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

I talked to someone that had already had the surgery and was all for it after that. I was ready to do anything at that time.

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

Fortunatley, my approval was quick. It only took 2 weeks once my surgeon submitted the paper work. I think I was one of the lucky ones that got the surgery before insurance started becoming so strict. I would just follow what ever guidelines that your insurance company has. If you have to go see your doctor every month for a check up and be on a diet for a number of months, make sure you do not miss any of the appointments. If you do, you will have to start to visits all over again. I know this first hand because I worked for an insurance company and had to give out the guidelines all the time to people trying to get approval. What most people do not know it, it is really not the insurance company that won't pay for the surgery, it is the employers choice rather to offer this surgery to the employees. I know I had many people call in upset about the guidelines and I was not able to tell them that it was in fact the company they are working for making the rules. We were not allowed to tell them that because we couldn't do anything to make the company look bad.

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

It was very pleasant. The hospital that I stayed at had a wing only for gastric bypass patients. The staff was very nice. I really didn't need much while I was there. You won't need undies or pajamas. You will need something loose to wear home, bedroom shoes, robe, comb, toothbrush. You really won't feel like doing very much, so I think that is about all you will need.

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 tired for the first several weeks. Once I started to heal I felt pretty good. I don't really remember any anxiety.

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

I was tired and slow moving. However, make sure that you do move. You will need to walk around the house a few times a day to build up your strength. Once I was able, maybe three weeks out, I started to walk some outside. I started slow and built myself up as my energy allowed.

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

I had a gastric by pass support group that met once a month. I also met friends there that I could talk to on the phone. Having a computer and the support I found online was very helpful. This was very important.

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

It has faded quite a lot. It is not really that bad. I have open RNY. For those that have laporscopic, the scaring is very minor.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

The first six mo I lost 90 lbs. I lost the other 35lbs after that within the first 1 1/2 yrs. There were platues after the first 6mo, but I would begin losing again.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes I do. People speak to me more. I notice that men also treat me differently. When I was my heaviest, I hardly ever had a man hold a door open for me. Now, it happens all the time. Kind of makes me sick though because I know how it was before. I am a good person now and I was a good person before.