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

I have know about it for quite a while, but never really investigated it because I thought there was no way insurance would cover a procedure like this. Once I found out my insurance would cover it, I was very excited! Learned as much as I could and decided I could do this.

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 experience in this area as Dr Hung's nurse Lisa took care of it all. I mean all. I was approved within 2 weeks of my initial appointment!

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

Well, Dr Hung was pleasant, but appeared to be rushed. I didn't have a lot of questions, so our meeting was rather quick. His nurse Lisa set up appointments with a cardiologist, parapsychologist, and nutritionist before I left that day. If you have questions, make sure that your doctor knows this and he will spend time with you. I was just very informed before I went in

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I want to be healthy again. My insurance now covers it. I have a wonderful support system. Everything just lined up correctly for this to happen for me, so I jumped on it!

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

It was the only procedure that my Dr does at this point

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 didn't really have any fears. I knew it was a very small chance of problems, but I am confident that Dr Hung did it correctly and I am doing everything right, so I don't foresee any problems in the future.

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 family was behind me all the way. Friends though I was doing it to get thin. Once I explained that I was doing it to get healthy, not for the appearances of it, they were behind me all the way. They came and saw me at the hospital, and we are really trying to squeeze everyone in during our weekends.

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

They were ok. I told them how incredibly important this was to me and I would do everything correctly so that I wouldn't miss work with problems. I was out of work for 2 weeks. Yes really - 2 weeks. I started before the surgery so that it would be easier to get up and move afterward.

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

My hospital stay was as enjoyable as can be expected. I went in the morning of December 19 and went home Christmas Eve night. The most important thing to bring is your CPAP machine if you are on one and a good pair of step into no-slip slippers. You won't be able to bend over to put them on. Trust me on this! Otherwise, everything else was either supplied or easily gotten at the hospital I was in.

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

I had no complications from the surgery. At least not yet. I am going on 3 months post-op so I am sure if I was going to have any I would have by now.

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 incredibly excited. I had done my homework and was completely prepared. I went through gallbladder surgery 15 years ago and the incision is identical (actually my bypass scar is about 1 inch shorter than my gallbladder scar) so I knew what I was getting into and I knew what I had to do to get the best benefit and get over the initial surgery quickly.

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

I went totally bonkers when I got home. I was very glad that my kids were home for winter break to do some of the little things, but over all, things were pretty normal except for eating. We were blessed with an exceptionally warm period there so I could begin my walking regime without having to battle the weather. Expect pain twinges, a feeling of weakness, and getting sick. This is the time that you will learn your boundries.

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

I only had to go about 2 or 3 miles to get to the hospital.

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.

Well, I have not attempted sugar and don't feel a need to, but I have had no other dietary problems. I couldn't eat rice (like in some soups) that seemed to block my intestine. I stayed with liquids for the full 6 weeks that is recommended. I slowly introduced soft foods, one thing a day. Like I would try ground beef one day. When I knew I could tolerate it, I went to tuna the next day, etc. I have not found any off limits foods for me. I am still slowly introducing new foods, though. I do, however, have to make myself eat in order to make it 6 times a day. Honestly, I give myself weekends off for the 6 times a day rule. I just constantly feel stuffed during the week following this plan. But if it keeps my metabolism going, I will do it! I have not become lactose intolerant, although I thought at first that I was getting there, but it has gone away. Actually I just remembered something I can't handle - Noodles of any kind! I tried a few one time and got so violently sick, I will not even think about touching them. What I have done so that I can eat spaghetti with the family is I made a spaghetti squash and separated it out into individual servings and froze it. They also make soy noodles which I haven't tried yet, but I have bought them to try next time we have spaghetti.

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

I started walking the day of surgery. I did one lap of the critical care unit. Then next day I did 2. I was moved to the surgical floor the 2nd night and on the third day, I made it one lap of the floor, than just kept going like that. I got up to 3 laps 3 times a day. Anything to get off my butt! That bed was soooo uncomfortable! :) I now am walking 3 miles a day and I should be doing more, and I can't wait until Spring to get on my bike. I have been looking forward to that the most!

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

I take 3 chewable vitamins with iron, and will be starting with pre-natals this week as I am just about out of my chewables! I get my protein in (around 45 grams) with regular food. I am not lactose intolerant so I get my calcium through natural means. The fewer pills I have to take, the better.

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 only side effect I have is just always feeling stuffed trying to eat 6 times a day. I only vomitted 4 times, and I knew why each time. I have not had a problem with hair loss, but I am only 2 1/2 months post op. I don't think that I will as I now eat more protein than I did before the surgery and I wasn't losing any hair then, so I will continue to believe it won't happen to me!

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

Not being able to drink water for 4 days after the surgery. I actually have a picture of me taking my first drink of water because it meant that much to me!

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

My surgeon has a support group, but I have not been able to make any meetings yet. I did go twice before my surgery, but am just dying to go to one now. I do, however have a friend that I work with that went through this about 6 weeks before I did and we keep close tabs and give each other any info etc. we come across.

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

My scar is down the center of an old gallbladder scar, so it really isn't any worse than it was. Dr Hung cleaned out the scar tissue inside from that surgery and I feel like I am all lumpy now, but I know it helped my healing process because scar tissue was not trying to bond with old scar tissue. I also know that as I get thinner, the lumpiness will go away.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I don't know if it was a plateau or just me not seeing the results, but I was feeling like nothing was happening for about 3 weeks. I kept weighing myself on the scale at work, and it kept reading 259lbs. That was frustrating because I was 252 at my one month check!! Well, I don't know if they recalibrated or what they did to it, but I waited another week, jumped on and it said 239 lbs!! I was so excited! I made my husband take a picture of me to update my web page, and then I actually saw the difference. So, the moral of the story is if you don't think it is working, take a picture and compare it to your before picture. You will finally see what others are seeing and it will really bolster your morale.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

I don't notice people treating me any differently (except my husband, but that is in a good way!) but I do notice that I seem to have more confidence. I am more outspoken than I was. I used to be a timid little bug, but now I will speak my mind. I don't know if that is necessarily a good thing...