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

My teacher in college was 7 wks post op when I met her. She was very instrumental in my decision to have the surgery. I did all the research myself and I was kicking it around before I started school. I also saw Carnie Wilson have surgery and since she had such a success, I thought it would work for me.

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

Check it out thorughly and make sure you fight for it. And try to fight for insurance reform. It is time that the insurance companies took a look at the bottom line a little closer and realize that this will save them money in the long run.

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

He was very informative and he was open about what to expect for those investagating this option. He had no problem answering questions and putting you at ease with his skill and his ability. He treated you like a person and not a "case."

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

The fact that it is taking over my body and my mind. I can't stand or walk anymore and it is making the disability more pronounced. I am very sick and tired of being "sick and tired!" I had cerebral plasy and obesity, but the obesity was taking over my life.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

My insurance which is AR Medicaid, will only pay for the gastric bypass, and this is the surgery that I was researching for my situtation.

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?

These fears are the same for anyone having surgery. I have had 11 in my life time and each one is scary. It does not get better with age and experience. It just is a fact of life. I am no more fearful of this surgery than any of the others. We all deal with the fear in different ways. It helps to talk to people and work out the anxieties that you have.

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?

I think that at the time, they felt that it was a phase I was going through and I was not going to get serious and go through with it. Deep down, I was at the end of the line. I knew that I had to do something or I was going to die.

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

I didn't work so it was not a problem.

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

The hospital was fantastic! Had no problem with the nursing staff or the surgical staff.

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

No complications whatsoever. A few problems with dehydratiion at first, but they were soon resolved.

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

A lot of prayer! I was looking forward to the chance to change my life and my relationship with food.

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

Rough but I felt it was so worth it!

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

About 4 hrs from Mountain Home AR. to Little Rock and it was ok

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 found that eating things like scrambled eggs and chicken were difficult at first. I ate mostly lots of soft foods and drank lots of fluids. I developed a love for cheese sticks and cheese in general and well as peanut butter. I don't eat a lot of sugar free syrup because it upsets my stomach but I use the regualr sparingly.

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

In the early days, I was not ambulatory, meaning I was still confinded to my scooter. As my recovery progressed, I was moving and walking more. I eventually walked all over Wal-Mart. Now I am walking 3 miles a day, three days a week and I feel great!

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

I take a multivitamin and a B-12 supplement as well as my other meds. I was able to get off my muscle relaxeing meds about 6 months out.

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?

Not too many side effects for me. When I have a dumping episode, I have a couple of cheesesticks and some milk and I'm fine.

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

Waiting for the approval from Medicaid!

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

My family has been such a strong support for me. I have been able to things that were out of my reach before.

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

My scar is not too bad. It almost looks like one continous scar with my hystrectomy scar. But, I have keloid scars so it is normal. The scars don't bother me like the weight did.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

i didn't plateau till the very end, and I dealt with it with exercise and my diet.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Very much so...my brothers were saying how good I look and my father said he was proud of me for the first time in my life. Felt very satisfying.