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

I read about Carnie Wilson & my first impression was that was a drastic step & was unsure I would ever do anything like that. But the more I heard about it & knew people @ work who had it done, the more interested I became in it. It took me a long time to come around to it but I did.

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

My experience was fairly easy. The doctor sent a letter to the insurance company requesting an approval for the surgery & they came back asking for my history. Once that was received it was apporved quickly.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I was so unhappy w/myself & just couldn't stand living that way anymore. It was a last resort. I saw this as a way of becoming the person I want to be & having the life I want.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I read & had heard this was the best 1 to have. It seems to be the safest w/results.

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 was afraid of the pain & just from having any long term complications from the surgery. I felt I had to take the risk. It would be worth it.

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?

Surprisingly, they were very supportive even tho they thought it was a drastic measure. Some thought I didn't need to have it & some thought I could have lost the weight without the surgery.

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

They were very supportive. I said I was having this type of surgery & was going out on short-term disability. 6 weeks.

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

I received a lot of phone calls from family & friends checking up on me even tho I did not feel like talking. The nurses took care of all of my requests. I had the t.v. on a lot of the time even tho I slept most of the time I was in the hospital. I had a lot of visitors which was nice as you get lonely while you are there. You feel like life is going on without you & you are sorry to be missing it. I stayed in my room the entire time I was there. I was in the hospital a total of 4 days. The most important thing to bring is loose underwear & clothes for when you leave.

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

No.

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 excited but had so much to do to feel prepared for the surgery such as having my apartment & bills in order. I was stressed but had so much to keep me busy I did not have time to think about it. I had so much to do when I went to bed, I was tired I just went right to sleep.

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

Once released from the hospital, I had to go to my grandparents. I could not be alone. I could only sit around & watch t.v. I needed someone to prepare my protein drink, beverages & meals. I only wanted to lay down. It took all my energy to get dressed. I would just sit around. After a few days there, I felt I had more energy & would take walks up & down the street. I stayed there for 5 days & then went home to be on my own. I felt very depressed & still don't know why. My energy level started sinking because I did not stay on my protein drink & vitamins. Everyone is differant but I think everyone needs rest & lots of support. I expect everyone to feel a little depressed in this period.

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

About 15 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.

I have stuck to the plan as far as not drinking carbeonated drinks & have stayed away from sugar. But when I did cheat w/bread, chicken & pasta I did not have any problems.

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

At first, it is very minimal but gets better as the days go by.

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

Centrum for Kids, B12, & folic acid. Met Rx.

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?

The depression. A couple of weeks.

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

The pain once I woke up from surgery. And then the depression once I was home alone.

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

Friends. Extremely important.

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

My incision is still healing. It is a very thin line. It is better than I expected.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

None yet.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Not yet.