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

My first exposure was at a taping of the Sally Jesse Raphael show several years ago. The woman that had the surgery had horrible complications and it was terrifying. Several years ago my primary doctor suggested it to me after struggling through yet another diet. But still I thought that the whole thing was way too drastic for me to do it. Fast forward about 2 years, and I have all these issues that are all weight related, sleep apnea, hypertension, diabetes. Here I am 38 years old and I'm looking at issues that I am just to young to be dealing with. My mother died from a massive heart atack at age 56. I really did not want history to repeat itself. I was scared enough to take action, and take the bull by the horns and rewrite history.

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

Thankfully, there was no problem getting insurance approval. Dr. Ehrlich asked me to write a letter to the insurance company asking them to cover the surgery. from the first contact, I had approval 2 days later.

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

RESEARCH--RESEARCH--RESEARCH!!! There is so much information available to you. Go to any search engine, type in gastric bypass, and you'll be amazed at what is available online. It's hard to go to any type of function where you don't meet up with someone who has had the operation, is thinking about it, or knows someone who has had it. Talk to them, they're a wealth of information!

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

The desire to see my 40th birthday, just over 1 year away. And, most importantly, just to feel better!

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Was going to go with the lap-band first, but decided to do the bypass because it has better results, and is more effective.

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 very confident throughout the whole process. The trick is to sorround yourself with positive, supportive people. The people that are not going to be positive and supportive are going to drain all that good energy out of you. I have one friend that is totally against the operation, I found that I had to limit the contact that I had with her and when we were together, we simply never spoke about it. The other people that were around me were the ones that I focused on. I did a lot of talking to God, and to my parents, both deceased, prior to surgery. The only fear that I felt was as they were taking me into the O/R.

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?

See prior answer.

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

I told my supervisor right as I started the whole process. I told him that if I caould get insurance approval, I had every intention of doing it. I was very up front with him and my company, kept them up to date about what was going on and the progress that I was making. They were very tolerant of the schedule changes and all of the doctor appointments. I requested 5 weeks leave on FMLA, and will go back after 4.

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

I went in early Tusday morning (6am) surgery was at 7:30, they were prompt and took me right on time. I was discharged Friday morning. Don't bring anything with you, you really won't need it

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

None, Thank God!

In the weeks after you got your surgery date, how did you feel? How did you cope with any anxiety you might have felt?

Sorround yourself with caring, loving, positive, supportive people! Ask for strength from God, and know that this is the best thing that you can do for yourself.

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

Everyone is different. I came home on a Friday and because I had had no pain meds since Wednesday at the hospital, I was able to drive on Saturday. Your new favorite word is going to be ADJUSTMENT. There's alot of that to do. Adjusting to the new way of eating and drinking, to the way you move and do things until you start to heal. The road to recovery can be seem very long but it is an ongoing process of learning and adjusting.

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

I was able to do it at a local hospital, Norwalk Hospital, Norwalk CT.

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 had some lactose issues when I moved onto full liquids, the hardest thing to adjust to is eating super slow!! If you eat too quick, believe me, you'll know it!!

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

Keep yourself moving. Walk around the house, go outside if you can DON'T stay in bed!!

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

a daily multi vitamin, plus calcium citrate, B-12

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?

A little nausia, but I know that it was because I ate too fast. It's all a learning process.

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

I'm still looking for it.

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

My doctor runs 2 groups each month, I am about to attend my 2nd group meeting, it's good to meet other people that are going through the same things as you are. It's also good to know what may or may not be in store for you.

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

I have 7 small incisions, that are all starting to dissappear.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

n/a

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Your friends will be soo supportive and happy for you, others will be just be so amazed at the changes.