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

28 years ago a friend had intestinal bypass and died...I have been terrified ever since. Bariatric surgery is my last hope. 2004 UPDATE: HAD ALWAYS READ AS MUCH AS I COULD ABOUT POTENTIAL WAYS TO LOSE WEIGHT; CARNIE WILSON'S WRITE UP IN PEOPLE WAS NOT ONLY INSPIRING, SHE SAID MANY THINGS I HAVE OFTEN SAID AND THOUGHT. MY INITIAL IMPRESSIONS WERE TERROR, BUT THE ONLY THING TO FEAR IS FEAR ITSELF...AND MAYBE FAT...2008 REVISION SUCCESSFUL AND YES, I'D DO IT A THIRD TIME IF NEED BE.

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

I was approved with no argument. Make sure you research what your company requires and have the information compiled and ready. 2004 UPDATE: MY REVISION WAS APPROVED IN 7 DAYS - PIECE OF CAKE, TO USE A BAD COMMENT...:) AGAIN, DO WHAT THE INSURANCE COMPANY REQUIRES - YOU ARE ASKING THEM TO INVEST A LOT OF MONEY IN YOU...

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

See comments on Dr. Waits elsewhere...more like I interrogated him. He is great. Bring all your questions and bring the data the dr. needs to write the predetermination letter. 2004 UPDATED: DR. MACIK IS EASYGOING, AND ALSO ANSWERED MY QUESTIONS CLEARLY AND KINDLY. HAVE YOUR QUESTIONS READY AND LISTEN TO THE ANSWERS.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I've done everything else. 2004 UPDATE: THAT WASN'T VERY COMPLETE WAS IT? NOT ONLY HAD I DONE EVERYTHING ELSE, I WAS TERRIFIED NOT TO DO IT...I HAD JUST FINISHED LAW SCHOOL, HAD A GRANDSON ON THE WAY AND WANTED TO BE AROUND TO SEE IT ALL AND ENJOY IT ALL. IT'S A TOOL, NOT A QUICK FIX, WHICH I UNDERSTOOD, CONTINUE TO UNDERSTAND AND LIKE ALL TOOLS MUST BE TREATED WTIH RESPECT. I BELIEVED WITH ALL MY HEART IF I DIDN'T HAVE THE SURGERY INITIALLY I'D DIE SOON; THE REVISION WAS NECESSARY TO STOP THE WEIGHT GAIN - JUST ONCE I WAS NOT GOING TO REGAIN ALL THE WEIGHT. 2008 UPDATE: I SO ROCK. I'M CURRENTLY SEEKING SURGEON FOR SKIN REMOVAL. BEST DECISION I EVER MADE.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I yield to Dr. Waits' judgment. 2004 UPDATE: ROUX-EN-Y GASTRIC BYPASS OPEN PROCEDURE BECAUSE INITIALLY I HAD ADHESIONS; MY REVISION REDID THEY RNY USING MORE RECENT DEVELOPMENTAL PROCEDURES THE ROUX EN Y AND REPAIRED TWO HERNIAS...WASN'T A LOT TO DECIDE ON THIS GO-ROUND.

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?

Death is my biggest fear, with or without the surgery. Face the fear, embrace it and trust your surgeon. 2004 UPDATE: SAME FEAR, BUT HAD LESS TREPIDATION THIS TIME. I WAS EAGER FOR THE PROCEDURE (REVISION) IT WAS SCHEDULED QUICKLY AND WITH 200 CASES ON MY DESK AT WORK I DID NOT HAVE TIME TO WORRY IT TO DEATH. A GOOD SURGEON IN WHOSE ABILITIES YOU TRUST IS ESSENTIAL TO THINGS WORKING.

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 am lucky to have a lot of supportive folks from my husband and sons on down. I just told them, would do it the same. Will let you know after my surgery. Am sure they will be great. 2004 UPDATED: WONDERFULLY SUPPORTIVE AFTER THE INITIAL SURGERY IN 2001 AND AFTER THE 2004 SURGERY. I COULD NOT ASK FOR MORE SUPPORTIVE PEOPLE IN MY LIFE BEGINNING WITH MY HUSBAND, DAVID, MY SISTER AND MY SONS...AND FRIENDS....MINE ARE THE VERY BEST! 2008: same same!!!!

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

Not working at this time; 2004 UPDATE: HE WAS VERY UNDERSTANDING; TOLD HIM I HAD TO GET MY GUT RESTAPLED. HE WAS ASKING WHEN I'D BE BACK TWO DAYS OUT OF SURGERY BUT WAS VERY SUPPORTIVE...I WAS OUT OF WORK 4 WEEKS BECAUSE OF THE OPEN PROCEDURE. I AM BACK PART-TIME RIGHT NOW. 2008 UPDATE: STILL AT SAME PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT AND STILL LOVING IT AND FINDING SO MUCH SUPPORT FROM EMPLOYER AND CO-WORKERS.

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

I was in the hospital 3 days. Just needed personal hygiene stuff since I was exhausted after the procedure and just getting through the hospital routine took all my energy. 2004 UPDATE: SAME. THOUGH I WAS NOT NEARLY SO EXHAUSTED AFTER THE REVISION.

