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

I saw the success that Al Roker from the Today Show had with it and saw a Dateline NBC show about it. I didn't really think seriously about it until I met someone who had actually had it done. Then I began researching it. What really set the ball rolling for me was when a co-worker of mine began the process. I was still concerned that people would think that I was taking the easy way out. I didn't tell my family about it (other than my husband) until after the first appointment.

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 getting approval.

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

I walked out of my initial consult with the surgeon a bit upset. He told me that I would have to loose at least 20 pounds but preferably 40 pounds in order to decrease my BMI and decrease the risks of surgery. My reaction to this was "How do you expect me to do that? I came to see you because I have tried to loose weight other ways and not been successful!" In spite of this though, I really liked the surgeon and his staff.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I wanted to start living again.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

It was the best one for the amount of weight I had to loose.

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 wasn't really afraid of complications. I knew what they were and that they were a possibility, but I was very optimistic and had confindence in my surgeon.

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?

Only a select few family memebers and friends know that I had the surgery. (My husband, my sister and her husband, my mom, a couple of friends at work, my grandmother, one of my aunts and uncles, my brother in law (because my husband blabbed) and my mother in law because she was wondering why I didn't eat anything when we got together...) I told my husband right from the start...Then my sister...Then my friends at work...Then my mom. The others were told after the fact. It took me a long time to finally tell my mom. I was afraid that she would see it as me taking the easy way out. I don't know why. I thought that she would be ashamed or something. I was so wrong. She, and everyone else who knows, has been nothing but supportive.

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

I was out of work for 5 weeks. My supervisors were very supportive. Another co-worker had just gone though the surgery a couple of months before so they knew what to expect and what I would need as far as support from them. The fact that my co-worker had it done first definately made it easier for me to tell my supervisors that I was going to have it done.

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

For a stay in the hospital, it really wasn't that bad. The nurses were all wonderful! They were compassionate and very understanding. Another thing that helped was that my room mate had had the same surgery earlier that day so we could support one another. I had my surgery on a Thursday and I came home from the hospital on Sunday morning. I was definately thankful for my slippers. I also brought a stuffed dog and some photos of my cats. I also brought a photo of my father who had recently passed away. I was also thankful for a container of wet wipes. They were nice to have to keep me from feeling too grimey since I could not shower until I left the hospital.

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

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 and just looking forward to getting it done. My surgeon had me on a liquid diet for two weeks prior to surgery which was a bit rough...But it helped me loose the last bit of weight that I had to loose quickly. I didn't really get anxious or scared until the night before. I didn't get much sleep at all that night. And then waiting until it was my turn that day was agony.

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

The first few weeks weren't too bad. I had no interest in food at all which was wierd. I wasn't in very much pain...Just when I stood up or sat down. I went for a lot of short walks which gradually grew longer.

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

Only about 35 minutes.

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.

At first I was on an all liquid diet. (Sugar free Carnation Instant Breakfast, sugar free jello, broth, watered down fruit juice, etc.) This lasted for 2 weeks. Then I was on a soft/pureed diet. (Egg whites, more jello, apple sauce, tuna without the mayo, mushy fruits like bananas etc) This lasted for 6 weeks. Now I can eat whatever I can tolerate. I have found that certain foods make me queasy or come right back up. Chicken for example is a no no for me right now. Some tougher meats also, like steak or pork. Fish and eggs are easy for me to eat. So is fresh fruit. I am really loving the watermelon right now.

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

Lots of short walks around the halls of the hospital. Upon getting home, these walks got longer and longer. I returned to work after 5 weeks.

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

2 Flintstones with Iron per day. 2 Caltrate 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?

The nausea is still pretty bad after eating a lot of times...Especially a high protein food like steak. I don't vomit as much as I did at first now, even though the nausea lasts for a couple of hours after eating at times.

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

Waking up after the surgery. I wasn't expecting the pain to be that severe. I kept telling my husband to get the nurse to give me more pain medication.

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

There is a support group that meets once a month. My family and friends are also very supportive.

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

It is about 6 inches long in the middle of my stomach. It is also much wider on the top than on the bottom because it didn't close right. I also have to small round dot like scars, one on each side of the incision scar where the drainage tubes were. The incision scar is worse than I thought it would be, but I have seen other people's scars and theirs are about the same or worse than mine. I am hoping that over time it will fade and become less noticeable.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I haven't really had any...I did seem to be stuck at 350 pounds for about 3 weeks, but then began loosing quickly again.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

My mom looks at me differently...She seems very happy that I had this done and comments about how much weight I am loosing whenever she sees me.