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

A friend of mine had it done and at the time I tried to talk her out of it. Then when I started looking into it, I seen that it would be something that could help me to get the weight of and get healthly.

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

I was lucky with my husbands insurance. They consider obesity an actual Problem and they covered it.

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

Be right up front with your surgeon. My surgeon, Dr. Hugh Houston, in Nashville, Tn was very up front with me. He told me that He was there to help and if I did not want to listen to what he was having me do after surgery to get the weight off then I just needed to find another Surgeon. I stayed with him and it paid off. I am 177 pounds lighter and much healthier.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I just needed the tool that this provided.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I wanted the surgery to be where there was no turning back. I chose it for the most extreme to me and it has worked.

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 know that this may sound funny but I had more fears about not having it and dying then having the surgery and dying on the table. If I did not have it I would be Diabetic by now and I would not be around later to see my Grandchildren.

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 was very nervous about the surgery. He was scared that I would not come out of surgery. Once it was done he and my 3 children were very supportive. My entire family has been wonderful through all of this.

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

My employer was very supportive with my decision. I was off for only 2 weeks after the surgery.

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 not bad. I was up walking 2 hours after surgery. The staff at Cenntenial Medical Center were wonderful. The have a ward set up for patients like myself. I was in there for 3 days. The most important thing to bring is a good attitude and the need to get healthy.

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

I had 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 was very excited when I got my approval.

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

The first few weeks were just adjusting to the liquids and the soft foods at first. Then it was making sure that you got enough protein. It has all worked out.

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

I am only 20 minutes from the Hospital so aftercare was very easy for 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 think the things that were the hardest to give up were the rice, pasta, patato, and bread. I was not allowed to have these for 6 months. I have adjusted and it did not bother me once you realize that I wanted the weight off more then I wanted the food. It is touch and go with some foods. You don't know what your stomach will tolerate after the surgery. It is trial and error.

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

The activity increased as time went on. Now at 18 months there is no limitations to what I can do.

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

I am still on 2 Flintstone vitamins 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?

About 6 months after surgery my hair started to thin. I just got my hair cut to a shorter style and that helped out.

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

I have not had a bad time with it so I can not say that I have had a worst or bad time.

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

The support group meetings are good to go to. You can learn alot and wether you know it or not you can also give help.

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

I had it Lypascopic so I have eight little scars.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I was lucky, I did not have any plateaus until I reached goal.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

People do treat you differently. It is funny that some people will talk to me a lot easier now. And I now get stares from men and I did not get that before. You just have to remember that You are not the big person any longer and the stares are for how I look now versus the big person I use to be.