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

I heard about 'stomach stapling' many years ago from an aquaintance. So I went on the internet, looked it up, and found out that procedure wasn't practiced anymore because of the dangers. So I looked into several forms of the surgery with my husband who is a nursing student and we both decided that we 'liked' the Roux en Y Gastric Bypass.

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

Be confidant... stay positive... and keep and healthy attitude and a good sense of humor :)

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

It was great... it was at the informative seminar and he was a comedian. He of course kept serious when describing the procedure, the ups and downs and stuff, but he explained things well and in a way that didn't make you feel like you were a freak for being so overweight. I know I have seen several general practitioners that believe that you're fat because you have a trough in your kitchen and eat candy bars by the pounds... and he never once made me feel like that... even when I said 'I have a silly question' he said 'no question is silly.. this is your life... '

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

Because... it just had to be.. I tried everything else damn near starvation and now as a adult I just couldn't do that like I did when I was in high school.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

internet research and the informative seminar my surgeons practice put on.

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?

None really.. I guess you could say I was gloriously positive.. I mean sure, there is always possibility of complications, but there are also probability of getting hit by a car crossing the street, or even dying during the birth of my two boys... but I couldn't let fear sway me.. I stayed entirely positive.

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?

They were cautious.. just like any good family member and friends were. I'm pleased with how well they supported me. However, I believe I am blessed in that aspect since I have heard some pretty bad stories about those who did not have any kind of support like I had, and it's truley sad.

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

They were also great. And they kept joking about taking up a fund to buy me new clothes after the surgery because my clothes became like sacks on me.. It was great coming to work in new clothes and every other day people asking me how much weight I lost and how great I looked :)

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

It was horrible!! Not because of the surgery, more because of my 'room mate'. After surgery I woke up feeling of course like crap. I don't think I know anyone who looks forward to those first few moments waking up from surgery. The nurses of course wanted me to get up and walk about right away, and I almost puked on them all because I was so sick - shows them not to try to drag me out of bed damnit LOL. But when *I* felt like I could walk without falling down I did, and I was ok. But my room mate was terrible. She was a poor little old lady who had a car accident. And all she did was yell for the nurse all night, she thought I was her nurse and I was ignoring her!!! So finally on my last night they heavily sedated me to get some sleep because they said I wasn't getting enough rest. I woke up in the morning after the nice sedated night of sleep to the roomfilled with nurses and CNA's. The lady had pulled out her NG tube, and her IV's as well as her catheter and she had tried to get out of bed and fell. It was terrible. I went home that day and got more rest there with two little babies crawling into my bed to snuggle. (Thank the gods for body pillows as protection)

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

The only one I had right away was the spinal migraine. And it only lasted 3 terrible days. But as long as I layed flay I didn't have anything to worry about, no headaches or anything. Thankfully when I called my doctor he didn't think I was crazy that everytime I tried to stand up I felt dizzy and instantly had a migraine - it was because of the epidural during surgery. But no one worry, it's not likely many people get them. The anasthesiologist said that was the first time he had any patient that had one from it. And in long term I had a incisional hernia, which I am having repaired on 8-29 (I'll give you an update on that later since that's tomorrow!). SO the doctor is going in to fix that as well as give me a very needed tummy tuck.

In the weeks after you got your surgery date, how did you feel? How did you cope with any anxiety you might have felt?

Ohh I was so ecstatic... so I DID eat to celebrate.. me and cheese cake were almost inseparable.. Let me put it this way I probably gained between 5-10 pounds in those 2 weeks..

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

I'm not the normal patient so don't take me as someone to follow in my steps... I only rested for a week and then went back to work. I worked for a small computer company and worked in theIT department. They had known I had surgery and didn't push me hard to do work.. Take your time to heal... REALLY!!.. I think I probably earned my hernia from this perio of time when I should of been still been in bed.

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

Not far, my doctor and hospital are local in San Diego.

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.

Oooo no no no sweets AT all... I stuck pretty much with mashed potatoes and pureed chicken my wondermous mother in law made me for weeks! I tried Chinese when I was about 4weeks post op and it quickly came back up. I know this sounds gross, but thank god puking no longer tasted bad because I did it often. Everytime I tried something new I went back to eating that chicken and mashed taters because they were the 'safe' food (Oh as well as broth). Now I can eat anything, but I no longer want, desire, crave sweets hardly ever. And when I do it's the way it should be for anyone... in moderation... and I have them MAYBE once a month

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

I had sooooo much energy. But I did take little cat naps here and there. I noticed that at one point I had quit taking my b12 vitamins and my energy level plummetted. My internist ran some labs and then gave me a shot in my bottom - I don't forget my b12's no more :)

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

I take a multi-vitamin, C, B-12, Calcium, and try to drink or eat protien shakes/bars once a day

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?

Probably vomitting... I had to be very careful what I ate.. even smells could make me throw up whatever I ate. (Sadly for my husband, I couldn't even change the babies diapers for a good 3 months!)

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

The nervousness before... I wanted it sooooo bad.. and when it came it was so surreal watching the scale after even 2 days, 10 pounds gone.. this can't be right.. :) I'm still thinking 'oh gosh when is the scale going to start going back up'... that's fustrating.. I try to stay positive, but I still have my days... I can't believe I'm finally getting closer and closer to that goal weight. But I think the WORST is the hanging skin. The surgeon believed that since I was so young and had good skin elasticity my skin would bounce back into shape - it hasn't *hurray for tummy tucks!*

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

Just my friends and family and my on-line e-group OSSG-Graduate.

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

It's from the top middle of my rib cage to the top of my belly bottom, kinda thick, but it's lightening up... not that I plan on wearing a bikini anytime soon.. :)

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I hit them at least once a month. I'm only loosing about 2-4 pounds a month now, which; hey, better some than none!

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes, more positively... Alot of people say that it bothers them, but it doesn't mean. Anytime someone goes through a major life change people change as well!