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

a friend of mine from aol had the surgery and told me about her doctor and how great it was.... i felt its a miracle!

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

I had no problems getting approved. They didnt stall, I had all my tests and doctors fax information to Dr Inabnets staff and they made up a package and submitted it to my insurance company. I heard the approval in 3 weeks, wonderful!! I recommend getting as much information about yourself and any problems that you have sent to your surgeon to make a good claim for yourself. i did alot of leg work and phone calls, but it was worth it.

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

i felt like when i first met Dr Inabnet, that i finally found a reason to live.... i felt that someone finally understood me.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

after seeing how well my friend was doing, i felt it was for me. and the thought that i could have it laproscopically did it for me.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

i liked the laproscopic angle in this surgery. i felt it was 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?

i honestly felt that what i was doing to my body NOT having the surgery was worse than the risks of having 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 two daughters are very obese too, but they felt that it was too risky for me to have it done. eventually they came around to support me in my decision.

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

They didnt care either way, i had the time to take off work anyway. i was planning to give my notice when i returned to work after being on disability nearly 3 months, which i did, so they were not expecting me to stay.

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

i was admitted on friday the 16th of march this year. i had the surgery a few hours later than planned. i woke up sore and drugged. the next day was a daze since i had the morphine drip going in me all the time <yeah>. the nurses werent that great at Mt Sinai Hospital, i felt like i was a pain in the ass to them, but i only requested what i needed. typical short staffed hospitals. i was discharged on monday, even tho i was vomitting, which i thought was a bit too soon.

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

my throat needed to be stretched twice by an specialist. which i found out later was a typical side effect, but scared the crap out of me, i couldnt keep anything down, including water.

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 scared, but anxious. i was having difficulty breathing at the weight i was pre surgery, so my original date had to be postponed by a week while i saw a heart specialist to be safe. all turned out well.

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

i was very week, and thought before the surgery that i would be fine all alone, but i did need help, since i slept alot, so i went to a friends house for the first week. i was sore, but healed pretty fast.

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

i had to deal with driving from NJ to NYC which took me 45 to an hour in the car. it was a pain in the butt, since parking cost almost $20.00 each time i went. i did wish i had picked a closer doctor, but it was worth the effort.

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 am now lactose intollerent. i couldnt keep much down in the beginning since my throat closed up. pasta was easy after a while. i get full fast and its easy to shed the first 70 lbs.

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

i was tired alot, not much energy

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

geritol complete ensure diabetic shakes

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?

nausia and vomiting were bad during the first month or two. the throat problem didnt help me.

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

adjusting to the fact that your brain still wants to eat crap but your stomach says NO WAY and you puke if you do.

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

i dont, living in london, i am trying to find a support group here. any suggestions???

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

the incisions are smaller than i thought, wonderful

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

i am currently having a plateau, i havent lost anything in the month that im here in london, but i have been having a problem finding the suppliments and proper things to eat. sigh

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

yes, people look at me like a typical person now. not a fat slob