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

2 of my co-workers had it done and they were very successful. I had thought about it for years, but was afraid.

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

Insurance approval was easy for me. I had a lot of work experience in the insurance industry so I knew what to do. I had my ducks in a row. In January 04 I met with my surgeon, got insurance approval in Feb. 04 and had surgery in March 04. Be prepared. Find out exactly what is required for approval from your insurance company before begining this process.

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

I was in the hopsital for 5 days. Bring comfortable slippers that you can walk in. You will do alot of walking. It helps the healing process. The hospital staff was great. It made an uncomfortable experience very pleasant.

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

No complications at first. However, at my lowest weight of 160, I was tired all of the time, very sick. I was very anemic, and my feratin level was so low that the doctors didn't even know how I was able to stand up and walk. I had to get iron transfusions and start to eat more food.

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 anxious, yet ready. I was so miserable being morbidly obese. I read alot of books and used this site for support.

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

I threw up every day. My mom was taking care of me. I hurt all over, was a little depressed and just wanted to sleep all of the time. I made myself take little walks.

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

I traveled about 15 miles. It was very nice and easy for follow up appts.

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 could eat about 1 teaspoon of scrambled eggs, yogurt, cottage cheese and drank protein shakes. My tolerance after 1 year was where I could eat anything. Even sugary stuff. I wish I would have never tried those bad foods. I gained so much weight back.

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

Very little activity. Just light walking.

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

At first I took vitamins from a bariatric company. I was faithful in taking them. Then life happened and my world was turned upside down by a divorce and my routine just went away. When I stopped taking vitamins, I got very weak.

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?

I had alot of hair loss, but it came back. I never dumped on sugar though I wish I would have. I get bad diarhea from anything fried. I cannot digest beef very well, I get tummy aches and cabbage, broccoli, brussel sprouts and so on give me horrid gas. I just avoid those food now.

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

The worst part was losing my support group. We met once a week and it really helped. I quit going to group when my husband met my best friend at a support group. They also both had surgery and they fell in love. She left her husband and my husband divorced me.

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

I have no aftercare program, I did, but I could no longer attend. It really did help. I miss is terribly.

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

My scars are not bad at all. They have faded over time.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I had numerous plateaus. I just increased exercise and protein and it seemed to break them. I have been very slack in the past year and gave up on my weight. I gained about 60 pounds in 18 months.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

When I was at goal weight, people were nicer to me, went out of there way for me. SOme of my friends disowned me though. I was smaller than they were and they could not deal with it. My mom and daughter became very jealous too.