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

A son of someone I worked with had it done and he looked great. I couldn't wait to find out more.

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

If you have an HMO, change insurance before starting on this journey. I had to wait 1 year to change insurance after I started my journey because they wouldn't pay.

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

My meeting was great. He spent about two hours with me and my husband talking. The one thing I can suggest to people is not to be shy. Ask anything!!! Also, make the best of your time in the waiting room, talk to others there. Most are willing to share their stories and there is always new post-ops, long term post-ops and pre-ops waiting.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I need to be alive to see my son grow up. If I kept growing at the rate I was I would not of been able to get out of my front door.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I chose my surgeon based on his reputation and then went with the procedure he did. I really think RNY is the best.

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 really didn't think about it. I was so excited I kind of put everything else out of my mind. I knew everything was going to be fine. I left it in god's hands.

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 brother was the only one that wasn't totally supportive however, he came around when he found out how much reseach I had done and how determined I was to do this. Other than him, every one was very happy.

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

I was very upfront with my supervisor and she knew what was going on from the very start. She had no problems with anything. I was off work 4 weeks. My doctor requires the drain tube to stay in 3 weeks and does not let you go back to work until it is removed.

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

My surgery was at 7:30 on monday morning. I was ready to leave by 10:00 am on wednesday but it took the doctor until 3:30 to come by and sign the discharge papers. Females, for some reason the wonderful stuff the give you to knock you out for surgery has a tendency to start your period, even if you just had yours. Make sure you take some pads, no tampons as you will not be able to bend over to insert it. (sorry guys)

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

The only problem was the drain tube my doctor leaves in pulled a lot and caused some pain. After I found a different way to tape it up everything was fine.

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

My date was very quick after I found out I was approved. I only had approximately 3 weeks to get all my pre-op appts in and to get everything and everyone at home and work ready.

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

It is very difficult to move after this surgery as your stomach muscles have been cut. It is also difficult to remember to only sip water, as thirsty as you are, if you gulp you will regret it. Don't expect to be able to do all the things you have done before, this is !! major surgery and you do need recovery time. I had planned on going back to work within 2 weeks. Boy was I wrong, I was out 4 weeks and then only worked 4 hours a day for the next two weeks.

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

My doctor is approximately 1 hours drive from my home. His office is in the outer builing at the hospital. The hard thing was the bumps in the road. Take a pillow with you that you can hold against you when you are riding home.

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.

When I got home I was on a "clear" liquid diet (ex. sfjello, broth, popcicles, water). The following week was progressed to full liquids (ex. cream soups strained, sfpudding and of course lots of water). After two weeks of that you go to pureed foods, (ex. anything you could put into a blender, or baby food, egg whites). After 3 weeks of that (now at 6 weeks post-op) you can start adding in different foods one at a time to see if you tolerate them. I had no problems adding in food at all. My doctor does ask that you not eat bread at all. Also he requires 65g of protein a day. I don't do the protein shakes as I throw them up. I get my protein by only eating meat products. My favorite way is beef jerky. Low in calories, no fat and high in protein.

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

Each day after surgery things got easier. By the 7th day I was walking the neighborhood, not fast or very far but I was out and walking. That weekend I was walking Walmart as the 4 walls of the house were closing in on me. Once I found a vitamin that I was able to tolerate my enery level got even better.

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

I use the Centrum chewables. You only have to take one a day and they have a great orange taste. I could not handle the kids chewables. The taste was awful and you had to take between 2-4 a day. As far as protein drinks go, I tried ISOPURE, NECTAR, and METREX. I was not able to stomach any of them.

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 10 weeks post-op, have not had any hair loss. I dumped once on pasta (will not try that again). I had one episode of vomiting due to gulping a drink when I was real thirsty. Other than those two times I really came through this well.

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

I think the worst part for me was waiting to be able to change insurance companies to one that would cover the surgery. It was a year between deciding to go through with the surgery and then actually getting it done due to insurance problems.

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

My doctor does not have an organized aftercare or support group. I have found this web site www.obesityhelp.com to be one of the best sources of information. I have also been to several web based support groups/chat rooms.

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

My scar is about what my doctor said it would be. Less than 4 inches long. It is a little wider than I would like but that is because my doctor uses surgical glue as opposed to staples to close the wound and mine came open (my fault, I felt so good I was doing too much).

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

At 8 weeks I had lost 51lbs. I got in the bad habit of stepping on the scale every day at least one if not more times. Therefor It seemed like I wasn't loosing any weight. My loving husband threw away the scale so now I only weigh at the doctors office. I really haven't had a single week yet that I haven't lost at least 2 lbs.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Not yet, but when I get below the 200 mark they had better!!