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

Carnie Wilson was my first link, but I thought that only rich people could afford it. I thought it was considered plastic surgery. I never dreamed that insurance would pay for it. I was so thrilled for Carnie! Then I found out that my husabnd's cousin had it done, too. That's when I started researching.

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 with approval. My husband and I were both approved at the same time. It took 2 weeks!

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

It was very informative. If anything, they try to tell you all the "horror" stories to discourage you. After all the required classes, etc. we were educated on what to expect. My advice...read everything they give you, take notes and ask questions!

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

My mind was made up before I went to the first meeting. I knew that this was the help that I needed to lose the weight permanently. My husband took some convincing.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

The advice of the surgeon and after talking to WLS patients on this website.

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?

Yes, I had fears, cut I figured that I would rather die from the surgery than to live the rest of my life obese. I had to try!

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?

At first, people were skeptical. They thought it was too risky and radical. After the surgery, they have been great. I love the compliments.

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

My boss was very supportive of my decision. I explained the entire procedure and why I was going to have it done. I came back to work 13 days, post-op. I would only come in for a few hours a day and that would really exhaust me. It took about 5 weeks before I was back to 40 hours. Looking back, I realize that I probably should have stayed home for a couple of weeks. It took me a long time to get my strength back.

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

I enjoyed my hospital stay. I had surgery on Tuesday morning, spent 24 hours in ICU and then went to a room. I came home on Sunday. I wore a hospital gown the entire time. You are allowed to shower on the second day, so bring personal items, hair dryer, makeup, etc. You'll feel much better if you look good.

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

I had no complications at all.

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 very tired. I went back to work after only 13 days and I think that slowed down my recovery process. I really haven't had any anxiety over this ordeal.

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

I tried to do small things. (Pick up the house, laundry, etc) Dr Huse wanted me to stay moving - not lay around in bed all day. I would do a small task and then sit down and rest. I limited naps to one small one in the afternoon. It's frustrating that you can't do all things you are used to doing. But that all comes back in time.

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

The hospital is only about 30 miles from my home, so it wasn't an issue.

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 haven't found anything yet that I couldn't eat. I can even eat sweets (darn it!) but I only try a little bite or two. I have always been a "chocoholic" so I tried a small halloween size Nestle Crunch (which I always loved) and it really didn't taste that good to me. Since I haven't been eating sugar, now it tastes funny to me. That's good!

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

I felt great in the hospital and walked alot around the halls. When I got home, I was very tired. Trying to work part-time took alot out of me. It took approximately 8 weeks before I felt normal. Now I feel better than I have in years. Lots of energy.

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

I take Centrum Complete ( 1 per day) and Trinsicon (1 per day) plus Sublingual b12 once a week.

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?

Hair loss is the only side effect I have had. It didn't start until about 3 months post-op. I would have handfuls of hair come out when I washed my hair. It is starting to grow back, but I am still losing hair, and it is very thin. I eat meat, eggs, cheese, protein bars to try to stop it, but so far, it doesn't seem to be helping.

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

After all of the "horror" stories that they tell you before surgery, I thought the surgery was a piece of cake. I had very little pain, no nausea, vomiting, dumping, etc. Probably the worst part was trying to go back to work and get back into the normal routine. I was so tired. Also, the hair loss is a pain.

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

I haven't attended any support groups yet. My husband who had the surgery 10 weeks after I did, is my support group. We keep an eye on each other, encourage each other and drag each other to the gym!

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

It is about 4" long, with two small scar "holes" on either side. It is fading a little. Some days, it is darker than others.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I plateau'd at about 204. I stayed there for 2 weeks! Since then, the scale is moving very slowly. I am dowm to 195, but it has taken 2 months to lose 9 pounds. That is discouraging sometimes. I was hoping the weight would come off easier. I am trying to drink more water and exercise more to get the scale moving again.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Absolutely! Especially my husband. I don't know if it's because I have lost the weight, or because he has, but we are having fun again! We have been going out on Saturday nights, socializing with friends, having sex again! It's like when we first were together.