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

At a doctor office that I worked at one of our patients did it. Thought about it... Nothing more. Next, a couple years later. a computer consultant had it done that called on our office. I was shocked but again only thought about it. Third I started to look at gastric banding and thought if insurance covered it I would think about it because I didn't understand the bypass procedure and felt like why mess with what God made.

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

I was very lucky! I was approved with no problems at all.

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

They held an informational meeting and gave us the list of need appointments. I immediately started on my appointments. So by the time of my first appointment I was nearly done with the clearance.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

The fact that insurance coverage was approved.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I went to the informational meeting with banding in mind but as I listen to Dr. Duncan I realized that bypass made more since for me.

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?

Do nothing and I was going to die at the rate I was going! I was afraid to stand still and I was afraid of moving forward! I loved food... But I loved my husband and son more. I wanted to jump off the table right up until I went to sleep.

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 told my family and my co workers and a very very few friends. I wish I had told them to keep their mouths shut. The worse comment is you cheated... Really? There is nothing easy about doing this. We struggle, we work, and we deprive ourselves. Sounds like a life long diet... Doesn't it.

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

My doctors were excited... They called me their own little science experiment. My supervisor has her own set of issues and actually was overheard making a bet that would fail. Nothing like that to encourage me...even more!

What was it like attending your first information seminar on weight loss surgery? Were you glad you attended? if so, why?

Yes, I like getting the information of the different doctors I would need to visit for clearance.

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

I stayed in the hospital for three days. I was in a hospital that had a special wing for WLS patients. I moved constantly. The most important thing to bring is you bedroom shoes because you need to MOVE.

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

I was apple shape so my liver got in the way. I did have to have a drain tube for the first week.

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 ate like a pig! I loved food... The panic set in.

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

I was so glad to be home. Between the operating table and the bed at the hospital, my back was killing me. I got home on a Friday and Saturday I was out walking around... Not fast.. Not pretty but I was moving!

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

20 miles maybe

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 still can't eat chicken... Which kills me because I used to set it all the time. I also have a hard time with processed food. I learned to eat leftovers at every meal and at strange times. For examples, we have a family tradition of Italian food on Sunday nights... So either completely change my family or get mine to go. So every morning I eat a very small portion of my leftovers. Grosses out some people to eat salad and eggplant at 6am I see it as a good use of leftovers.

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

I started out walking around the mall. One lap used to make me winded in January of 2009. I would add another lap as I improved.

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

2 prenatal vitamins - day, B12 injections every 2-4 weeks, iron with vitamin C but that makes me constipated so I take stool softener because of the iron, and I take calcium with vitamin D.

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?

The foaming spit up is worse for me and usually comes with processed food. I know now what causes it so I try to avoid it but still happens.

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

The first 48 to 96 hours. If you can grin and bare it you can do it. I was weak, tired and my back hurt!

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

I wish we had more... Wait any!

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

They are great you can't hardly see them!

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I would plateau for a few days but then I would bust through that and get moving! I am 3 pounds above the "normal" weight for me but I'm ok with that.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Some better some worse. I hate it when people who didn't like fat me... Who suddenly like me... Shallow.. I'm still the same me. Then I have some friends that like having a fat friend and that don't like me as much. I do wonder how much my confidence level has gone up so I am more apt to talk making other talk to me. The old, which came first the chicken or the egg?