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

My best friend had it done and lost 140 lbs.

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

If you have any problems, call Walter Lindstrom Attourney. You can locate him at obesitylaw.com. He was able to get me approved!

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

Write all your questions down before you go so you won't forget them.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I was desperate. I was gaining weight at an alarming rate.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I found through my research that the micropouch was very successful.

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?

Pray before, during and after for peace. I have strong faith in God.

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?

Upset. They felt I wasn't big enough and afraid of the surgery itself. My husband felt much better after going to the seminars.

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

I was out of work for 1 year so I didn't have an employer to deal with.

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

I was only there for 2 days but was readmitted twice for uncontrollable pain, nausea and infection.

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

Constipation, severe gas pains and an infection from my drain tube site. I was readmitted for 5 days to receive IV antibiotics. When I got home, I had to have a visiting nurse come every day to pack my wound which was 4 inches deep. I was very scared.

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 excited and scared at the same time. I knew that God was with me and He would see me through.

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

I was very, very sick. The pain was awful. I had severe nausea and constipation. I also developed a nasty infection from my drain site.

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

50 miles one-way. This became old because I had to go back 4 times through the ER. My poor husband made the trips with me and not to mention all the times he came up to visit me.

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 became lactose intolerant. I take lactose pills and it really helps. I couldn't drink my protein shakes without becoming extremely nauseated.

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

Very minimal for the first three weeks. Then I felt much better.

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

2 Flintstone vitamins,2 maalox quick-dissolve tablets and vitamin B-12 shots once a month.

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, vomiting and insomnia for 2-3 weeks. Started lactose pills and I take Melatonin at night for sleep.

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

I don't participate because the support groups are so far away from home.

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

It is approx 7 inches long.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

none.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

No