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

Co-worker was researching for his wife. Until then I hadn't even been aware of the possibility.

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

Just do what they ask. There are no shortcuts.

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

By the time I saw Dr., I had done all the homework. It was a meet & greet opportunity. I suggest you write down questions as they arise and bring the list to the appointment.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

Hope, there was hope offered.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Coundln't stomach having all that hardware left inside me. I wanted something permanent.

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 had no fears.

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 got support and cheers from almost everyone. The couple that didn't, I just told them that Dr. G. has the best morbidity rate in the area and has done thousands of these procedures.

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

Very supportive. I told him when I was planning the procedure and let him in on the progress of all the hoops I had to jump through to get to the surgery date. I was out 3 weeks.

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

Comfortable. I was so thrilled at having the surgery the endorphins were in overdrive...I never asked for any pain meds. I was there 2 nights. Would have been less, but had to wait a day due to the long drive home (3+ hrs.)

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

No

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 felt fine, no anxiety.

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

I visited family during that time, it kept my mind off of myself. A lifetime of eating habits don't go away overnight, but they do go away.

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

3 hours. I was in the hospital a 2nd night.

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.

Followed the Dr's orders and plan by the dietitian. Now, at 6 months out, I can eat everything but parsnips (found that out last week) in small quantities. Since it is winter, I get my fluids in hot tea (mostly herbal) and still do the protein drink.

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

1st week: Very little. Family made me get up and walk for 5 min once an hour. 2nd week: More walking 3rd week: Lots of walking in Mackinac, MI, followed by lots of sleeping.

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

Centrum Silver (chewable), sublinqual B12

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?

Problems I had were 2X not chewing chicken thoroughly enough and dumping it. Found out recently that I cannot tolerate parsnips (dumping) You dump and then go in. ("Well, I won't do that again!")

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

the hoops I had to jump thru to get it...Discovered ITP and had to have my spleen removed.

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

Support group meets monthly in Joplin, MO, an hour from home. This is very helpful. If you learn one helpful item from a meeting, it's worth it. Last month: Don't lose pounds. If you lose something you turn the house upside down till you find it. Instead, release the pounds, never to be seen again.

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

laprosoopic, little scars...just as I expected.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

5-6 weeks out I couldn't lose anything. It turns out my body wasn't absorbing the protein I was using (from Wal-Mart). I got a better brand and am doing OK now.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

I get lots of compliments.