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

I first found out about Barriatric Surgery, on the television when I seen advertisements for it,I talked to others at my then weight loss group and they said yes you can gain all you wieght back, it discouraeed me for a while as I thought I didnt want to put myself through all that just to gain it all back like I had all the others ,besides it was very expensive and I didnt want that burden on my husband,he had been kind enough to put me through all the others.

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

The insurance that my husband had through his job said that if they saw that this was a nesesity that they had approved others it was just a HUGE waiting game and was VERY STRESSFUL!!! I know how hard it is to wait on them to apporve you but just tell yourself this will be and have faith that they will approve you, after all it is for your own good and theres since they will not have as many claimes for you for various things such as heart drs, arthritis drs,diabetes drs, so they will be looking at that part too.

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

My first visit was the week of Christmas 2001,its a 2 hr drive from my home but by then I was very glad to be going and finally making a decision that would change my life for the better,I hoped. The staff was very kind, the chairs were even accomadating to those of us who are wider, and everything was clean and everyone very professional. The Dr was also very nice and explained everything to me and my husband,even drew pictures for us on the proceedure, and answered any questions we had. you can make the most out of this meeting by making a list of all the questions that you want to ask him before you get there and then do it.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I finally decided to have the surgery because I was tired of trying and failing at this weight loss,This would finally be the permanant solution that I had been asking for.One that would make me sick if I ate the wrong things.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I didnt at the time know anything about the lap band surgery, only after mine was done did I see or hear about that one, but Im glad I chose the one I did, its permanant , no turning back. thats what I wanted.I didnt want to ever go back to what I was.

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 never had the fear I was going to die. I knew God had brought me this far and that I was finally going to be able to concour this lifelong habit with HIS help.Yes! I believe this has truly been a blessing from God and I hope that through this I can encourage someone else to take that step of faith.You can do it.do not fear our lives are under HIS control anyways, and worring wont add a minuite to 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?

I didnt tell anyone about my upcoming surgery,I didnt want anyone to talk me out of it and I didnt want to hear the negative things, so I didnt tell anyone till after it was over and I was back home. My best friend was really angry at me for not telling her and I saw a side I didnt like about her (jealousy),but I think we moved through that and she is now on another diet and doing well, she still has times when she doesnt talk to me,and thats her problem, Im still me, just thinner. It doesnt matter to me if she loses the weight or not I still like her just the way she is. My daughter has been very supportive, shes young yet 25, it hurts me to see that she is going down that same road that I did but I have no control over that only she can decide what she thinks best for her,I can be there when she needs me to be and try to advise her about eating better, Im allways on the lookout for recipes that are sugar free and fat free and share them all with everyone that wants them. My husband has been the best support for me before after and during this ordeal I cant thank the Lord enough for giving him to me .

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

I did not tell my employer that I was going to have my surgery, like I said I didnt tell anyone ,only after I was home did I HAVE to tell them,because I was foolish enough to go back to work before I was ready and broke a rib.(PLEASE EVERYONE! take it from one who knows take the 6 wks off they tell you and dont be so vain as not to tell anyone at your work at least the ones who count, because you need this time off to get yourself healed up and to be able to do the best job you can do).

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

My stay in the hospital was a good one, the whole staff was very kind and compassionate,I was there for 3 days and I found the Barriatric center to be very clean,very professional as well as kind and compassionate. Things to bring ,most of all a willing additude to change old habits,listen, learn,do what they tell you.walk,

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

no complications,all went well ,PTL

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 relieved that it was finally set,and that I was finally going to have it done, no more thinking about wether or not i would be approved as I got the approval before I could have a date set.I knew this would be the best for me decision that I have ever made.

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

my first few weeks home were VERY PAINFUL,and I have to admit that the thoughts crossed my mind what have I done, but everyday got better ,and it was almost 6-8 months before I could say I have all my strength back and I feel great! I would say dont push it, let yourself heal and at the same time do what you can without exaustion, walk as much as you can, if your tired rest,dont overdue it will only set you back and you will pay later.on good days do what you can and on the not so good days rest and take care of you.

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

about 2 hours from my home to ypsylanti Mich. I didnt have to go back too often at my 3 month and 6 month and 1 year visits,but I would do it over again at the same place . I had my blood drawn every 3 months here at my own family dr and had the results faxed there.

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.

the first few weeks its liquids, I got a very good protien drink powder from my chiropractor,and I used the recipes alot that came home with me in my folder,then I graduated to sugar free puddings, then finally to more solid foods like mashed potatoes, I used alot of skim pet milk with my shakes and also with my puddings and potatoes. I also read labels very carefully so not to get too much fat or sugar just like they tell you and is described in your book. I also ate baby food and meat sticks for protien,didnt want to lose my hair. I finally graduated to solid foods but took it very careful,and its a trial by error thing ,what makes one person sick may not make another person sick.and once you get sick you dont want that to happen again.

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

I was very weak in the beginning after all it IS major surgery. some days I just sat in my chair not having the strength to get up,but then as the days passed I walked around the house and when I felt weak Id lay down and then I got so i could stay up for longer periods,then Id walk outside around the yard and then to the corner and back and then around the block. it was a daily healing process that is different from one person to the next.My advice is to take one day at a time and take care of yourself and LISTEN to the DRS and do what they tell you.

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

I take a chewable multi vitamin like flintstones and a chewable calcuim tablet like caltrate, twice every day, morning and night.

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?

well like I said its trial and error. nausea was a big one for me ,and it was just getting used to portion sizes. what makes one person sick may not make another person sick. if it once makes you sick then your not too likely to try that again none too soon. as far as sleep disturbances Ive allways had that so its not new, I didnt want to lose my hair so I kept up with my protien ,if not by eating meat,then drinking my protien. I ony had 1 bad dumping expierence and that was my own fault , I had went out to a resteraunt for the first time since my surgery,and I had broied fis,and a small part of a p[otato. which was good and I was satisified,thats when I should have quit,but on the way home from the resteraunt I saw a sign saying closing for the season free icecrem, well as an overeater what better thing could you want thean free icecream, so we turned around and went back BIG MISTAKE! yes they were giving away free icecream and it was anything that you could want so I saw sugar free and I thought Id play it safe by asking for a baby cone, well they either didnt hear me right or they thought I was bieng mdest well they gave me the biggest cone I ever saw HUGE! I took about ten big licks and all of a sudden it hit me , good thing there was a gas station across the road or I would have been in BIG TROUBLE! so much for having a nice dinner,I had to go home because I felt so bad, but I learned not to do anything like that again, so you learn from your mistakes,well some do...

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

the worse part for me was the pain in the begining,and Im so used to biengthe helper it was very hard for me to sit by and let others help me.but I had too, theres a lesson to learn in everything if we arent toostubborn to learn it the easy way, otherwise we have to learn it the hard way, and for me thats ussually how I learn mine:)

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

the support group I had was my family and theyve been the best, but I would recomend finding one in your area if thats where your need lies.

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

my scar is from just under my breasts to down to my belly button.I really didnt care what the scar looked like I have had other surgerys and this one would just be a continuation.:)

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I do not weigh myself, I have allways hated the scale,I didnt want to spend my whole life having it gauge the way I feel about myself, so I know Im losing I see it, I feel it, and Im doing the best I know how to do.I follow the diet restrictions and do what Im supposed to,I feel that if I went through all that and the PAIN, why would I continue on the way I was, to me that is the most foolish part that I have seen others do, if you want to coninue to be heavy why go through all that, just continue on the way you were, but if you really want to change , this is your opportunity to have a better future.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

I notice that people look at me in the eye now not sizing me up by the way I look.