started getting very tired, depressed, couldn't eat (never had the dumping though) around 6 months after surgery. They did all these tests and bloodwork and just told me to increase my protein and iron. Finally after losing too much weight all at once, I decided to start eating about 3 months ago. The weight has pretty much stablized and have occasional problems every now and then but nothing like before. I can pretty much anything in moderation now.

In the weeks after you got your surgery date, how did you feel? How did you cope with any anxiety you might have felt?

It was just a relief to finally get the date after waiting a year. Then still had to deal with husband because he didn't get his date until a couple weeks after mine. After that it was just like ok it won't be same again.

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

I was really disappointed because I thought the weight would just melt off. It doesn't! It takes time and you have to realize that. You get tired of eating and drinking the same things and really have the urge to bite into something you've eaten in the past but you cant and believe me you don't want to! Just follow the program your hospital or doctor gives you and don't compare it with someone elses because everybody is different.

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

It was approximately a half hour from where I live. This amount of travel didn't affect my aftercare at all.

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 not eat bread for a long time after surgery and to this date sometimes can't tolerate it very well. Haven't really eaten much red meat with the exception of hamburger. I eat alot of chicken. Pasta is fine. It all depends on what it is. One day I could eat it another day I can't. I can also tolerate more sugar than I used to. Now I just eat normal food in smaller portions. Thank God the dumping never hit me as much as other people (maybe half a dozen times now in a year and a half), and oh how I love my chocolate. I have been very lucky with that aspect of it.

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

I just took in day by day. Walked alittle here and there. I was out and about a week after surgery although didn't do too much. I got tired easier but you had to pace yourself and know what your body needs.

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

During the first half year or so I was taken a Flintstones chewable twice a day. Now I take a multivitamin each day like One 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?

The worse thing I felt was an indigestion like feeling all the time and being very gassy. 9/07-The fullness is still there occasionally depending on what I eat. Gas is much better but look out, if I start eating in the am, I am hungry every 2-3 hours. My hair texture changed to very limp and dry and yucky looking, but hey it could have been worse.

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

The waiting time by the insurance company was entirely too long I thought and other than being sick for that amount of time, I am glad I did it. I have lost almost 130 lbs. acutally over my goal by almost 30 lbs. I hate to say this but I could use a couple pounds on me to not make me look like a skeleton sometimes.

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

I don't go to any support groups. The only support I had was acutally from this website.

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

I had my surgery done laproscopic so I had 6 small incisions which are almost invisible now.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

You get to a certain point in time when your diet include more foods of substinence and you'll see your weight loss even off. Once you get past that your metabolism will kick it and you will either stay at that weight or continue to lose.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

In a way yes. I have people tell me that I look better. Some don't even recognize me.