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

I heard that Sharon Osbourn (Ozzy's wife) had the lapband procedure so I decided to check it out and the rest is history!

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

My insurance was great,.. they approved it in less than 2 weeks!!

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

i was a little nervous at first, but the staff made me feel comfortable and they gave me hope!

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

Because I have two small children, I wanted to be able to be there for them and watch them grow up. Also, I'm just tired of being fat!

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I was scared to get the full gastric bypass, so I went with the lapband procedure because it is reversible , just in case something happened.

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?

At the seminar I went to, Dr. Shina fully explained every single thing that could possible go wrong,.. and I was a nervous wreck when I left. I was terrified that something would go wrong, but luckily it didn't.

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 were skeptical at first, but they were pretty much supportive. They didn't try to be supportive when I couldn't eat anything but liquids the first few weeks, but other than that, they're pretty much supportive of me.

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

They said I didn't need to lose weight but they would pray for me! They were really great because they let me take all the time off I need. I was off work for 3 weeks

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

I was in alot of pain after the procedure.... I slept alot also. After I first woke up from being under, I was dioriented and very very sick to my stomach. I thought I was going to vomit and I could barely move. By day two it was lots lots lots better. I was still sore but I felt more normal.

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

Nope, thank the lord. The only thing I had trouble with was not scratching my staples when they began to heal! lol

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 just tried to be as normal as possible... it was hard because I couldn't eat like everyone else. I had some regrets afterward because I couldn't go out to eat like everyone else! lol.. but that all faded away!

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

I just sat around and watched lots of movies and tv for the first week,.. then I tried to actually get a little exercise before going back to work. I actually got a little depressed while I was in recovery.

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

my surgery was in Louisville, Ky, and I live in Elizabethtown, Ky, so it was about a 45 minute commute to the hospital. Sometimes its hard when I have to go up there for a check up because its kind of inconveinent, but its worth the travel.

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 didn't eat much of anything during my inital recovery time. I couldn't take it anymore and went to mcdonalds and got some chicken nuggets before I was supposed to eat normal foods and I felt really sick at my stomach!!! I can pretty much eat anything I want... even bread, but the bread makes me feel like something is stuck in my chest! VERY UNCOMFORTABLE!!

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

walking!

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

none

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 really..just a feeling of being overly stuffed if I eat too much!

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

probably the surgery itself.. and the fills.. I hate when they have to push on your stomach to find the port!

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

I go to my actual bariatric surgeon every 6-8 weeks. I actually look forward to going there because I can set a small goal for myself between each visit. When I go for my appointment, I can find out if I've met my goal! :)

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

Its hardly noticable!

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Drinking when I eat.. and eating when I'm not hungry

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Not really... maybe some but its not noticable.