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

I'd heard of stomach stapling several years back but when my health started deterioting I realized I had to look at other options besides dieting and exercise. I searched online and stumbled across this OH website where I spent nearly a year researching and reading.

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

I had no problem attaining approvals. I had UNITED HEALTH and was approved within 2 weeks of my letter being sent to them.

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

My first meeting was awkward. It was surreal at most. It was very uninviting office and the doc was brief. All I can say is make sure you have all the information about this procedure read up on, and have all your questions and concerns on hand because the meeting is brief.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

When there's but one choice, there really isn't a choice.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

My insurance was only willing to pay for RnY, but that seemed to be the one for me anyway. I didn't like the idea of a ring being tightened around my stomach. I worried alot about it tearing away at my stomach and worst yet,me finding a way to gain the weight back. Because sugar isn't a restriction on such a procedure. If I'm going to go under the table and risk my life, I don't want to worry about it being ineffective.

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 very little fears. I had full confidence in my experienced, board certified surgeon. I am aware of the risks, but that's with any surgery.

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 didn't tell my family. My mom and dad anyway. Everyone else was semi-supportive. My boyfriend tried to discourage me because he was worried I'd die on the table.

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 for nearly two months. My employer's insurance covers the procedure and many of the employees underwent the surgery.

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

It was horrid. No one spoke proper english. They all had heavy accents and they weren't too willing to assist me. They didn't know how to insert an IV properly so I was left bruised and swollen from it. The hospital was outdated and I was stuck there for a torturous 5 days!

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

None thank goodness.

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 numb to the whole thing. It was just not real until the moment I was in the operating room. Before that it was just a dream-like state.

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

I was in alot of pain and regret undergoing procedure. Kept seeing food commercials on t.v. and it dawned on me that we are bombarded with about 80% food commercials as we watch tv. It's so common that we seem to have desensitized ourselves about it. I got very impatient being stuck at home. I didn't think about food at all. I was more concerned with my immobility.

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

45minutes. Choose doc closer, makes it easier for follow-up

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.

Beginning: I couldn't eat much.first few weeks food was liquid based. Then I progressed to small portions of solid foods the next 4 or so months. Now at nearly 2 yrs I can eat just about anything. Meals are about 4-6oz in size.

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

Barely any activity after surgery. It hurt! Couldn't even get in a car! Haven't exercised much since surgery except for brief 2 months where my weight started spiralling out of control due to poor food/snack choices.

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

flintstones, iron, b12

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?

hairloss at 4-6 months. weird hotflash attacks after 4 months to present(sometimes severe)

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

having to deal with the torment of knowing how differently people treated me pre-op compared to post-op.

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

none. it's important if you have alot of psychological issues that still need addressing. It's a battle of addictions.

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

My biggest scar is 1in in length. The other is half that. I didn't think too much about scars. That's the least of my concerns.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Plateaus are SO frustrating! I was stuck at 150lbs forever(2 months maybe?)! That's the weight my body was steady at for most my life. Once you get over it though, it's a feeling of achievement.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes! I hate it! I'm resentful of it! It's just not...right. It's both good and bad. I receive special treatment by men and get snubbed by women who feel I'm a threat. The worst of it is I'm the same person yet people whether they hate or like me, care to hear what I have to say now.