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

I came across a website that explained the procedures.

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

It was hell. Don't give up. You can see from my story the lengths I was willing to go to in order to have the surgery.

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

Exciting! I already knew everything he told me from my extensive research on the procedure. The doctor was so impressed, he joked and said, "Well, I guess you only need me to make the insisions and staple you up!" LOL He said he wished everyone would come to him as prepared as I was, it would make things so much easier for them and him.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I was at the lowest point in my life. I would pray at night to die. I was huge, sedintary, depressed, showing signs of declining health, and just didn't care about anything anymore.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I decided the R/NY was best for me based on my research.

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?

NO FEARS. I would have rather died on the operating table than to have lived one more day as I was.

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 wonderful. I explained what I was about to undertake, the procedure, and the risks. They totally supported me before and after.

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

I was laid off from my job prior to surgery. I also lost my insurance. (see my story)

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

As well as it could have been. I was in for 5 days. Books, magazines, personal items. If I could have done it again, I would have take a journal to write in.

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

No complications, although I did develop a hernia I had to have repaird one year out, but that was nothing compared to what I had just gone through.

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 felt wonderful. I was changing, inside and out. I had to teach myself it was ok to "FEEL" emotions, instead of masking them with food. I was always an emotional eater. I still struggle with that today.

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

Give yourself time to heal. I was too big to have laproscopic so I had a big incision right down my middle. Be kind to your body and your mind.

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

One hour. If you have an open surgery, take a pillow with you to hold close to your belly on the ride home, it was a God send for me.

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 ate a lot of scrambled eggs, jello, and applesauce after the surgery for a few weeks. I slowly introduced myself to foods two months out. To this day, meat gives me a hard time, but other than that, I can eat anything, just in small amounts. REMEMBER TO CHEW, CHEW, CHEW AND CHEW. That is the secret. Don't swallow it unless it feels like applesauce in your mouth. I promise you, you won't have any trouble if you really make yourself aware of this rule.

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

Slow at first. But I walked and walked which helped me so much.

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

Every 3 months I get a B12 shot. Daily I take (4) calcium citrate pills that are vitamin D fortified, and 2 children's chewable vitamins with iron.

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?

No nausea or vomiting unless I forgot and swallowed something that had not been chewed up enough. It would get "stuck" and cause me great discomfort. Very little hair loss if any.

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

Wishing I had done it 10 years ago! I would do it all over again.

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

My family has been my support group and the people here on the website.

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

I big one right down the middle of my belly. I did expect it to be there. But I figured, with all the other scars on my body and stretch marks, what's one more...lol. I tell my hubby, my body looks like an atlas......full of lines!

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I had a few, but did not fret about them. I lost half my body weight. To me, plateaus meant my body was taking time to adjust to the great change it was going through. I welcomed them instead of driving myself crazy like so many others do.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

YES. And that is sad in itself. Fat people are shunned. They are the objects of ridicule and targets. I am now more "accepted" in society. My heart breaks when I see a severely obese person, I want to run up and tell them about the surgery and how it can change their lives.