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

Be patient. It's really hard. For me I figure if I were a patient person, I wouldn't be so overweight. The thing is, there isn't much you can do except bug the insurance company and wait.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I decided after reading the article about Carnie Wilson.

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?

My biggest fear is of being put under. I hate that feeling. I only remember up to being on the operating table and having my arms strapped out then I was gone!

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

I was in St. Vincent's Charity Hosp. for 4 days and 3 nights. The nurses were So nice, but they must have been overworked because they were slow to respond to all of us on the floor.

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

My lungs didn't inflate as well as they should have. I did more breating exercises and walked.

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

I am still sleeping in my recliner at night as when I lie down it hurts my incision. I want to do more than I'm supposed to and it's very frustrating.

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

I traveled about 35 miles. No big deal.

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.

So far I am having trouble tolerating Milk products. I will try again when I am 2 weeks post op. (I'm 9 days right now)

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

I can walk until my back hurts then I have to stop. I went shopping at the grocery store at 6 and 7 days post op.

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

I am living on protein powder drinks and children's chewable vitamins. YUCK!

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?

Back pain has been my biggest enemy. After the first week it got better, but I still have to baby my back.

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

The worst part so far has been the first two days. I had a lot of pain and felt generally horrible. I definitely questioned my decision to have the surgery. I am a wimp when it comes to pain.

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

My scar was pretty wide, but after I had bowel obstruction surgery, the old scar was replaced with a really nice thin one.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I lost weight very slowly and plateaued a lot. At about 6 months I stayed around 180 lbs for 3 months. I lost another 20 during my bowel obstruction surgery and recovery.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes, people have more respect for me as a person. It's kind of sad, because I am the same person, just thinner.