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

IN 1999 I saw a talk show with Carney Wilson discussing her surgery. I suspected at the time that was the answer to my problem but I decided I'd try harder with dieting. I wanted to prove to myself I did try everything I could to lose the weight first.

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

My insurance approved me within 5 days. I like being able to choose my doctors so I stick with the Group Plan and not switch to a HMO.

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

I was a nervous wreck. I had written down questions and brought a family member with me. I took notes and came away with a list of books to read which I did. My advice, become as knowledgable as you possibly can, so you can teach others.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I had a choice, life or death. I chose life!

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I didn't want to take the chance that my body would later reject the lap band. I also wanted the weight off as fast as possible so I could get on with my life! I lost 210 pounds in 1.5 yr. I still maintain this through diet and exercise.

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 teared up at the last moment as they wheeled me into the surgery room. I said a silent prayer and blew a kiss to my family and said it's all or nothing it's time to take a leap a faith.

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 concerned but listened intently to me. Those whose opinion I cared for the most, I waited until a few weeks before my surgery so I wouldn't give in to any emotional non supportive words. When they saw the research and everything I did to come to this point, they quieted down. My mom tried to comfort me with food. It never dawned on her that she rewards & comforts with food and kept trying to keep me fat by offering me food regardless if I was hungery or not. I just learned to tell her that it's not on my diet plan or I already ate my meal. It took over a year but she finally realized I suffer from a disease that I will live with no matter how fit I am, it can only be managed because there's no cure for obesity.

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

I was scheduled for one surgery with two different proceedures at the time, so I didn't tell them at first. I took 6 full weeks as I was instructed to do by my surgeon. It was the best 6 wks of my life-a time for renewal, a rebirth.

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

I never stayed in a hospital before. I had to remind the nurses that I needed pureed food not whole foods. I stayed 2 nights because I was from out of town. My best friend brought her guitar and sand songs to me and walked with me through the hallways strumming her songs. Lets just say, every other patient seemed to find their way to my room, as it was a happy party room. I think your prescription meds and non-slip slippers!

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

No complications! I was off the pain meds by the time I checked out.

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

Nervous, giddy, scared, happy, ect. I was given an anxiety pill so I could sleep the night before.

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

I walked on my treadmill, by the minute not by the mile. I felt alone because I realised the one person I knew who had the surgery who said would come over and help me fix meals & clean my house didn't. I had to learn to do it with out the added help. I benefited in the end as my "reliable " friend gained some weight back and I have moved on to a much healthier size 2. I now attend college as I'm going after my nutrition degree to help others like me!

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

Ten hours of driving. I arranged to stay with extended family who were and still are very supportive!

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.

Scrambled eggs would get stuck. I ate a lot of homemade pinto beans, cottage cheese (low-fat), and chicken thighs. Crab meat would get stuck too. I didn't try steak for 6 months but I proabably could have. I looked at my new stomach as if it was a new born. I cooked my own foods, nothing processed and mashed the foods down. I weighed my 4 ounces and timed myself to eat in 30 minutes-very hard. I have a titanium tummy! I ate salads and protein. I still weigh my food and log a journal everyday. I now eat 4 ounces of protein with a cup of sald or some other complex carb. I snack on hard boiled eggs & raw almonds. I drink 2 gallons of water during the summer and a 1.5 gallons during winter. I start drinking when I first get up at 4 am. It takes me all day and I never eat & drink at the same time!

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

Low-it slowly got better as the weight came off and I walked everyday on my treadmill. By 6 months out I logged 40 minutes when before surgery I would of colapsed in pain after the first 5 minutes.

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

Centium chewables, bariatric advantage iron, citrate calcium, fish oil, joint herbs, magesium, vit D, garlic, vit C, B-12, green tea, Garcinia (for hunger control). metamucel. chromium, milk thistle, and L-glutamine.

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 think getting food stuck in my stoma. I once had crab meat stuck for 12 hrs and it finally dislodged after sipping hot tea. I had hair thinning on top but learned about Nioxin shampoo. I didn't get food stuck all the time. I really tried to chew my food well and still on occasion get food stuck. I'll go running until it moves or I have to vomit.

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

Peoples reaction. People believe that people who choose to have the surgery take the easy way out. They also judge them if they fail and are amazed when others lose all their weight & are successful at keeping it off. I feel people need to be educated that obesity is a disease and this can only be managed thru diet & exercise. People do not take the easy way out thru surgery. Yes it's true that some patients go in thinking they do not have to change their diet and that they found a quick fix but most know how dangerous the surgeries are therefore are desperate to get a handle on their weight.

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

I attend Dr. Billy's support group in Truckee, Ca. I am invited to attend even though he's not my Doctor. I still attend and plan to the rest of my life. New ones need me and I need them.

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

I had the RNY done laproscopically so I had 6 small slices. Only 2 remain after I had a body lift done.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I hit plateaus when I started weight lifting. I finally realized 600 calories a day was too low and I had to increase my protein intake. I would like to weigh 120 but I weigh 135. I cannot seem to drop it. I had my body lift done in Dec '06 and 15 pounds were removed from body. I haven't seen it show up on the scale yet but I'm finally back with my trainer and doing cardio 4x's a week. I still feel pain from surgery and experience bloating & fluid retention.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

I get a lot more attention especially at the gym. I think I've earned my family, friends & some coworkers respect. Sometimes I think people are jealous of me because they still struggle with their weight. I work hard at maintaining my health and so I now do things differently. This affects loved ones.