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

My doctor told me to consider it. I told her she was crazy.

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

I had no problem with insurance. I did what the program asked and Dartmouth Medical Center took care of everything else for me.

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

It was very positive. Dr. Laycock at Dartmouth Medical Center was very thorough in explaining the procedure. He answered all of my questions.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

My doctor pointed out that my quality of life was limited and that I would most likely face significant medical problems in the future. The trade off for the lifestyle change woudl be worth it.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

My surgeon suggested the procedure.

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 understood the risks but also understood that I had a great chance of not having complications.

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 and children knew what I was planning to do and I told selected friends. I chose to keep it secret from most of my family and friends because I did not want them to question me about it and felt it was my private business. I also battle with feeling that surgery is somehow a sign of weakness in that I couldn't loose weight any other way. It wasn't until just before I had the surgery that I started letting people know what I was doing. My family expressed concerns aboaut the risk but by this time I had done the research and knew the answers to their questions. When I told people - I found out about others who had had the surgery and discovered local support that I hadn't expected. Everyone has been very supportive post surgery. I don't think I would have done anything different in terms of sharing my decision earlier.

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

My stay in the hospital was very good. I went in on Monday AM and left Wednesday PM. Bring a can do attitude. I knew it was important to get up and moving as soon as possible, They told me 10 laps around the pod was a quarter mile. I challenged myself to walk a mile before I left. I did a half mile Tuesday in two walks and did a full mile in 4 walks Wednesday.

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

I had absolutely no complications.

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 felt good. About 2 weeks post op I had few days of "Pitty Party" because I wanted to go out for dinner with friends and was still on a liquid/puried diet. It helped when I went back to work at three weeks and already had a noticable weight loss. As the compliments started flooding in - it helped my get over the negative. It has all been worth it.

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

I had done my shopping in advance so I was well supplied with appropriate foods. I also supplied myself with alternative activites to occupy myself as a recovered. Books to read, knitting, and movies. My husband knew how to make what I needed to eat so all I had to focus on was getting better. February in NH does not lend itself to walking outside so while my husband did the grocery shopping for the family I walked the isles of the store to get in exercise. i think the key is to keep your mind busy and to not overdo the physical stuff while your body heals.

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

About 70 miles.(1.5 hours) I didn't get to the post op support group meetings as often as I would have like to.

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 have found that I do much better with fresh foods rather than processed foods. I don't like to cook so I look for shortcuts and quick things to eat. I know I need to have more variety but for now I am feeling satisfied with the limited things I eat. I like to drink Carnation Instant Breakfast as I drive to work in the morning. I can also eat Cream of Wheat as an alternative breakfast. I have tried scrammbled and hard boiled eggs but they don't always agree with me. I usually have a banana or some almonds as a midmorning snack. I like yogurt for lunch as it is easy to brown bag it. I get the Columbo low fat as it has a full cup in the container. I add about 3/4 cup of Kashi Go Lean Crunch cereal to it. I also eat cottage cheese or tossed salad. I don't do well with breads or wraps. I will sometimes have sliced turkey, chicken, or roast beef with some cheese. I think more about the evening meal and this is where I look for more variety. I have found that pork does not agree with me. I like baked or broiled fish such as shrimp, scallops, or haddock. I like baked chicken breast with a variety of seasonings. I can eat a small amount of broiled steak. I know that fatty cuts of meat or meat cooked in gravy will make me ill (hamburg, sausage, prime rib) I focus on the meat and add a little potato and vegetable. I love to eat soups and when we go out to eat if I don't feel comfortable with the items on the menu Soup and salad or shrimp cocktail work just fine for me. I also find ordering from the appetizers works well to get a smaller portion.

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

My activity level has increased a great deal. 3 months post op I started working out at Curves and go at least 3 times a week often 4-5.

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

I take B12 twice a week, Viactive twice daily. A Multi vitamin daily I also have had problems with iron deficiency so I take a ferosequel with 250 mg of Vit C three times 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?

I had problems with "frothing" for the first few months. This is vomiting a froth like substance but I didn't loose the meal. I have had to work at eating slower and this has helped. I had hair loss at about 4 months. My hairdresser suggested Nioxin and this helped. My hair has filled back in and I am still using the Nioxin. I am having a problem with gas and experimenting with a variety of products to try to eliminate it. It has become quite embarrassing.

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

There is a suport group that meets monthly but I have not been able to fit it into my work schedule to go.

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

I have about 6 scars all less than an inch long from the Lap procedure. They barely show. My stretch marks show up much more.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

After 15 months the period of rapid weight lose is over. I am still losing a little each month but I think this is due to the increased exercise. I have lost more than I expected but wuld like to lose about 20 more pounds.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

I get complimented frequently on my appearance. This is new for me. I treat me differently. I am working to take good care of myself - to eat better and exercise. I also take more time to think about my appearance. I enjoy shopping for clothes - there is so much more variety when you are size 16 rather than size 32. I can be more creative in what I wear.