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

From the Montel Williams show initially and I wanted it immediately. I had no insurance and no job at the time was going through a separation with my husband. Just a pipe dream at the time. However last month I got on-line and starting to look up information, and decided it was possible for me financially. I have a good job , insurance and a very supportive fiance, onward and upward for me!

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

It was approved within 3 weeks of submitting to them. Would have been sooner I think , but the surgeons office forgot to fax over some medical records

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

It was quick , I already had looked up info and questions I wanted to ask , he was impressed with how together I was that I didn't just jump into this surgery. Bring a list of questions and ask them all , thats what he is there for to answer them.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I went to a wedding and had a nice time , then weeks later saw the pictures , was that really me? that's gross! I cant walk a block without feeling like my back will split in half and my lungs are on fire , I am unhealthy and need to get healthy soon!Also , my mother died at 43 from a heart attack , I was on my way there soon as well.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

The safest yet most effective in my opinion. Also that is the one the surgeon told me he prefers too after I hinted toward that one

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 wasn't afraid until they wheeled me into the actual surgery room. It was very cold and for a momwnt it reminded me of a morgue. I started shivering from fright and the cold , they talked to me , and I felt better. I am so happy i stayed there and went hrough with it.

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 friends and family for the most part think I flipped my lid, even if I make it through the surgery , which they doubt , I will die of stomach cancer or some such malady according to them *** I wrote that pre-op , well I made it through the surgery fine , and have lost 100 pounds in 6 months, they are all so impressed they wish I had done it sooner for my health. My grandmother especially ( the stomach cancer warning) is so happy I did it!She apologized and said she was wrong and I was right I knew what I was doing. That was cool.

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

MY boss was supportive giving me the time off , but concerned for me and not as emotionally there for me as I would have liked at first. When I was home though , I recieved beautiful floral arrangements from different people at work , and she even came to visit and brough sugar free popsocles , some software to keep me busy at home , and stayed for a long time. I appreciated the visit so much. I was out of work longer than I needed , I took 8 weeks , because she said to take as much time as I wanted , my shift was covered. Now she wishes she could lose the weight but she wont have the surgery. As time passes , i think it is looking like a better and better idea to her.

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

They stay was boring mostly. I was in pain , so i couldnt get comfortabl in their bed. It was too high for me , I had problems in that department , so I slept in a recliner they borrowed from ICU . I stayed for 5 days. For me , the most important things were a moisturizer and lip balm , it was very dry there , and they don't let you drink much at first , just tiny sips of room temperature liquid for me. Most important , a baggy robe that covers everything.Once you start doing laps around the nurses station , there's no stopping you!

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

None , I was a lucky one. I had a little elevated blood pressure the first few days , but they upped my meds and it leveled off.

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 was on cloud nine. Didn't even start getting nervous until 3 weeks out. Handled my anxiety by getting online and looking at before and after pictures to tell myself that will be me someday

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

They were pretty routine , I needed my fiance or grandmother to help me with most things at first. They would hellp me shower. I borrowed a tub seat and they would wash my hair , I was too drained to lift my arms for that long , and I would wash the rest( they both got grossed out at the staples and stuff) and to wipe my but. Thank god for them or i would have been very smelly at first! I drank liquids , broth , juice , ate jello, watery mashed potatoes... My doctor had no post op diet , I just used common sense

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

Only 20 minutes up the road.

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.

As I said , I had no post op diet , my surgeon just said I might want to stick to soft/bland foods at first. I ate what I wanted and I felt was reasonable. Tried one bite of ice cream second week out , wanted to die it felt so bad , havent tried it since.The first few months I went with soft foods , lean meats , cut up small , no stringy veggies. After the 3rd month , I ate everything I wanted , but just a few bites at a time. Drank my water like it was a religion , and I never had a problem with dehydration. Even now I find I can eat like a pig some days ( okay a baby piglet) and others I don't want to even look at food , but eat some protein anyway to help my body function.

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

Very low. I would stay inside most of the time , then walk across the street to say hi for my exercise , by a month out , I was walking to the end of the road and back , and by 6 weeks out , I was healed enough to start swimming slowly , floating and moving my arms and legs , no laps or anything. The swimming really helped me re-tone the muscles I had let go when I was trying to go easy and heal quietly.

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

I take a multi-vitamin every day. It was 2 chewables for the first month post-op , but I can take it no problem now. I also take a viactiv calcium and a green tea extract capsule every 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?

Hair loss wasgong strong for a while , my sweaters looked like they had more hair than I did at the end of the day, but it has since slowed to a crawl. just ride it out , it will grow back in. Dumping I only ahd a few times with almost pure sugar , i had a piece of Maple sugar candy for my birthday as a treat , I got SO SICK! Sweating , nausea , had to lay down from being dizzy. The vomiting is the worst for me. I was a very hard headed person to learn things. I knew when I was starting to feel full , but had to try to clean my plate , and it all ended up in the garbage. I finally learned to chew well , eat slow , and give my dogs anything left on my plate. My dogs love dinner time now , they eat more than I do.

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

For me , it was in the recovery room. When i woke up , the epidural line had pulled out and I had no pain relief at all. I screamed for God to let me die it hurt so bad , they knocked me back out( or I passed out from the pain) and re-inserted it , a few hours later in my room , ir came back out again and they agve me a PCA. No major problems with pain after that

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

Just my online groups I visit, they keep me going on days i think I will fail at this too

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

long and thin , not bad at all

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I have had plenty , and now the loss is so lsow I could scream , but as long as the weight keeps going down and not up , thats the major point in this whole thing

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

It is now a little over a year post op , and I see people looking at me differently. Stranger don't point and laugh at me ( they used to ) Men notice me , smile longer, flirt more. Great shot of adrenaline for my ego , feels great