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

I am in the health care field and have known about bariatric surgery for years and thought of it for someone who weighed 500 lbs not for someone like myself who only needed to loose 130 lbs. I was glad I did more investgation.

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

My experience was actually very easy. I applied and within 2 weeks I had approval and within 2 more weeks I was scheduled for surgery. Working at the hospital where the surgery took place actually helped.

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

The first meeting with the surgeon was an information general meeting with lots of people where he explained the types of surgerys he does and what to expect. He answered all questions from the audience. It was scheduled for 1 1/2 hours but lasted 3 becuase he stayed to make sure everyone who had a question had it completey answered.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I was afraid I was not going to live to see my 60th birthday. We also hired a new bariatic surgeon at the hospital who has a marvelous reputation. It was do it or die.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Discussion with the doctor/amount of weight to loose and general health.

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 was more afraid of dying without the surgery.

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?

Some were "way to go" "we are all about you" and some were "you don't have the right to put your life in jeoperaty by doing something so foolish" I accepted the good praise and took the nuts for who they are. NUTS

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

I told my employeer I was having surgery to fix bleeding ulcers. "a problem I did suffer from" I was out of work for 2 weeks. I did not tell my employeer because the last woman in my department who had WLS was driven to quit because of the bitch's comments like "mooo" The bitch was fired for cause. My new boss has been a doll and knows and supports me 100%

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

I stayed in the hospital overnight. It was actually very nice. The hospital has bariatic rooms all set up with all the proper equipment and even the doors on the bathroom are extra wide if extra wide wheel chairs need to be pushed into the rooms.

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

No complications. I was very fortunate.

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

The first 3 months were very difficult because I did not really understand how the pouch was going to effect my life. I took the whole 3 months to get my head arround the idea that my life had changed.

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

That just getting your fluids in is a major accomplishment. Think of the pouch as a new baby and the adjustments having a new baby in the house means. Your new pouch is your new baby

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

It is where I work, less than 10 miles

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 am now 6 months out and I can eat a tablespoon of just about anything I want except sugar. In the first few weeks on liquids and on purees I could only consume half of the amounts that I was told that I was suppose to be getting in. I don't know if it was just me or if anyone can actually can get that much food in. I could barely get a half an egg in let alone some veg, fruit and a protein shake. as I progressed to more solid foods my tastes changed . I was worned before surgery I may not be able to tolerate beef. I had no troube with beef but I still can not tolerate chicken more that once a week. Getting enough protein is always a struggle for me. I hate those protein shakes. I do drink a lot of milk. But I have taken to eating Kasha go lean with milk for breakfast. I just let it sit and get soggy in milk. 1 c cereal and 1 c milk giv es me 23 grams of protein in the morning so I don't have to worry all day 1/3 of my daily protein is alrealy filled.

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

In the 2-4 weeks after the surgery I got tired very quickly. But after about a month, my stamina returned to normal. It really was amazing considering how little nutrition I was taking in.

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

2 chewable multivits w/iron 1 325 mg feso4 2 300 mg vit c 3 caltrate chewable

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 have never once thown up. I have only dumped once, and that was not my fault. I ate some fruit that I did not know that was sweeten with sugar. My hair is falling out now, but it is not so bad. I was expecting it.

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

I was 3 months post op and had not gone shopping for new work clothes yet. I was giving a presentation and lifted my arm over my head and realized my breast had fallen out of my bra. No one prepares you for the inevitable. The fat girl is leaving but forgot to tell me when to buy new clothes.

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

The surgeon's office runs a support group given by a phd in psychology. Every person who gets surgery must agree to attend at least one support meeting post op as part of their pre-op surgery agreement.

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

I had the lap proceedure so I have 5 little puncture marks on my stomach. They are hardly noticable with my streach marks and loose skin.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I have had 3 that have lasted 3 weeks or more. But when they broke I took off more than 5 lbs the following week. The plateaus were disharding but since I have a medical background and was made aware of the mediabolic consequences of rapid weight loss, I understand how plateaus happen.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes, people treat me very differently. Skinny people are more accepting of me, men notice me- which is very scary considering my background. And some fat people have started to treat me as if I have insulted them personally by loosing weight. But that is their issue not mine.