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

After many unsuccesful attempts at losing weight, I went o an endocrenologist to check my thyroid. He mentioned gastric bypass.

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

My case was approved on the first shot. Back then CIGNAs only criteria was to be 100 pounds overweight. Which I was.

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

As luck would have it I knew my surgeon. He was a substitute teacher when I was in high school. So I was very comfortable with him.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I went to Graceland!! I had to have new outfits to visit Elvis. I bought a pair of size 24 jeans. I cried and called my PCP the next day.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Open Roux-En-Y was all my doc performed. He felt it was the safest in case of complications.

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?

It didn't hit me until the night prior to the procedure. My son was 4 weeks away from his second birthday. I was scared to death. but on the other hand I wanted to be alive for his 16th birthday too.

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 best friends are RN's they were nervous because they had seen the complications. Those that were informed about the procedure supported me. The uniformed, well ignorance is bliss. Post-op and 100 pounds later, everyone thought it was the best thing I could have 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 extremely supportive and very proud of me for taking this huge step in well being. I was out of work for 6 weeks. Week 4 I went to the beach.

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

My stay was busy. being local I had visitors around the clock. I felt like crap so it was a bit much. On the other hand its wonderful to be loved. I left a day early because I was doing so well. 4 days in all. Bring your tooth brush!! When I woke up in ICU, my mouth felt like a wool sweater. the nurse brushed my teeth with a washcloth. Good attempt but it wasn't my Colgate Reach!

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

No complications at all thank God!

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

Anxious, I'm not one to wait for anything. I wanted it done immediately.

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

I came home and spent 4 weeks in my recliner. I could stnad straight because of the horizontal incision through the abdomen. I didn't need the pain meds only tylenol before I showered, just in case.

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

1 block to Bristol Hospital

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 drank a lot of high protein shakes. then moved to soft foods, fish, eggs, chicken salad. Rice, noodles, pork and red meat made vomit just about immediately. I couldn't even get it down. Eventually, I could eat everything. Even today 6 years later some days I have an issue with red meat. which is fine because I'm not a big fan anyway.

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

My son was only 2 so I couldn't do much because it was hard to drag him around. But with my mom, I shopped, went to the beach, spent some time at the park.

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

iron, muti-vit. Calcium because I dont drink milk, and B-12 shots. I'm deficient, but its on the lower end and i didn't want another pill so i opted for the shot.

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?

Hair loss after anesthesia. That happens to me every time after a few months I feel it thicken up again, but i have very thin hair to begin with. To this day I still dump with sugar. I dont mind it keeps me in check.

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

I have no regrets!

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

none.

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

It was terrible. It looked like a worm. Since then I've had a tummy tuck with a fantastic plastic surgeon. he tucked me across the bottom and up the middle. Now I have stretch marks that look worse than my surgical scars. That doc was amazing.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I have been on a 4 year plateau. At about 4 years out I regained 25 pounds. I blame that on the Depo-Provera shot. As soon as I got off the shot I took the weight off. So I'm right back to where I was 1 year post op. 100 pounds and not an ounce more.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

not at all. most think its amazing.