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

I had heard of this surgery over 12 years ago and was so excited and wanted to have it done then but there was no way that I could afford it. I have thought about it ever since and decided that one day if I couldn't do it on my own that I WOULD HAVE THIS SURGERY DONE!!!!

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

The OR STAFF WAS GREAT! THE RECOVERY ROOM STAFF WAS GREAT! THE FLOOR NURSING STAFF SUCKED! I didn't have a very good time in the hospital. The nursing staff didn't seem to know how to deal with these type patients. I was suppose to have 1 oz of water every hour the day after surgery. The nurse brought me an 8 oz glass and told me this should last me. Thank God the student nurse was more kind and brought me in a measuring cup and put some ice in the water. Another thing was I got yelled at for not using the Morphine pump more. I didn't need it every 6 mins so I DIDN'T use is every 6 mins. Then I had an IV break off in my hand and the nurse argued with me that I didn't have an IV in my hand. Thank God for the student nurse again because she found it. The original nurse came back and started pounding on my hand without even an I'm sorry. I told her to get away from me because she was hurting me. The student nurse came back with ice and gently pushed around and found the other part. I was not happy with the REGULAR nurses at all.

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

The only problem that I have had so far is that I had one incision that didn't close up. It is very painful. I am almost 3 weeks out and still have a little bit of a problem with it. Other than that everything has gone really well.

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 only had 2 weeks from the time I got my date and the actual surgery so I didn't get to awful much time to think about it. I did get scared and VERY EMOTIONAL especially with my family. I wrote each of my kids a heart to heart letter and gave them a super soft stuffed animal "just in case" They didn't like that but I felt that at least if something did happen they would know how I felt and it wouldn't be left up in the air. I also had a very long heart to heart conversation with my husband about everything that needed to be talked about. He didn't like the fact that I had talked to someone about if I died what I wanted done but I explained that I didn't want to leave him in a bind. Family and friends made it very comfortable for me. I was very lucky that I had a GREAT SUPPORT TEAM!!!!!!!

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

I have the wonderful support group of the people on here. I also have a small group of people that have had this done and we help each other out. I also know that I can call anyone of the people from surgeon to behavioral med to nutrition if I have any questions.

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

I had 6 incisions. All but one of them are great. The last one didn't close well and it looks pretty bad but it is closing up slowly and I will know more after it does that. Most of the incisions were smaller than I had expected. The place where it didn't close up was not at all how I had expected it. The problem is that there is a BIG DENT right where that incision is. It is the largest one they make. They say the reason that there is a dent is because they had to put a BIG STITCH into the muscle and it pulled it in.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

OH YES!!!! People in my neighborhood who never said a word to me before and starting to talk to me and tell me how well I am doing. I have to say I am having to deal with my emotions on this one. I feel that if they didn't want to talk to me before I had this surgery then WHY talk to me now. I try to be civil but it is hard.