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

Internet and I couldn't read enough. I wanted to know everything about it.

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 a nightmare for me. The company had me jump through numerous hoops before final approval. My advice...don't give up. Keep pushing until they say yes.

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

My first meeting with my surgeon was awesome. He was very informative and patient. I think I must have been in with him for almost 2 hours.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

Health benefits

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

My surgeon only does the Open RNY so there was no deciding.

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?

My biggest fear instilled by my surgeon was blood clots. I don't think i was afraid of anything else. He takes extra precaution to guard against this.

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?

Friends and family are and have been very supportive once they were educated about the procedure and its benefits.

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

The EVP at my company is my biggest supporter. Everyone has been great about this. I should be out of work about 3 1/2 weeks.

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

My hospital stay was miserable but it had nothing to do with the hospital. I just couldnt get comfortable. I was very antsy all the time. The nursing staff was fabulous. I stayed for 3 nights. As far as bringing anything is concerned, I didnt need anything. I wasnt well enough to read or anything so I was just fine with my bathrobe and slippers.

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

no

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 week or so after my surgery I was very tired. I didnt get much sleep in the hospital because of my anxiety. But I think that helped me in the long run because I am much more mobile than some at this point.

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

My first week home, I didnt want to talk to or see anyone. I just wanted to be left alone with all these new feelings. After that, I was fine socially. I wasnt in any pain and minimal discomfort so I tried to get out as much as possible for healing purposes. Plus, for someone fairly active, this can get pretty boring.

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

10 miles

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 only 2 weeks post op so I am still eating puree. I eat turkey, chicken, tuna, 5 bean soup, any veg, bananas, applesauce. Almost anything you can puree is OK.

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

Normal to a little more

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

Multi vitamin Iron Calcium Prevacid b 12

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?

none so far

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

Definitely my lack of rest in the hospital

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

I have several friends from my support group that have been close by since my surgery. They have been great. One stayed with me in the hospital. That was a Godsend.

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

Relatively straight up and down from my diaphram almost to my belly button. It is exactly what i expected.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

none yet

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Still too soon to tell