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

My father had a gastroplasty done about 20 years ago. At that time I wasnt obese but he was and my opinion of it was he needed that but I would never get that big. Now, after 2 children, a sedentary job, and 20 years of yo-yo dieting I am obese and the weight just wouldnt come off. A friend at work had the surgery and she had the bypass done. Which was different than what my dad did. I quizzed her non-stop about it, I watched programs on t.v., I read thru the ObesityHelp.com website and decided it was a last stitched effort for me. The only negative feeling I had was that I had to have major surgery. Other than that I felt pretty positively.

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

My stay in the hospital was very pleasant. I was there for 3 days. I had my surgery on a Friday and went home Monday. I spent 2 of the days in ICU because the anasthesiologist felt that because I had an epadural and a history of sleep apnea, he wanted me monitored. That worked out just fine as I received very personalized care. I had a bag packed but really didnt need much of anything. My husband brought me some playing cards and that was helpful in passing the time. Some reading materials are good to have too, especially if you have a room without a t.v. I had t.v. so I didnt do much reading. Definitely take advantage of the time you have to sleep! Dont be afraid to tell the staff if you dont want visitors so you can sleep.

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

I didnt have any complications per say. The only thing was I could not urinate on my own for the first couple of days (I think due to the fact that I had an epadural) so they had to cathederize me. That was the only problem I had.

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 am a fast healer so I felt pretty good. I moved a little slower than normal but hey, I just got done having my abdomin opened up! I had alot of support from my husband and family and I kept a very positive attitude and I think all of that helped me to have a very speedy recovery!

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

I had my staples and my drainage tube removed 10 days after surgery. I visited with a nutritionist about the same time. That was extremely helpful to get a good idea of what to eat, when you can eat it and how much! There is a support group available, but I have not attended a meeting. I feel good, and I get a lot of support at home so I dont feel like I need it. The group meets about 1/2 hour from where I live so if I feel like I need to go, it would be fairly convenient. I truly feel the MOST important thing about this surgery is for you yourself to be completely mentally ready. Know for sure that this is what you want to do. Understand that this is a life changing experience not another "lose weight quick scheme". Think of it like have open heart surgery! That's how serious this is! Once you are at that point you should be o.k.!

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

I didnt really have any expectations of what my scar would look like. I had 2 c-sections but that cut goes horizontally and this one goes vertically from just below my breast bone to my belly button. At first it looked like something out of a Frankenstein movie because of the 28 staples holding my skin together. Now it's just pink! Not too bad for what I had done.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I'm only 4 weeks post-op so I havent had any plateaus as of yet. I'm sure I will and will try to come back and re-post when I do!

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Not yet! I've lost 22 pounds once on a diet that I did so people have seen me lose before. I am getting compliments on my hair and people are saying I look good but most people dont know why because I have not shared this with anyone other than family. I've always had a good personality and have always gotten along with people. We'll have to see if they treat me differently once I lose the majority of the weight! It's kind of exciting!