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

A friend of the family had it done in Michigan and I watched her over two years and wanted to get more information. Then I moved from Maryland to Illinois and saw a ad on TV and called. My first impression with the friend having it done was a lot of what if's but over the time of seeing her lose the weight and become even a better person made me lose all the what if's about the surgery.

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

I guess I have a great insurance company because they approved me right away. But they had saw all the other attemps I had made to lose weight over many years. But hang in there because people from my support group have had problems and got through them.

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

I liked Dr. Roy Berkowitz right away. He was very kind and caring and I felt he knew my pain. Ask questions be honest with your Dr. and you will get that respect back. Dr. B. saved my life.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I wanted to take my life back!

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

From learning about the types on the internet and researching.

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 think the fear of dying crosses everyones mind. But the reality of it all is that the chances of you dying by not being healthy from being over weight are greater.

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?

I only told my parents and my family because I did not want to hear all the negitive talk from family and friend who need to lose 10 lbs and not 210 lbs. But my family was great my daughter Jennifer was my biggest supporter.

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

I was not working at the time just moved to this state and decited to not look until I had the surgery and get myself together first.

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

I was so scared the day I arrived to have my surgery but I wanted it more than anything. The staff at the hospital made me feel so calm after I arrived reasuring me that I was going to be fine and made me feel like a person and not a number or just a nother part of there job. I was there for three nights and left for home on the forth day. But while I was there after surgery the staff was always looking after what was best for me and always was helpful to make me comfortable. I brought a lot of things that I did not need because I was furnished so many things that I could have left most of it at home. I did bring a book and some music to pass the time.

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

No I did not have any problems but I did everything I was told to and I wanted the surgery so much I would have done anything I could to make it go right.

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 had my surgery about ten days after I got my insurance approval so I was glad I did not have to wait and I got right in. I did have some anxiety but I kept thinking this is something that for the first time in my life that I am going to do just for me. Not for my kids or my husband but just for me.

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

I had recently moved to Illinois so I was not working yet but I could have went back to work within about two weeks for sure. I was sore but just kept thinking that every day would get better and better. And it did. The worst thing was getting up and down after getting home and getting out of bed but even that was torable. Just have to use common sence.

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

I lived about an hour away from the hospital so my trip was not bad at all just was happy to be home and ready to get the healing started and the weight to start coming off.

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.

Sugar from the get go has been a problem for me I can only do about 4 grams of sugar per serving. Things I could not eat in the beginning I found if I tryed as time went on I could. Chicken was hard for me in the beginning and ground meat is still a problem for me 16 months out. But other than the sugar and the ground beef I can eat most food's.

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

It started of slow and as the weight came off the better it got.

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

I take folic acid, vitamine E, A & D and I take my sugar free bugs bunny chewables still twice a day.

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 found out real quick about the sugar and the dumping so I just watch how any grams are in what I eat. I only had dumping twice and then just tryed to do everything right so I did not have that any more and I was fine. Either you go with the program or you don't.

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

The breathing machine for me. I hated it.. But knew it was necessary for my recovery.

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

I go to a support group once a month and they are wonderful there we have all become one extended family.

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

My scar has faded and I tan in the summer so that helps too. I was not sure what to expect but I the scar reminds me of where I have been and where I am going.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I have my moments with the plateau experience I go for days and then I lose again and they everything stops again.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes, but I think I treat them different to.