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

A neighbor had the VGB and was doing well, then a client of mine had the RNY procedure and did great! I was inspired.

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

Easy...I had the insurance due to my build, so there were basically no loop holes for me.

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

Great. My surgeon was very kind, and straight to the point. He answered my questions honestly. People need to make sure that they write down all questions as they think of them so that they are prepared when the meet with the surgeon

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

My arthritis kept getting worse, and my energy levels kept plummeting.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

A lengthy discussion with my surgeon.

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?

None, I honestly felt that having the surgery would make the quality of my life better, and the risks of dying...well, I personally felt that I would rather be dead than to live the next 30-40 years in the shape my body was in.

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 family and friends were very supportive. I was honest about why I was having the surgery, and told them why this is not the easy way out. Even my brother in law who works for a well known MN Health Ins. Company supported me...that really impressed me.

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

I am self employed. I arranged for coverage for my clients and took only 1 week off for myself then went back to work with a helper.

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

I was in the hospital for 3 nights. The staff was pleasant. Everything I needed the hospital provided, except a good book!

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

Only that my body rejected the type of internal sutures they used and I had problems with the sutures popping out of my incision sites, which lead to one of the sites becoming infected. I take each day one at a time.

In the weeks after you got your surgery date, how did you feel? How did you cope with any anxiety you might have felt?

The first month was probably the hardest, physically and mentally. I think journalling and my online support friends helped the best.

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

Take things slow, you need to learn to eat all over again. Remember to take your time, and chew...chew...chew! Don't forget to get in enough water, and talk a walk...even if you don't really want to...it helps healing and it helps the emotional part of the surgery as it cleanses the mind.

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

Less than 20 miles. I live in a major city.

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 can't eat broccoli, cream soups, etc, they make me gurgly and feel ill. Milk higher than 1% makes me ill. The foods off limits are rice...sits like a rock in my stomach. I have tried cheese cake and did fine (only a small sliver on my daughters birthday), but ate 2 oreos and was sick for 45 minutes) Everything is trial and error.

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

I started slow. I could barley walk around the block before surgery, but now I am up to walking a mile. I try to take a walk daily.

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

B12 1000mg sublingual every other day. Calcium Citrate (Citrical) 600mg 2x a day Centrum Chewable 1 time per day at bedtime.

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 have had few side affects. I do occationally feel ill after eating, but I lay down and wait until it works itself out. So far...no hair loss.

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

Learning what you can and can not eat. It is a learning process and can change daily as your body heals.

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

I have friends who have had or are thinking of having surgery so I talk with them regularlly. I have a small group from OH that I meet with everyother week, and occationally I will post on the message board.

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

I have 6 scars, all but one are healed and are slowly fading.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I may lose 5 lbs in a week, then go 2-3 weeks with nothing. I usually look back at my journal or think about my activities and food/water intakes and I can usually figure out why I am stalled. Then I modify my lifestyle and boom...I lose again.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Not yet, I am still losing...so its not too noticable yet.