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

I heard about it in an article that I read and I was very interested but spent 3 more yrs learning about it and trying "one more time" to lose weight without it.

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

My insurance covered the RNY but not Lapband. I was approved very quickly.

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

I went to seminars at several hospitals and talked with the surgeons afterwards for a few minutes. I chose the one who had the best combination of the most experience AND who was willing to give me some of his time after the seminar.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I was sick and tired of being sick and tired and of always trying to lose with no permanent results.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Insurance made the final decision but the surgeon and I had talked about it and, fortunately, agreed that the RNY was the best procedure for me.

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?

The usual fears about undergoing general anesthesia and/or having complications. I had to decide that the risks were worth the long term health benefits and go for 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 family, especially my husband, were and still are very supportive. My husband went to all the seminars and a couple of pre-op appts and a support group meeting with me.

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

I am self-employed. This is fortunate because I did have a complication (intestinal blockage due to scar tissur forming) and I did have to have a second surgery three weeks after the RNY. I was unable to do much of anything for about 2 months and it took another month or more to get back to normal strength.

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

I was in the hospital for three days and received excellent care. I always bring too much--don't bother with gowns or PJs because you will be more comfortable in the hospital gowns. I know, I know--they ARE ugly, but for 3 days you won't care. Do bring a robe that you cannot see through and that is not so short that you moon people (you will not be standing up straight at first!) Do bring slippers--you WILL be walking the halls. Bring something to wear home that is easy to get into and that won't be tight around your waist.

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

Yes, at 3 weeks I had a total intestinal blockage that required more surgery. My first symptoms were that I could not keep anything down and then I developed severe abdominal pain. I was in the ER after just a few hours and, after trying less invasive maneuvers to get the blockage cleared, I had more laparascopic surgery.

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 really good and was doing well until the 3 week point. I was beginning to feel normal again, then had the complication mentioned above. The second surgery really knocked me down and it took a good month before I was able to do more than lie in the recliner. I don't remember much anxiety but I did call the clinic if I had a question and I had weekly post-op appts for a while.

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

You will be tired and sore at first, but you will gradually get better. You will not feel hungry and will have trouble consuming the amounts that the doc wants you to. You must force yourself to follow the instructions on what to eat/drink exactly and you must take your vitamins and calcium as directed. Get a good food grinder/blender and a pill crusher--you will need them.

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

About 10 miles or so.

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.

Follow your surgeon's dietary instructions to the letter and you will be fine. If you try something too soon, you will be sorry! Totally off limits for me are: pasta, bread, anything fried, fast food, greasy food. Chew Chew Chew! (I once had a 3 hr vomiting experience from not chewing a sliver of strawberry that was in some yogurt.) I am almost 2 yrs post op and can almost always tolerate meats such as pork loin, filet, baked fish and turkey breast. I often cannot tolerate chicken, don't usually eat salad or anything fried or doughy. For some reason, leftovers do not work with me. Odd thing is that I can always eat Mexican food. The trick is to stop eating before you over-do it.

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

AFter the first week or so, gradually felt better and increased activity as energy permitted. Everyone is different.

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

Two chewable vitamins daily, calcium chew twice daily, sublingual B12 daily. I still use protein powder drinks.

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?

The worst side effect is that even now I never know whether I am going to tolerate whatever it is that I eat. I might be able to eat something today but not tomorrow. It's harder to go out to eat with friends because of that but it's not impossible. I did not have much nausea or vomiting, no dumping so far, minimal hair loss and I sleep fine.

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

The worst part was the complication and second surgery three weeks post-op and the recovery from that. The second worst part was waiting for the surgery once I had really decided to have it.

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

This is a sore spot with me. There are support groups that meet during the day but I work at home so I can't go. If my surgeon has a night group, I have not been informed about it so I feel cheated in this very important area.

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

My scars are small, several and mostly faded now. They don't bother me and I ignore them.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I lost about 90 lbs in the first year and have plateaued and not lost more. I need to lose another 50.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes, they don't stare anymore and seem to be more open and friendly. I'm not tiny at a size 18 but I am not abnormally big anymore either.