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

Read articles - thought it was for losers w/o self-control...well, here I am....read Carnie Wilson's People interview...changed my mind for sure!

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

Excellent. Have your ducks in a row; your medical obesity treatment history at the ready and make sure you understand your company's requirements and protocols. If you do that, you will save yourself a lot of agony.

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

Dr. Waits is very understanding, very matter of fact about the process, before, during and after surgery and there is no pressure. Come having done your homework...you can't ask intelligent questions if you don't know what the issues are.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

Desperation, pure and simple and a sure certainty that I would die if I did not have it. No basis for that, just a gut feeling....

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Deferred to Dr. Waits.

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 chickened out daily before the surgery, at least in my head...I kept coming back to this and other sites and telling myself that the alternative to the surgery was far worse: complications of obesity and type 2 diabetes...and I wanted ot live to enjoy my newly acquired law degree and new grandson!

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 terrified as were my grown sons. Nope, just told them what I intended to do, what the risks were and how I intended to cope. They have been super!

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

Wasn't working...was able to be a bum and recover quietly at home.

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

I was in hospital 3 days...long enough, yet not long enough. The staff were excellent; the special bed and the precautions made the experience as comfortable as major abdominal surgery can be. Dr. Waits has this stuff down to an art/science!!! Don't bring a lot of "stuff"...comfy slippers...maybe a robe...

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

Nope, I have been blessed.

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

The day after surgery I was convinced it was the singular worst thing I had ever voluntarily inflicted on myself. Once the NG tube was out and I could sip liquids, suck ice cubes, I was fine...just wanted to be able to get comfortable...once I got home I was scared to death...Dr. Waits was there to answer questions and cope with the occasional panic attack.

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

Expect discomfort, if not pain; expect to think before you move, even slightly, expect to rest and recuperate. If you are not in your 20s (I was 48 when I had the surgery earlier thisyear) don't expect to be fully recovered in two weeks - it "ain't" gonna happen that quick...allow yourself the time you need to recover. Expect to feel up, down, all over the map!

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

12 miles

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.

Heavily sugared foods have been out...just the smell makes me nauseous. I eat a lot of proteins and veggies, occasional fruits. I knew I was feeling better when the idea of skim milk made me feel queasy....I tolerate veggies better than meats...but have learned to eat small bites, slowly and chewed thoroughly. Rich foods are out. Back to basics for sure. I don't experience a lot of dumping or nausea, mainly if I try to eat too much or too quickly.

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

Non-existent. In the hospital i walked every 4 hours; once I got home, I was up every hour...it took me from 03/23 to June to feeling better and wanting to be up and about.

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

I take Flintstones with Iron twice daily, B-12 shots every 3 weeks and 1000 mg calcium daily.

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 phlegm build up that periodically causes me sto spit up...that sucks...it's painful but only happens once every few weeks so I can cope. I spit up like a baby then I'm fine. I just work through the "attack" because there's no other choice...

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

Just being uncomfortable and wondering when my energy would return...nothing horrible and nothing to keep me from recommending it if you've done everything else w/o success.

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

Dr. Waits has a support group. I have not been diligent in attending. Don't have patience for the whiners...do it or don't...follow the plan or don't...but don't whine when you stray from the straight and narrow and don't get the results you want.

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

Awesome scar...yep!

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I will go a week or two where the scale will barely budge then 5 pounds or so will drop off...no big deal.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Just their idiotic comments on my appearance.