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

As I said I work in the operating room so I assist with these procedures all the time but was not convinced it was for me.

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

I didn't have any problems with my insurence my doctor took care of all that.

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

I had two doctors, Dr. Courcoulas and Dr. Luketich, they both were very good and are still very helpful in any problems I encounter.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

My heartburn and the advice of Dr. Luketich, I really thought it was my only alturnative.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I was fed up with the amount of heartburn I was having.

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 know the fears all to well but didn't think about them as much as another person. I got to pick everyone who came in contact with me and I trusted them with my life.

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 still thinks I am crazy but my friends are supportive but they think I had the surgery because everyone else was having it done.

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

My supervisor was very supportive and even called me after sugery on her vacation to see if I was okay. I have the best boss annd because of that she gave me a lot of slack as to when I had to be back and even let me go negetive in my vacation hours to make up the difference between the disability pay and my normal salary.

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

I didn't plan on being there to long so I didn't bring anything--Big Mistake!! I was in the hospital for 6 days and 4 of those days I was in the ICU with pneumonia. I was real scared post-op I really thought I was going to die.

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

Besides the pneumonia I got an infection in one of my incisions but everything was okay as long as I got home.

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 am still having a lot of anxiety because I want to eat. I want a sandwhich so bad! My doctor has support meeting every month and I attend those which helps me realize that things will get better--I hope!

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

I still had some pain but I wouldn't take my pain medication because I would have to drink the laxitive and stool softener so I grinned and bore it. It's really not that bad the worst thing was trying to sleep, I couldn't get comfortable.

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

I didn't travel very far at all so this was an extra benifit.

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 still experimenting with my diet. I am supposed to be able to eat tuna and fish working up to solids, but I get alot of pain when I eat so I have been sticking with softs and still get the pain so unfortunatly I don't eat the required three times a day because it hurts too bad. I can't have soda(which I miss) and they say I'll never be able to eat bread again which also saddens me.

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

I didn't have much energy because I haven't been eating correctly but now I am back to work and doing okay even without a lot of food. Which I do not reccomend!!

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

I take 2 multi vitamins in the morning and two tums and two vitamin C pills at lunch and a crushed up zantac at bed time. Everything has to be chewable or crushed because I cannot swallow pills.

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 am having a lot of nasia and vomiting after each meal I am still trying to cope with these but I don't know it's very hard.

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

The diet and the vitamins I can't stand not being able to chew any food or eating those nast vitamins.

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

I attend a monthly meeting for post-op bariatric patients provided by my surgeon, it has been very helpful.

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

I have 6 tiny scares but hopefully the will fade and no one will see them--it's not like I'll be wearing a bikini!

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

none

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

no not really