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

I FOUND OUT BY WORKING INSIDE AN INSURANCE COMPANY THAT APPROVES THE SURGERY. TWO FRIENDS HAD IT DONE. ILOOKED ONLINE AND FOUND OBESITYHELP.COM WHO HAS BEEN A LIFE SEND! WITHOUT THIS CRUCIAL INFORMATION PEOPLE LIKE ME WOULD NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO OR EXPECT OR HOW TO FIND A GOOD PHYSICIAN. I STUDIED THE SURGERY FOR 2 YEARS TOMAKE SURE IT WAS THE RIGHT THING AND LAST DESPERATE PLEA FOR ME.

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

I STAYED IN THE HOSPITAL FOR A DAY AND A HALF. WAS SUPPOSE TO BE THERE FOR TWO TO THREE DAYS, HOWEVER, WITH THE GIFTED HANDS OF MY SURGEON, THE MORPHENE, AND THE NURSES/THERAPISTS I WAS UP AND RUNNING AROUND THE HOSPITAL IN NO TIME. THE HOSPITAL STAFF WAS SO IMPRESSED HOW I COULD GET UP AND GO WITHOUT THEM ASKING ME TO WALK AROUND. THE DR SEEMED TO KNOW WHAT I REQUIRED BEFORE I EVEN SAID ANYTHING. IT'S LIKE HE WAS READING MY MIND ON WHAT I NEEDED. THE HOSPITAL WAS BETTER THEN EXPECTED AND I HAD NO COMPLICATIONS WITH THEM OR MY SURGERY. I WOULD SAY THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS TO BRING IS A GOOD BOOK IN CASE YOU GET BORED OF THE T.V., A ROBE, AND SLIPPERS. THE NURSES WILL HELP YOU TAKE A BATH UPON TIME TO BE DISCHARGED. YOU WILL BE SWOLLEN A LITTLE SO MAKE SURE YOUR CLOTHES FIT LOOSE. I WORE MY PJ'S & SLIPPERS HOME. (THEY WERE NEW).

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

NO COMPLICATIONS WHAT SO EVER. LIKE I SAID BEFORE, I WAS UP AND GOING AFTER MY SURGERY WITHOUT THE NURSES ASKING ME TO WALK. THE ONLY THING THAT WAS A KILLER WAS THAT THE RESPIRATORY THERAPISTS MAKE YOU BLOW THROUGH THIS TUBE AS HARD AS YOU CAN, AND YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE NEBULIZER. YOU FEEL LIKE YOU DONT WANT TO BREATHE HARD BUT THIS HELPS YOU FROM GETTING PNEUMONIA. I DID SO WELL THAT I WAS BACK AT WORK AFTER I GOT OUT OF THE HOSPITAL ONE WEEK LATER.

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 DIDNT HAVE ANY ANXIETY ABOUT THE SURGERY. I WAS VERY EXCITED AND AS THE DAYS GREW CLOSER I WAS MORE HAPPIER ABOUT IT.I COULDN'T WORK OR ANYTHING. I JUST KEPT TELLING PEOPLE ABOUT THE SURGERY I WAS GOING TO HAVE AND MORE ANTICIPATION FOR THE DAY TO COME! THE DAY OF THE SURGERY I TRIED NOT TO GET TOO EXCITED AS NOT TO JINX MYSELF - IN CASE THE DR SAYS HE HAD TO CANCELL THE SURGERY FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER.

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

I ONLY DEAL WITH MY SURGEON'S OFFICE. THEY ARE MY AFTER CARE AND SUPPORT GROUP. WHEN EVER I NEED THEM THEY ARE THERE. THE DON'T IGNORE ME AND ARE MORE OF A COMPASINATE FAMILY THEN AN OFFICE.THEY DO OFFER SUPPORT GROUPS BUT I'M HAPPY WITH MY DOCTORS OFFICE. THEY ARE ALL I NEED.

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

THE SCAR IS ABOUT 1/8 TO 3/16" WIDE. IT STARTS AT THE MIDDLE OF MY STOMACH AND STOPS JUST BEFORE THE BELLY BUTTON. IT IS VISIBLE AND YOU CAN FEEL THE SCAR WHEN YOU RUB YOUR FINGERS OVER IT. YES, THIS IS WHAT I EXPECTED. I KNEW THE DIFFERENCE BTWN GETTING THE LAP AND HAVING THE OPEN ROUX-EN-Y GASTROPLASTY. I CHOSE OPEN. I WAS TOLD AS YOU LOSE WEIGHT THE SCAR WILL LESSEN. I HAVE SEEN SOME OTHERS SCARS BEFORE AND AFTER. IT HAS LESSENED. THE SCAR IS THE LESSER OF MY WORRIES. I CAN DEAL WITH IT. MY WEIGHT IS MY #1 CONCERN.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

NOW THAT I HAVE BEEN GIVING THE OK TO TRY OUT DIFFERENT THINGS, AND PROVIDED THAT MY BODY IS NOW ALLOWING ME TO, I HAVE BEEN TRYING DIFFERENT THINGS. THERE WAS A TIME LAST WEEK WHEN MY MIND SAID TO EAT SOMETHING THAT WAS SOOOOO GOOD BUT YET MY STOMACH (NEW POUCH) SAID TO STOP OR FEEL IT'S RATH! EVEN THOUGH I LISTENED TO THE ALMIGHTY POUCH I HAVE TO ADMIT I HAVE BEEN EATING MORE THEN MY USUAL. I GUESS I'M EXPERIMENTING WITH DIFFERENT THINGS NOW. (TRYING TO GET BACK TO MY NORMAL ROUTINE MINUS THE JUNK). I HAVENT LOST ANY WEIGHT THIS PAST WEEK AND I FEEL THAT ITS BECUASE I HAVE BEEN EATING TILL I'M UNCOMFORTABLY FULL WHICH I NEVER DO. I THOUGHT I GAINED 2 LBS BUT IT WAS FALSE. IT SHOWED THAT ON THE SCALE BECUASE I WEIGHED MYSELF A COUPLE OF HOURS AFTER I ATE AND YOU KNOW HOW THAT GOES!

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

YES I DO. ALOT OF PEOPLE ARE PREJIDUCE TO THE WAY YOU LOOK. I GET MORE LOOKS AND SMILES AND HELLO'S THEN I EVER DID BEFORE. MY CO-WORKERS CHEER ON MY WEIGHT LOSS EVERY DAY. I HAVE MORE OF A SELF ESTEEM NOW THEN I EVER DID BEFORE. IT'S GREAT KNOWING YOU LOOK AND FEEL GOOD.