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

I was being seen by my personal care physician for another medical problem and she refered me to the surgeon who performed this bariatric surgery.....At first I was not sure I wanted to put myself though this and was not so sure about the positives about this type of surgery. However I was able to attend a support group meeting the night before my surgery and meet people who had the surgery by the same surgeon who would be operating on me. I was able to ask all sorts of questions and saw that they were all doing great and this is what made me go through with my surgery.

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

My experience was good...My doctor wrote to the insurance carrier lisitng my problems and reasons for me having the surgery. My advice to people would be KNOW your insurance plan. See if your plan pays for this type of surgery and if not why....If you need pre-approval and or a pre-authorization, inform your physician and work with both your physician and your insuance as to what would be needed so that your approval can be made on a timely basis and always FOLLOW UP...

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

My first visit with my surgeon was very successful and educational. Reason being is that we wrote all the questions that we had to ask down before the date of my visit. My family members went with me to this visit so that they could ask their questions and have this concerns heard and answered. Ask for all the positives and negatives that can come out from having this type of surgery. And ask if there is a peer support group that you can contact to meet with before and after your surgery.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

My daughter got married and I want to be around to see my grand children...also I want to be healthy and wanted to be able to go to the movies, go for walks without getting out of breath, to bend down with ease, and just to have a healthier life.....and I am now accomplishing all of this and more....I have myself confidence back, I feel great, I can walk and walk......I can bend and I have been to the movies more than once....

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

My doctor decided on the procedure that was right for me...I have trust in my doctor and went along with his decision

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 had fears that this surgery would be a failure like everything else I have tried to do to lose the weight, and that I would die on the operating table....but this is a normal feeling...I say to anyone not to worry that the surgery does work and that everything will be okay... Talk to your physician as to what you are feeling and what you are expecting from this surgery...communication is the greatest tool that you can have with your doctor

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 family couldn't understand why I wanted to do this to myself. They just couldn't understand why! Finally I opened up my heart to them that I have been hiding all these years....I was finally able to open up to the truth on how I truely felt of all the years of hiding all my hurt and unhappiness that I had to live with....they had no idea of the hurt and pain that I have been living with.. Since my surgery I have been so happy, myself esteem has returned, I am happy and not having pitty parties. I feel great, I can do things that I was not able to do, I share outings with my family that I was not doing before my surgery...I'm happy and my family is happy too.

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

I am a homemaker so I did not have this problem

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

My stay in the hosptial was good...the staff was great and everything went well. I stood five days in the hospital. The most important things to bring are shoes for walking, a robe, for women with long hair a rubber band or clip to put your hair up after surgery....your hair brush or comb, toothbrush and tolietries and have your family bring your clothes for the day of discharge.

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

I had not complications that were bad. I did have an endoscopy the fifth week after my surgery to open my tube that collapsed. I did throw up when eating and that was because I rushed and did not chew well. I have taught myself to put small amounts into my mouth, to chew slowly and to chew the food very well before swallowing and not to eat and drink any fluids at the same time.

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 happy yet scared and prepared for my stay in the hospital for my family that lived in the home. I was able to hook up with a peer support group that answered my questions and calmed my fears....and I hight recommend that people attend support meetings.

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

I had someone stay with me to help me. My recovery time was great and I did eveything that my doctor told me to do.....I would say that people try to have someone stay with them for at least the first couple of weeks after being discharged from the hospital, not to over do, and most of all follow your doctors advice...

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

I only had to travel about one mile and this did not affect me at all.

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.

the first six weeks following my surgery was a pureed diet......I put all my food into the blender and this was for the fist six weeks, after that I started to eat fish then chicken or fowl, ground beef and red meats was the last...for me, I had no problems...only thing is that you have to eat slowly and chew your food really well, and do not eat and drink fluids at the same time....

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

I was feeling stronger and better with each day, and I started to feel my energy level getting better. I started walking and two months after the surgery, I could walk father that I have ever before the surgery.

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

I take centrum liquid muti vitamins daily

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?

vomiting is something that I had, but did not eat for the rest of the day when I did vomit, instead I went back to liquids for the rest of the day and the next day I went back to normal. I had to learn to eat slowly and chew my food well, and learn that small amounts in your mouth is better and easier to handle.

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

NOTHING NOT A THING

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

I am in a peer support group called Hui O Keolahou "New Beginnings" and we meet every third monday of the month. This is very important to me because I am with people who we have all been there, done this and all have the same things in common. We have all been able to be there for each other, giving each other confidence and support....we try to help others who has questions about the surgery or are considering having the surgery. Just having new friends is a great treat for me...

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

My scare isn't so bad. It is starting to fade.....You know, I don't care about the scar all I care about is that this surgery had help me to lose the weight and gave me a new life style, and made me aware that I am getting healthier each day that I awake....I have a new life and road ahead of me and a scar is the least of my worries....

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I had none so far, and hope that I won't have at all

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Well I did have a man open my door at Sears and that hasn't happened in a very long time....I went to visit someone in the hospital who had the surgery who was on the floor that I was when I had my surgery and one of the nurses didn't recognize me and one said that I lost so much weight and one said "look at the new you, don't you look great!" That reall made my day...