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

My Aunt was looking into getting it done and she cepted pushing me to look into it. She has tried to get herself approved, my cousin approved, a friend approved and out of all those people in a 2 year time frame I am the only one who got approved and I went through the process so quickly. Talk about a blessing. Initially I was scared to death, but then I almost had a stroke at 30 years old and my doctor told me to start planning for my funeral. So I listened to my Aunt and looked into it and sure enough, it was more dangerous for me to be overweight than to have the surgery.

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

I honestly just submitted a letter and took a phys. evaluation with like 500 questions on it. Everything was so easy for me, I think that it was a little bit because I had health problems that would go away with weight loss, I was on a lot of medications, I was at the doctors office all the time. I think I was so costly as an overweight person that the insurance figured long term it was cheaper to do the surgery than keeping me alive as a fat person. But I think the fact that everyone I know was praying so hard helped a lot.

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

For the whole 2 weeks before my appointment I kept a journal with me to log questions as they arose in my mind or in others minds. I watched all the television shows on all the health channels about weight loss surgery and asked questions based on what I saw. I really made sure I put all my concerns out on the table. And my surgeon was wonderful, and patient, and understantding and really gave me all the time I needed.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I figured if I was going to die, I might as well die trying to improve my life rather than die doing nothing at all to save myself.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I knew that because I had such issues with food I wanted something drastic, something that I could not turn off when I was bored with it, something that had no turning back. I basically wanted to make sure that there was no doing it half way. If I was going to do it I wanted to go all the way.

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 think we all have that fear in our minds. Truth is, when it's your time to go, it's your time to go. You could die on the table or you could die in an automobile accident, or anywhere at anytime. The fear of death is natural. And yes, people have died from surgery complications, but some of the people who have died could have prevented it by following doctors orders.

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 so glad when they found out I was going to get the surgery. They too felt like the chances of survival were higher with surgery than without. Since the surgery reactions are mixed. People want to feed me all of the time because they feel like I am getting "To thin-to fast" and relatives that have tried to go through the process and failed get jealous. You just need to remember that this is all about you, not them. Don't worry about what they think, you know what is right. My husband has also struggled. He tends to find bigger women more attractive. But as time goes he gets more used to it, I am the same picture, just in a smaller frame.

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

Before I got the surgery I was on disability for 3 years. I was to unhealthy to work. But I have shopped at the same grocery store for 7 years and about 6 weeks after surgery I got a job there as a bagger and they went through the journey with me for about 4 months. In September I went out on job interviews to find a job in my field and boy was the reaction different. As an overweight woman I never gained the respect of my co-workers. I could never go to outside events or marketing ventures, I was always the voice on the other end of the phone. Then I got so heavy that I breathed funny and would gasp as I spoke and then I could not even have phone contact. When I search for a job then it was hard and I just was not marketable. Now as a thinner woman I had no trouble finding a job, in 4 days I had 7 job offers and I ended up taking a job that offered me $3 more per hour than what the job was posting it's wages as. I would say that the responce of the work force is very positive.

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 3 days. I brought way to much stuff. I really did not need anything, I did however enjoy the hand held games I had brought (Wheel of Fortune, Yahtzee, and Blackjack). I had also brought some crossword puzzles. I just slept a lot because they keep you pretty well drugged up. All you really need is something to occupy you time and clothes to go home in. Make sure you bring some of your baggier clothes for your go home clothes because you are really bloated from the air they fill you tummy with.

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

I had no complications after surgery. The only issue I had was 3 weeks out I felt a cold comming on and I thought that it would be okay to take some dayquil because it was liquid. Well, it is loaded with sugar and very syrupie and made me have the worst case of dumping syndrome. I truely thought I was dying. If you get sick, use either a diabetic or childs liquid medicine becasue it does not have the sugar content.

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 so ec=xcited I literally floated everywhere I went until about a weeks before. I did start to have fears, almost wanted to cancel, but I spoke to some people at the monthly support group just a few nights before my surgery and not one of those people, even the ones who had major complications, would go back and change their decision. I thought if they felt no matter what it was worth it, then I would to.

