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

TV station doing a story on someone who had the surgery and the doctors telling me I needed to have it done.I was afraid but wanted to live to. Dr told me if I didn't have it done I would be dead in two years.

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

Have Health Choice and they had exclusion so I self paid with borrowed money.

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

Very exciting. So write down all your questions, because it will happen to you too. He should be will to take all the time you need to answer them.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I wanted to live 50 was just to young to die. My mom is still alive at 75 why should she have to lose her baby first.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

After research and seeing the tape you dr made. It made it clear this was the choice for me.

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?

They is a chance of dying with any surgery. You can die from a broken arm or leg. I knew I needed this surgery to live. If I died I wouldn't know it and if I didn't have the surgery I was going to life two or three year in pain. Watching life pass me by.I feel I had no choice but to take the one with no pain.

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 have a great family they knew how I have been in pain and trying to lose weight while putting on more all the times. Yes they were scared of the surgerey but more scared of what would happen to me if I didn't have it. I have the best family in the world. They were all with me at surgery time sit with me at night. My friends were they same way. I only had one who didn't want me to have it done, but I understand she lost someone who had this done years ago. I told her it has changed now.

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

I am the head of my office so dosen't apply. Two weeks off work

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

They could have been a lot better in taking care of me and checking things out. I also have information on the hospital part for Edmond. I went in on Monday came home late Thursday. I only things I used there were my personal stuff. Comb, toothbrush & paste, lip balm, etc. Didn't use my gown couldn't get it over the I'vs so just used one of there on backwards.

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

Didn't have any just equipment failure.

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 knew a better life was coming and wish it wasn't so long away. I ran to my PCP the last month on a sneeze afraid I would get sick and not able to have it. I told him I was going to drive him crazy before my surgery, but each time I went it he said it was good because I really did have a reason.

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

The hardest part for me was getting into bed. At the hospital they had the bariatic beds, they kept you inclined and when it's time to get up it will raise you up and you just step off the bed. Well I couldn't get into bed then at home. It took many tries and the help of my husband and daughter. They took turns sleeping with me to help me get up and go to the potty, I had a potty chair in the bedroom. That way one person wasn't missing sleep very night. I slept ate and walked was about it the first week. Very tired, when I went back to work after two weeks off. I worked partime and would have to come home and lay down. I sit at a desk and it really put a strain on the tummy sitting there.

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

150 miles round trip, hour and half drive. It didn't affect my after care at all. Just getting home was very tiring, and the bumps.

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.

Anything dry you should eat. I did a boil egg and make me very sick. I had ate one with fat free mayo and mustard in it and it was fine. I was running late and just grabed the boil one. Also chicken breast by it's self. I can eat it wiht canned veggies I guess the water in the veggies helps. At first it was soups, puddings,all soft foods. I am three months out now and just adding one food at a time back in. So far so good. Just eat small bites and chew very well.

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

It gets better each day. I am not no longer tired, I can do 5 minutes on my bike before it even makes my short of breath. I now wake up rearing to go without the coffee

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

I have 4 ozs of 2% milk with protein powder in it for breakfast. Take one caltrate 600 plus calcium chewables. Take one Centrum chewable. Take Juice plus orchard blend a.m. and garden blend p.m. as dr requested had to be on them 30 days before surgery.

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?

Vomiting on the dry food eaten. Haven't gotten the hair loss yet just waiting on that one, hoping it passes me by, I don't have much anyway. Sleeping has been fine, just have pain from my knee that keeps me awake at times.

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

Not having the insurance pay. Paying $500.00 a month. I can't think of anything else to top that one.

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

Obesity help.com is all i have live to far to drive to OKC to one.

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

goes from just under the breast to belly bottom. Yes it's what I expected.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Second month only lost 8 pounds was hoping for 15 to 20. It's very hard to take a plateau that soon out.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

No the same as before but 60 pounds is not much as big as I was.