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

Cousin had a done. My first impression was that I didn't want a BIG incision on my stomach.

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

Getting approval was a piece of cake. Getting them to pay it afterward was a chore! Keep fighting for yourself. It's SO worth it!

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

It was exciting! Be prepared with lots of questions.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

All the information I received about it, and simply tired of feeling horrible and tired all the time!

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

The doctor told me I needed open GBS, because I had gastroparises.

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 really didn't have any fears, because I had my whole church family praying for me! I needed it too, since I was in recovery for 24 hours because of bleeding. My whole insides were fused together with scar tissue that the doctor had to remove, along with my gall bladder. He said I must have had a couple of bouts with pancreatitis, and didn't know 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?

My parents never got to see me thin again, but my 2 brothers were VERY supportive and encouraging! They were VERY supportive before, during and after!

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

I was out of work 5 1/2 weeks, and they still don't know to this day that I had GBS. I told them about the gastroparisis, and told them I had to have the lower part of my stomach removed, where the nerves died from my diabetes. Part of it was truthful!

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

The first time I was in from Monday-Thursday, and then I developed an infection in the area that my gall bladder was, so I was back in from Saturday night, for another 5 day, because I developed 'C Dif' while I was in the hospital, and ended up with diahrrea for 17 days. The first couple of weeks were rough, but it's been smooth sailing ever since! No need to bring much to the hospital, because I didn't really feel up to reading or doing anything, so I just slept and watched TV. Just bring things to help yourself smell good and feel good about yourself!

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

Yes, as described above, my stomach, pancreas, and gall bladder were all fused together, so the dr. had to remove all the scar tissue and my gall bladder, so I was in recovery for about 24 hours. After being home for 2 days, I developed an infection in the area where my gall bladder had been, so I went to the ER and was admitted for another 5 days. While in the hospital this second time, I developed 'C Dif', which is most likely caused by the cleaning staff not cleaning properly, and I picked up something from a previous patient, and had diahrrea for 17 days. Despite all the problems in the first couple of weeks, I'd do it again in a heart beat!

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 felt very anxious and excited. I talked to others on-line.

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

I mostly felt fine, and had no appetite at all, so I had to make myself eat to keep up my strength, and also take all the vitamins necessary.

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

It's only 15 minutes from our house to our local 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.

I've had VERY few things that didn't agree with me since surgery. My very first dumping was from Shrimp Bisque. That was about 2.5 weeks out, and I thought I'd be OK with soup, not thinking that bisque would be too rich. I also dumped from fried chicken, because I didn't realize it had the skin on it under the breading. I had problems with rice sticking for awhile, but now at 2 years out, I don't really have problems with anything.

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

Not much activity for the first 6 weeks, but after that, it increased each week.

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

Daily, I take my multi-vitamin & calcium citrate. I give myself a monthly B-12 shot. I don't have a need for iron, since I had a hysterectomy at age 36, because of lots of cancers in my family.

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?

My worst was probably the hair loss, starting around the 4th month after surgery, and lasting for about 6 months. I tried uping my protein, and the doctors office told me a supplement to take to help, which I did for awhile, but it's been so long now, I don't recall what it was. I still deal with a little sleep disturbance, but not much.

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

Just the complications from the first 2 weeks. After that, it was no problem at all.

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

It's VERY important! A few of us that met at the hospital where I had my surgery, started an on-line support group, and there's about a dozen of us who became VERY close. We live within an hour of each other, and get together often throughout the year, going out to eat, shopping, Christmas parties, picnics, etc. I couldn't have made it through these past 2 years without them!

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

It's very big, from just under my breast bone to close to my belly button. It is what I expected, after the doctor told me I needed the open surgery, due to the gastroparisis.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I've had a VERY long plateau, from about 8 months out, lasting for about a year, and now in the last 4 months I've lost another 20 pounds.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Very much so! My husband is still overweight, and I can see how people treat me differently than they treat him!