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

A seminar. I was sold!

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

I had to wait a year because it was pre-existing. and they lead us to believe that it would be covered as usual 80% and it ended up being only $4000 total for everything

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

I wrote all my questions down prior- researched it on the internet so I would have questions or concerns to ask. The meeting was great, all my answers were easily answered.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

Like I said, I was sold at the seminar the first day.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

My children- They did not want me to take the terrible risk of a bypass. Also my father had one done in the 70's and it ended up being the main reason he died at 64 with major issues from the surgery. Back then they did the surgery different and with no follow up after care.

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?

With the lap band, I had no fears. I wasn't worried about the surgery at all. The lap Band really has no real major complication possiblities.

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 was very supportive and I wouldn't need to change anything as they are happy that I am happy. I did it for myself and for them as well.

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

I took 4 days off after surgery. My employer was very supportive and still is. She worries I don't get enough to eat so she is on me to make sure I am drinking my protein and taking all my med's.

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

Dr Fox had me stay a little longer as I was 250 miles away. The hospital was great and the staff was awesome. Make sure you bring comfortable clothes to wear.

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

I retained air in my body. I waited 10 days to tell Dr Fox and he called in a prescription with in 10 minutes and I had my med's in 30 minutes.

In the weeks after you got your surgery date, how did you feel? How did you cope with any anxiety you might have felt?

Awesome! I had to wait a year remember because of my insurance and pre existing so it didn't happen fast enough.

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

This part will be hard if you have a family you have to fix food for. To sit with them and see all the food they eat and you eat so very little was extremely hard. I think this was the worst part of the whole thing. I cried alot. Your mind still thinks you should be eating a big plate of food and even though you don't need much to fill you up it still mentally is hard. Well it was hard for me at least.

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

The surgery only was a 250 mile drive. The doctor hadn't gotten his privilages here yet for insurance patients. My follow up care was local.

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.

well, the first month was liquid, then we introduced baby type food into our diet. Off limits- Bread, tortilla shells, for me, most meat, all candy and sweets, no soda pop, or carbinated drinks

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

I worked and tended to 21 horses within 72 hours of my surgery.

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

We drink 60 mg's of protein (for me it is IDS liquid protein) 42 grams of protien in 3 oz and no carbs - no calories 1500 mg of calcium 4-5 childrens vitimans- for me - walmart brand gummy bear alot of water

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?

I really didn't have much of any side effects except for one. I swallow air when I drink and a year later I still do the same thing. This causes me to have to vomit it up if I get to much of a air pocket.

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

The first month mentally. It was hard for me to fix 5 people food, 1. I couldn't eat 2. Watching them consume so much food with me only eating a bite of food.

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

Up here we have monthly meetings to talk. I personally don't use them because I have such a strong support group of my own with my family and friends. However, I believe that you NEED support and a great deal of it. I am very lucky but I do believe meetings are very important.

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

My scar's are very little and don't bother me at all. After my tummy tuck they will be gone anyways. The outcome is far worth 3 little lines.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I have had 2 plateau's during this last year. I started at 367 lbs and when I got to the 250's I stayed there for awhile, then when I got to my personnel goal 220, this is were I have been since June ish of 08 and my anniversary date was July 4th, 08. I bounce back and forth from 220 to 225 lbs and this is where I have stayed. I am happy with this weight but my back doctor wants me to be down to 170 lbs. (I broke my back Feb 08, surgey Mar 12th 08 and have been pretty much bed ridden since that date. I am now getting out and moving around a little more each day. I still have 2 more major surgery's to go with my back so I believe this is why I have stayed at this weight.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

YES, People think you are now people instead of pigs. They don't understand some of us don't really mean to eat to much or get to the size we did. Even at 367lbs I went to the gym 6 days a week and would work out, not little stuff either, I would ride a bike for 20 minutes, eclipetic for 10 min, then weight lift (bench 245, curl 100lbs, thigh weights 100 lbs, leg press 550lbs, do 225 crunches, and then on the tread mill for the last 10 minutes to cool down. We just wake up one day and look in the mirror and realize we have let something take food and make it a priority. None of us choose, one day wake up and say " I want to be fat!"