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

I heard about it in the news. I thought it was a mite extreem but then i started looking into it. I researched for about 3 years before deciding to go for it.

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

What a pain in the patotie this was! My insurance company wasnt too bad but my "medical group" did everything possible to slow me down. You just have to push push push and let them know you ARE serious and informed.

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

It was wonderful! Dr Mueller was very charming and up front with all of the information. I had serveral specific questions so i made a list to take in with me so i wouldnt forget anything. It went quite well.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I couldnt take the weight anymore.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

While i was researching the ryn seemed the best 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?

If i didnt do something about the weight the co-morbidities and weight would kill me faster than if i did nothing. Plus... i may be "alive" if i did nothing but the quality of life was almost non-exsistant.

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?

They have all been quite supportive.. i went into it armed with facts and very honest.

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

I didnt really share the specifics.. i just said i had to go in for surgery. I was out for 4 weeks.

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

It was uncomfortable. The hospital staff were great and very attentive but i dont know anyone who is happy in a hospital bed. The hospital DID do a great job of getting a "plus sized" bed and arm chair to make me as comfortable as possible.. i really appreciated that. 3 days. I brought a ton of stuff and ended up not needing any of it. The only thing i really used at all was my ipod so i could listen to stories on "tape".

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

None

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

Thrilled and excited. I was a little concerned that something might happen to me so i wrote letters to my family telling them how much i loved them and why i was doing this incase something Should happen.

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

I was very tired and slightly uncomfortable. Every day was So much better though.

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

I didnt... the hospital was less than a mile from my house.

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 have since the begining and even to this day (6+ months out) stuck primarily to dairy. It has good protien and goes down well. Yougourt, cheese, cottage cheese, milk etc. I have never been able to tolerate more than a TEENY bite of any type of meat/poultry/fish and even then it has to be WELL chewed of there are issues.

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

Right after surgery all i could do for about a month was a slow walk but i kept at it. By 2 months out i was at the gym pretty much every day. At this point i can walk/run 4 miles, elictipal 20 minutes, rower 20 minutes and then hit the weights for approx 30 minutes before im done. I spend ALOT of time in the gym.. and feel great for it!

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

Multi-vitamin, calcium chewables.

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 havent had ANY dumping at all. The hairloss started at 3 months and hasnt stopped yet. I had VERY thick hair to begin with so im not too concerned. It does appear to be growing back in ?curley? lol.. ive never had curley hair ever!

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

The wait at the begining!

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

I havent been able to find a local support group ( i moved approx 2 months after surgery) so i use an online support group that our surgeons set up. Best thing EVER> It is SO vital to have support not only to help you when youre down but also when youre up! Who else will understand our joy when we have a huge breakthrough (weighing less than our drivers license weight or fitting in a size that we havent seen since highschool) better than another person who has been through that too?

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

At 6 months... quite small.. pinkish. Im not at all worried about it.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Ive been fairly steady.. the worst "plateau's" ive had are when i only lose 1-2 lbs in a week.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

I dont get the looks of disgust anymore. My male friends flirt alot more than they used to.