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

I found out a lot about it by watching Al Roker do a segment on a night time news show. I researched it some and went to a seminar. I decided that first time that it wasn't for me. I am again brought back to it for a different reason. I believe that God has brought me here this time. I believe I am ready now. I am giving up things "Cold Turkey" and will never be trying them again. I am walking in an obese woman and walking out a skinny and healthy woman trapped in this body!

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

My approval was relatively easy. The only problem that we had was that there is not much communication between the local offices and the second level approval departments. I called every day to check on the approval status and one day was told that it had been reviewed and would be approved if I finished talkign to a nurse. I was on hold with her for 45 mintues and then finished speaking with her and got the authorization code over the phone. I have yet to see anything in the mail over 2 weeks later, but the surgry is approved and I knwo the hospital has followed up with the insurance company.

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

It went well. I consider this to be the first one on one visit. THere is an orientation that we had to attend that he gives too, but that is a different story. I believe that if the patient knows about the surgery and is well informed then this is a good opportunity to talk to the doctor and discuss pre op testing and such that the both of you would like to see done. My doctor is very cautious and ordered a lot of work to be done.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I don't want to be continually gaining weight because of the diabetes being under control with insulin. I want to be healthy. One night as I was taking my 10-13 pills I decided that a 26 year old mother is not supposed to be doing this!

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

My insurance doesn't cover the laproscopic RNY and I knew that RNY was what I had researched and what was considered the "Gold Standard"

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 had some fears that would come and go at different times. I went through one time in the pre surgery process. I made the mistake of looking at the memorial section of OH and reading them all in one night. The second time was when I found out that my husband would be home for the surgery and then 3 hours later found out he wouldn't. It just surfaced all the fears again that I wouldn't get to see him in case something bad happened. I guess it is healthy to deal with them, but not so much that you are overwhelmed and consumed with those thoughts at all times.

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 family is somewhat supportive. My mom doesn't want me to have it, but doesn't say anything negative. My sister is jealous and only thinks that I will fail as usual. She is just a very negative person in general. My extended family is neutral. Only my 1 aunt had anything somewhat bad to say about the surgery but I believe that was because she is not well informed on the operation itself.

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

N/A

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

My stay was ok from a patient point of view. I was in for 3 days and didn't really need anything that I brought. The meds made me sleep all the time when I wasn't being tended to.

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

Nope

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 feel great! I was driving 5 days out, went to the grocery store after being released and finally got a good night's sleep at about 2 weeks out. Just a little tired is all.

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

I go to two support groups and just have a few friends that have had it. I don't find it all that helpful, I just like being able to see the same people every month and noticing each other's changes.

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

It is very long and the staple marks are noticible. The scar itself I expected, the staple marks I didn't.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I have had a 3 week one and just finally broke the 220's.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

nope