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

Not so far, knock on wood. 2004 UPDATE: MY STAPLE LINE BROKE DOWN IN 2003; I HAVE HAD IT REVISED. MY EYESIGHT TOOK A TURN FOR THE WORSE; I GOT NEW GLASSES AND NOW MY EYES HAVE REVERTED TO OLD PRESCRIPTION. INCISION STIL LEAKS, BUT AM DRESSING AND CLEANING PER DR'S. ORDERS AND IT IS DRYING UP. 2008 UPDATE: HERNIA NEEDS REPAIR BUT I AM PRONE TO THE BLASTED THINGS.

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 ranged from elation to absolute terror. I talked to folks when anxiety and fear set in and read the comments on this site, which were very helpful. 2004 UPDATE: I WAS SO EAGER TO HAVE THE REVISION DONE I WAS ON A NATURAL HIGH - KNOWING THAT SURGICAL DATE WAS LESS THAN A MONTH AWAY. NO ANXIETY THIS GO ROUND. 2008 UPDATE: YEP.

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

I am 2 weeks post-op today. My energy is finally beginning to return in full. REst, but get up and move. I have felt better each passing day. Expect fatigue, soreness and joy that the worst is over! 2004 UPDATE: WHILE I RECOVERED FAR MORE QUICKLY FROM THIS SURGERY THAN THE ORIGINAL, I SPENT MY FOUR WEEKS OFF READING, WALKING AND RESTING TO REGAIN MY STRENGTH. DON'T BE AFRAID TO BE TIRED AND REST. YOU CANNOT PROPERLY HEAL IF YOU ARE NOT RESTING. 2008 UPDATE: RARIN' TO GET THE SKIN REMOVED....

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

12 miles. 2004 UPDATE: SAME.

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.

This is week two so I have been on soft foods/liquids. I ahve not been bothered by the limitations or portions. Because I am always sipping a drink, I feel like a stuffed tick much of the time. 2004 UPDATE: MUCH THE SAME AS BEFORE; THOUGH I HAD PROGRESSED TO EATING MOST ANYTHING WHEN THE LINE BROKE DOWN. I HAVE NOW DONE THE SOFT FOODS, VEGGIES, FRUIT, SEAFOOD AND POULTRY AND JUST ADDED MEATS THIS WEEK. NO RICE OR PASTA YET, BUT DON'T NEED IT.

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

I made myself get up and walk often when I got home, and am increasing activities as I feel like it. 2004 UPDATED: ACTIVITY LEVEL INCREASED WITH MY ENERGY LEVEL - HAVE TO BE CAREFUL OF OVERDOING. I AM BACK AT WORK PART-TIME (5 WEEKS AFTER OPEN REVISION) AND TAKING BREAKS AS NEEDED.

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

Flintstones with iron twice a day. B-12 and calcium to begin when dr. says to. 2004 UPDATE: TAKING SAME VITAMINS.

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 had one incident of nausea/vomiting the second day home. Called dr. and got calmed down. No recurrence. 2004 UPDATE: DISCOVERED THAT BEEF WILL TRIGGER VOMITING; EATING VERY SLOWLY....CHEWING A LOT...SO FAR NO SUCH EFFECTS THIS TIME AROUND. HAVE HAD SOME NAUSEA AND I JUST STOP AND LET EVERYTHING SETTLE.

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

The surgery itself and the hospital nazis who really are angels doing their jobs to help you recover and get home. You get no rest in hospital. Every time I'd doze off in would come a nurse or tech. But they are great and I bless their regimented souls. 2004 UPDATE: LACK OF EFFICIENCY IN PERFORMING HOSPITAL ROUTINE CAUSING THE NURSES AND TECHS TO COME IN OVER AND OVER AND OVER USUALLY ABOUT THE TIME YOU ARE DOZING OFF...SIGH..I STAND BY MY ORIGINAL COMMENTS THOUGH.

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

There is a once a month support group. I am looking forward to next week's meeting. It is very important to hear others' experiences and know that one is not alone. 2004 UPDATE: HAD I BEEN AS COMPLIANT WITH MY ATTENDANCE AT SUPPORT GROUP AS I WAS WITH EVERY OTHER INSTRUCTION, I WOULD HAVE TALKED TO THE DR. MUCH EARLIER ABOUT THE FACT THAT I COULD EAT AGAIN WITH NEAR IMPUNITY...I DON'T ENJOY GROUPS LIKE THAT BUT THEY ARE CRITICAL. 2008 UPDATE: I STILL LOOK TO MYSELF FOR SUPPORT - I'M THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN MAKE ME DO WHAT IM SUPPOSED TO.

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

Reddish pink, yep, what I expected...I have stretch marks that look worse. 2004 UPDATE: CAN'T EVEN TELL THE NEW FROM THE OLD...I LOVE IT. DIDN'T HAVE EXPECTATIONS...

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

2004 UPDATE: I TEND TO GO SEVERAL DAYS THEN DROP SEVERAL POUNDS...INTERESTING CYCLE....2008 UPDATE: SAME SAME.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

2004 UPDATE: FOR WHATEVER REASONS, PEOPLE TREAT THIN MORE SERIOUSLY THAN FAT.... 2008 UPDATE: YEP.