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

I had several friends that had the surgery and they did real well, I did ALOT of research on line (2 years worth) before I made my decision to use the surgeon one of my friends used. I was scared but knew I made the right decision.

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

I had no problem. My doc's office handled everything and my insurance company approved me right off. Keep pushing if you get a no answer. More and more insurance companies are approving everyday.

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

I was SO prepared when I went to see him. I let him talk to me about what he intended to do and then I was prepared with about 40 questions for him that I wanted answers to. I think he was a little suprised at some of the questions, he asked me where I'd gotten my information and what websites I used. I was very comfortable with this meeting and ready to go ahead with the surgery.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

The fact that I couldn't lose weight on my own. I would give it a half-hearted try over and over again. I was tired all the time, I hurt all over, didn't feel like doing anything and was eating myself to death with a bunch of junk food.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

One of the researches I did was about Carnie Wilson and I read everything I could about the type of surgery she had. Before they did it laparoscopically I had thought about the surgery but was scared of the huge incision and recuperation time. I knew I wanted lap once the procedure was proven and more docs were doing it.

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 didn't worry about it. I figured I would die one way or another, either from being obese or from the surgery. I trusted my surgeon to know what he was doing and let God take it from there. If you've tried everything you know to do and this is the decision for you then let it happen. What will happen will happen whether you have the surgery or not.

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 skepical but supportive. I gave them lots of "ammo" on the internet to research so they understood what I was going to go thru. They were as informed as I was. They were very supportive after the surgery.

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

They were great. I was all scheduled for surgery and my company decided to change insurance companies at the end of the month before my surgery. I about had a cow. The new insurance company didn't cover the surgery. My employer was so great about it, the whole company stayed on the old insurance for a whole month, just so I could have the surgery. It costs the company about $2500.00 so I could have the surgery. Pretty cool...

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

My hospital stay was great. I got to my room late in the afternoon and was up and walking that night. I stayed in the hospital 4 days. You should bring chapstick for your lips. My lips were so chapped after the surgery for some reason. You don't feel like doing anything for at least a couple of days except sleep so you don't need to bring too much with you. The pain was not bad with a lap, I had a pain pump that I could use if I needed and I was off of that pretty quick and onto lesser medication. LEAVE YOUR MODESTY AT HOME, the nurses will be doing things like wiping your butt after you go to the bathroom!

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

None at all.

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

No anxiety, I knew I'd made the right decision for me. The morning of the surgery I was real nervous until I got the IV and then I calmed down and all was okay.

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

I was tired all the time, I slept most of the first week. I was able to lay down in bed which alot of people can't. Alot of people have to use a recliner the first couple of weeks. I tried to eat a little more than I could hold a few times and it would come back up. Eating to fast makes a pain in the middle of your chest. Don't try to do too much to fast, enjoy your recuperation time. I drove myself to the store 2 days out of the hospital and was wiped out after 30 minutes.

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

My doc was about 15 miles away from my house. He didn't need to see me again for 6 weeks so all was okay.

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.

Refined sugar is a definite no. I can't tolerate it at all, I dump everytime. I have to read all the labels for sugar content, because it will get me if I don't read. I can't tolerate eggs too well, I hope that's a temporary thing because I love them but they sort of upset my stomach. Greasy foods are a no-no, bake or broil everything. At first I lived on KIX cereal, it felt good on my stomach. Triscuits also went down well. Then I started eating peanut butter which I still do, it's good protein. I tried numerous protein shakes which I hated until I found one called Kashi Go Lean that I really like with 30 g of protein, I drink 1 or 2 everyday and supplement with food to get about 75-100 g of protein a day. I can eat just about anything now. Steak and baked potato are great, I tolerate milk well. I eat alot of tuna, chicken, turkey.

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

I laid in bed for the first week, did alot of sleeping. The second week I started to get out and walk a little. By week 3 I was back to work full-time which was a mistake. I should have done 1/2 days the first week, I was wiped by the end of the day. Sometimes I'd have to leave a little early because I just couldn't continue. By 5 weeks I was so tired and I was feeling good. It's been 4 months now and I'm going to a gym everyday.

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

My doc said 2 Flintstones and Tums. I never felt good about that and bought all kinds of vitamins from the health food store. Finally at 4 months out, I taking Juice Plus which gives you 2 fruit capsules in the morning (each cap has 7 servings of fruit) and 2 vegetable capsules in the afternoon (each 9 servings of veggies) they are all natural. I also take 2 B Complex each day and 2 Slo Fe Iron tabs each day, 2 Viactive chews for Calcium and a zinc so I won't lose hair. I don't have trouble swallowing, I cut pills in half that I need to.

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?

Nausea. I had to get doc to give me Compazine and then I felt good. I've only dumped about 7 times since surgery, usually because I eat something and don't realize it has sugar in it, even though it says it doesn't. Nausea lasted about 5 weeks. I still dump if I eat wrong. Only vomited 3-4 times before I learned to stop when I feel the first bites of food reach my stomach, then I know that 5 or 6 more bites are behind it and I'll be full.

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

Learning how much I could eat after the surgery. Getting used to not gobbling food. Not eating foods I've enjoyed. I went thru mourning over some foods that I used to love.

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

I go to 2 physical support groups each month, and I belong to numerous online WLS support groups, even started my own on Yahoo which is getting off the ground. It's so important to talk to other people who are going thru what you are or are going to. You learn valuable information from what they've experienced.

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

3 small inch long scars across my stomach above my belly button. And 4 small punch scars about the size of my fingertip where they punched the instruments into my belly during sugery. I'm very happy, they don't look too bad at all.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I've hit about 3-4 plateaus along the way. They usually lasted about a week. I can usually kick start the process again by beginning to walk or exercise.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

More people talk to me now. I love the compliments I get, they keep me going. I find myself being "irked" at large people now, something I have to check myself on.