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

I found out about bariatric surgery back in the Winter of 1998. I thought it to be too drastric and threw all the materials away.

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

It took the doctor's office some time to get the info to the insurance company. But after that, the insurance company was thorough in looking into this being ideal for me. They wanted to make sure that I knew this was permenant. They also wanted to make sure that my body could handle the surgery. I think they did a good job. My advice to anybody is just stay on top of the insurance company and the doctor's office. There are times when the insurance company is looking for additional info and if they requested that from the doctor's office and it hasn't been relayed to you, that will hold up the process. So stay on top of both sides.

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

It was very informative. I went on the AMOS chatroom and somebody e-mailed me a list of questions to ask the doctor. I took this list which was very long, and tailored it for myself. My doctor spent a lot of time with me, I did not feel rushed or anything, and he answered all my questions.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

After I met with the surgeon, found out he had been doing this since the 1970's and felt very comfortable with him, I made up my mind right there and then, that this was for me. Plus the surgery could be done at a hospital that I felt comfortable with. He did the surgery at several hospitals in the area and the one I was most familar with, was one of them.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

My surgeon explained all the procedures he performs, and thought that possibly gastric band was for me. however I was concerned about sweets. I didn't think I was a sweet eater, but I could see myself develop into one. So that's how we came to the conclusion that RNY was for me. With RNY you have to limit your sugar intake.

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 have four children and a husband who works long nights. I was concerned about them. However, I placed everything in God's hands. Yes, I did think of complications, but I kept myself busy so that I didn't have time to over analyze it. I did get very nervous a couple of days before, but my support group was there and got me through it. So did the Lord and lots of prayer.

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?

I only told a select few because my family is very opioniated and I didn't want them to influence my decision. I did not tell my father, which now looking back I should have. He is one of my biggest supporters now. I also didn't tell fellow church members - that was foolish too - I should have. Everyone was and still is very very supportive since the surgery.

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

I am a housewife so this doesn't apply to me

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

I had my husband stay with me the whole time I was in the hospital. The only pits was that he slept in a very uncomfortable chair. I had some great nurses but had some very bad ones too. My husband learned very quick how to disconnect me from everything in order to let me go to the bathroom. The nurses would never come when we rang for them. I was there for 3 days and I didn't need to have brought anything. They provided everything in the hospital and I was in too much pain to even care about reading or anything.

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

I had minor complications. One of my incisions opened about one week after surgery which freaked me out. It took several weeks for that to close. I was really worried about infection. I also had strange pains in my left side then after that went away my right side started in. The pain was pretty severe. It was just war wounds.

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 kept myself busy so that I didn't have time to worry about it. I did get very anxious a couple of days before but was helped through all the wonderful people at AMOS. They eased my mind and saw me through. I also trusted and prayed that God would see me through.

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

My first week was very uneventful. Things went great. But after the second week I crashed. I have no clue if I went through depression or what. But I just felt overwhelmed - I would cry all the time. It was really rough. It didn't help matters though that I have 4 children and my husband was working 11 hours a day an hour from home. He would leave for work at 4pm and not get home til 5pm. That was rough. Just have a support team, and if possible more than one person. My support team was the best.

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

About 35 minutes.

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 always felt kind of sick after surgery. I never knew why until the doctor told me it could be something I ate. Which was very frustrating because in the beginning you are so limited with what you can have. Milk products were a no no for me, but after a while I found that my body could tolerate 1/2 cup or less - this was on the pureed stage. I also found that miracle whip light was not good for me, made me sick. Shrimp was another thing that I could not tolerate. I can now pretty much have dairy products with no problem. But I still haven't tried milk. That kind of scares me. I just got up enough nerve to try no sugar added yogurt and passed with flying colors. I am now 4 months out and it seems that most things I am able to tolerate, but just because I can tolerate them one day does not mean I will tolerate them the next. It changes on a daily basis.

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

I walked all the time. Even when I was in the worse part of recovery. I made myself walk everyday. I didn't walk fast, but I walked frequently throughout the day. I now walk at least 4-5 times per week for 45 minutes to an hour and I am four months out. I started that exercise regimen after about 6-8 weeks.

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

I take 2 bugs bunny vitamins -they are sugar free. I tried the chewable pre-natel vitamins - they made me sick. I also take a b-12 under the tongue dot. I take iron pills along with vitamin C for absorbtion and when I am on the ball I take calcium citrate pills.

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?

In the beginning I had sleep disturbance which was annoying. I thought my sleep patterns were changed forever - boy was I wrong. I am sleeping good. I also felt nauseated a lot, but found out that was from different foods that weren't agreeing with me. I coped by crying. I also had a support team that helped tremendously. I had my mom, a sister, my sister-in-law and a girlfriend. Plus all of my other family members and friends, but my main support group where the first 4 people I mentioned.

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

The recovery. I think I was expecting to recovery fast, and it took me 6-8 weeks for be back on my feet fully. I don't think I was as prepared for that as I thought I was.

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

I haven't attended any of the support group meetings my physician has sponsored. I have had people update me on them and have been told they were a waste of time. The speakers they have had have given them recipes full of too many carbs, a lady who said drinking too much water - more than 6 glasses a day, is bad for your body. I just use this website as my support.

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

I have 5 little scars which are now - 4 months out starting to fade alittle bit. They have always looked bright red, but now you can tell that they are fading - a little bit - not all that much but there is hope. The one thing that does bother me is that when one incision wouldn't close I was having to put a bandage on it and the adhesive on one of the bandages burned my skin. I must have had an allergic reaction to it, and you can still to this day see the square imprint of the bandage around one of my scares. Bummer.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I am on one right now being 4 months out. I have been stuck at 212.5 for 2 weeks. I am not too concerned with it though because I have been here through xmas and new years, so I am sure I need to adjust my eating patterns a little bit and it will start up again.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes. When I walk into a store, people help me. They are willing to help me they notice me. And are happy to help. Why didn't they do that before. I do have one sister who is overweight and is having a hard time with me losing weight. For several months she has made bad comments about me behind my back and has treated me very badly. I finally had to confront her with these things because it really was hurtful. We had always been so close and now, because I am losing weight, I am the enemy. I think we have worked things out, I can only pray that we have. Only time will tell, but I think that has been the most difficult thing i have been through since recovery.