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

The mind games are horrible. My sence of smell was stronger than it was when I was pregnant. My head wanted to eat everything, even though I was not hungry. I got tired of jello real quick. Everytime I would get something for myself my kids would come and eat it. My husband kept ordering pizza and bringing home McDonalds and drag everyone into the bedroom so we could eat as a family, more like them eat and me sit in torcher. But then I got some good advice, I put my foot down and said you guys go out to eat or eat in another room. Forget eat as a family, I'm not eating, so why should I be there. I got selfish. I kicked everybody out when it was time for me to eat and I kicked everybody out when it was time for them to eat. It made all the difference.

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

I traveled less than one mile. I live around the corner from the segeons office and the hospital.

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.

At first I had a really hard time with cold. I had to have things that were either room temperature or hot. It got better around month 2. I am 6 months out now and I still can't eat bread (toasted or not), I have a hard time with raw veggies still, and things that are on the heavy side, like I can eat Air crisps, but not regular crackers. I have a more sensative pouch, it can be tempermental. My favorite thing to eat is a baked potato smothered in chili and melted cheddar cheese.

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

First month, not a whole lot. But once I got a job I was very active. My job was physical so it actually helped me recover, I think. I spent 4-5 hours moving, walking, running, bagging, gathering carts, it was like getting paid to work out. I was also amazed at how well I was able to keep up.

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

In the beginning it was all about the Flinstones chewables. But now I take the vitamins by Wheaties and 2 Viactives a 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?

Nausea - not a big problem for me. Vomiting - have not vomited once Sleep - I used to wake up several times a night and was always tired before the surgery. Since the surgery I am the most restful sleeper. I don't snore anymore, I am more comfortable, I am less restless, and when I wake up I feel rested. Sometimes I even wake up before the alarm. Dumping - It is horrible and I do not recomend it. The few times I have had it was from just pure stupidity (i.e. the dayquil incodent). Just stick to your diet and you will be fine. Hair Loss- Okay, I lost a lot of hair. My shower walls got covered in hair, My garbage cans had huge hair balls from when I would clean out my brush. My doctor told me I might want to start looking at wigs. The key to keeping your hair is making sure that you get plenty of protein and vitamins. Month 4 and 5 are the biggest hair loss months (my hairdresser confirmed that, she has several clients who have had the surgery). I am just now in my 6th month no longer having issues with that.

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

The mental stuff. In the begining, your mind is used to getting what it wants when it comes to food and it will put you into such a pity-party. You battle with your mind more than anything. After I got that under control, I started to mourn food. Oh I miss that, Oh I wish I could have that. Then I got to the disgust part. When I would see others eat I could not get over how much and how fast they would eat, and then remember that I ate more and faster myself at one point in time. I would see someone eat a banana split with all the fixin's and I would just feel sick to my stomach watching them eat it. I thought to myself, how did I ever eat like that. Now I am at the compassion part. I just want to help all the overweight people in the world. I went out to eat at a Denny's one night with my husband and across from me where three very large women discussing how their diet was going and how they were disappointed with their weightloss so far. One women said that she had only lost 18 pounds in 6 months. Then I saw their food braught out and they ordered extra coutons, cheese and dressing for their salads, plus they were eating the diner rolls that came with it. Then they had the Huge chicken sandwich with french fries and then they split a sundae for dessert. I wanted to cry because the whole I kept wanting to go up to them and tell them that the reason they were having trouble was because of the extras (dressing, cheese, croutons, dinner rolls, fries). I wanted to help them. I wanted to give them my doctors number. I truely want all the unhappy overweight people to feel as good as I feel. I have been there, I know what it is like to think you are doing all the right things and getting nowhere.

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

I have my monthly support group through the surgeons office. And then I have this website, which is so helpful.

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

I just have 5 little spots on my stomach and they are barely noticable

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

My weight loss has been very steady this whole time. It is just now starting to slow down, but has not stopped.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Oh my Gosh, YES. Society does not want to believe that it shuns those of us who are weight challenged. But it totally does. The weirdest thing for me is the eye contact and personal space. People never wanted to look at me when we spoke and now people are all up in my space. It is weird that people are more hands on kinda touchy-feely, they are more affectionate, more tolerant, more understanding. People approach me more, they listen more. I get respect. I also find it hard to get used to the fact that I am not the funny fat girl anymore. It is hard to stop making fun of myself, it comes so natural, yet people don't understand the refferences because to them I am not fat.