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

I first heard of bariatric surgery several years ago on TV when it was new. I looked into it for a while but then found that at the time my insurance Kaiser would not even consider it. I started looking back into it this year after I had Blue Cross for a year and was approved right away. In the beginning I was very unsure because it was so new. But once I started looking at web sites like this and researching it I realized how far the procedures had come and felt much better about it. Once I discussed the LAP procedure with my doctor and heard all of the benefits of it (little pain / short recovery time) I was hooked and ready to have it done.

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

I dont think I can be much help here. It was easy. I turned in the papers, the doctors office submitted them and I was approved after a week and a half. I didnt even have to get a psych evaluation. I love Blue Cross!!!

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

My surgeon is wonderful and I was immediatly at ease with him. I would suggest in the weeks prior to your appointment to write down questions that you have and take them with you so you dont forget anything. Once in the office things go fast and you could get overwhelmed and forget anything you ment to ask.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

My kids made me decide. My daughter is 8 and my son is 2 and I want to have a more active role in thir lives. I want to roller blade!

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I decided on the LAP RNY because I am a chicken who has a 2 year old. I was first going to have an open RNY and was very nervous about the thought of it. I couldnt imagine having that huge cut with me being a stay at home mom and having a very active 2 year old. Plus I am terrified of needles and cutting in general. I had natural child birth to avoid the shot. Anyway when I heard about the LAP procedure and how safe it is and basically there is very little pain involved, so I have been told, and the recovery time is only about a week. After speaking to several people who had the LAP I was no longer nervous and very excited and new that was the route for me. The key is finding a surgeon who has lots of experience and the skill to perform the LAP.

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 am having surgery in 13 days and I do have some concerns. I ask myself if I am being selfish for putting myself in a position where I face the risks and possible complications when I have 2 children at home. But I am very confident in my doctor and feel my life will be so much better that I make myself think about how happy I will be in 3, 6, or 12 months from now when I will be free from this burdon of obesity.

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 husband is very supportive in a way. I think he is trying not to over do it so I dont think he would rather have me thin then fat but he stands behind me on this decision. My mother is a pain. Although she does support me she also reminds me that the easiest way to loose weight is to just eat half of what I eat now. BLA BLA BLA Maybe it is her way of saying she is worried about her daughter going through something like this. I just wish she could undertsand her comments can be hurtful.

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

Im a stay at home mom and work for my kids. My son is too young to understand and my daughter is thrilled that I will actually get in the pool this summer. I cant wait to get the surgery over with so I can start working on getting out of this shell.

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

My 2 day visit turned into 14 due to complications. 3/4 of the nurses were great. The night shift nurses where scary! Mean! I filed a complaint. Twi nights I refused to stay alone and a family member had to stay with me. I would cry because of the pain and hit the call button and they either ignored me or would laugh because they had a "live one"! The next day my bowel obstruction was found and they knew why they had a live one. Mostly they just ignored me and the mental and physical condition I was in just made me feel all the more depressed. Take extra pillows, your own bar of soap and one of those lufe sponge things they get soapy easier and make showers easier.

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

Yes, I had a bowel obstruction, my incision had to be split open, my stoma swelled shut, I got dehydrated, bladder infections.... you name it it happened. I did not deal with them well at all. I was not prepared for them. I went in thinking everything would go perfect and never considered complications. My 2 day recovery (LAP RNY) turned into a 14 day hospital visit and a 6 week + recovery. My husband had to pack 2 big open holes in my stomach where my incision was split open with gauze twice a day for 6 weeks. I would get out of the hospital & go back into the hospital a couple weeks later. I was depressed, angry, totally unprepared. Be prepared for anything to happen. That way if it does you wont get knocked off your feet like I did.

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 excited. I was not nervous. I did not let myself even consider the possibility of something going wrong. That was stupid because when it all went wrong I was not unprepared and did not cope well at all. Do yourself a favor and consider all possibilities.

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

I traveled 1 1/2 hours from home. It wasnt a bad drive and I still dont mind it when I go to the doctor.

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.

Noodles and rice make me sick. Hamburgers make me sick. Cottage cheese, chicken, tuna, salad crackers is pretty much what I lived on for about 5 months. I can pretty much eat anything now (8 months post op) except hamburgers.

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

Due to complications I had a slow recovery and lost lots of muscle and energy. I had to basically build it all back up. I feel great now.

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

I take a multi vitamin & calcium. No, protein drinks they make me sick. I eat my protein. Chicken, tuna, and cottage cheese.

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 vomited for the first 3 1/2 months at least once a day if not more. Sometimes I would vomit for 3 and 4 hours at a time every ten minutes. That was not fun. I had hair loss for about 3 months and that scared me. I have thick hair so no one noticed but me and that has slowed doen a lot now.

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

The first 6 weeks. The complications. I thought I was going to die.

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

There are no support groups in my area so this site is my support and my family. All the members of this site not only belong to a support group in my mind but they also provide so much support to others just by the information they provide. Plus I love all the emails I get.

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

I had a LAP RNY to avoid a scar and then 2 days later had an open emergency surgery for a bowel obstruction. It isnt as bad as I thought but I do have a six inch line with three little stars around it!

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

My first plateau was 8 months post op. 140 pounds lighter 10 to go. Why do you ask? I quit smoking. Im not too worried though. I would rather to stop losing and stay here then start gaining. Presently I am concentrating on losing the last 10. This is the first time since my surgery that I have had to try and lose. Im not complaining.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Oh yes. How great I look. How much nicer they are. People who normally would just smile, if that, now stop and say hi and want to chat. How sweet! Hipocrits... In public I think people in general are nicer but that could be because I appear happier and more confident instead of scared and closed off.