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

I was watching a talk show that had a celebrity who just recently had the surgery. I really didn't know much about it back then. I didn't know what to think about it.

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

I actually got approved for surgery twice. Back in 2002, I had tried to get bariatric surgery when I was living in Georgia. However, even thought my insurance approved the procedure, I backed out. I was scared of all the information I kept finding about people dying because of this surgery. I did much more research and continued to study about the surgery. It took me 6 years to decide to do it again. My insurance this time was less "approving" of my surgery since I had to jump through many hoops to prove that I had done everything I could do to lose weight on my own. However, it finally got approved and I was able to schedule the surgery!

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

My first time meeting Dr. Anderson was during an orientation meeting held at the hospital. Even though I had to sit through an orientation full of people hoping to have the surgery, Dr. Anderson took the time to speak to each one of us individually while refreshments were being served. She approached me with a hug!!! She had NEVER met me before but gave me a big hug and told me that she was happy that I was there that night and that she was proud of me for taking my very first step towards becoming the person I was supossed to be.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

The fact that I was 33 years old and living with uncontrolled Diabetes. I just could't see myself living like this for the rest of my life.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Dr. Anderson and I spoke for a long time about my lifestyle and my habits and my needs. We made the decision together according to these things.

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 afraid of dying, of course. But I was in the path of dying anyway! The way I looked at it is.. "well, I can either have a slow, painful death or a quick one". If I didn't have either one, then good!!!! I was successful!

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 didn't tell too many of my friends. I was afraid of them judging me. My familly was extremely suportive and Im glad I have them there for me!

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

I never told them. I actually did it during a "leave of absence"

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

I stayed at the hospital for 5 days. I loved the hospital and their staff. The bariatric flood actually has many nurses that have had the surgery too so they are very compassionate and undersanding. They are also the kinds of nurses that will not put up with excuses or any crap so they push you really hard to do what you MUST do after surgery. I liked that!! I actually had a nurse say "oh, you big baby, get up and walk!!" Hey, I had to listen to her! The most important thing for me was having entertainment (my computer) you do end up sleeping during daytime a lot and waking up at crazy times like 3 am or so and not having much TV to watch other than infomercials. So, my computer was a great thing to bring with me!

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

No complications! Thank God!

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 depressed but knew that this was a part of the anesthesia. I, of course drove my friends crazy since I was constantly crying. I had to be patient with myself and remind myself that this was a phase. I always tried to look at the silver lining.

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

Oh.... I had to learn how to deal with my new eating. That was weird! I felt like anything I drank sent into my lungs! I just wasn't used to having a different side of my stomach stimulated.

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

10 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.

For 1 whole month after the surgery, I had nothing but soup. I was trying to get a hang on how much to eat and getting used to my new stomach. After that 1 month, I started to introduce soft foods into my system and it went well but once I started eating more solid foods, I discovered that many things I used to eat and LOVED to eat, didn't love me. I can't have shrimp EVER again. :o( But it's worth it! I would do this surgery all over again, if I had to!

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

I couldn't exercise much after the surgery. In fact, I didn't any routine until probably 2 months after. I was afraid of my inscision bursting!! LOL... but once I started to lose weight and feel more energetic, I started to move more and do more activities.

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

b12 is a live saver!!! B50, calcium (had a little trouble finding the right one that didn't make me throw up), multi-vitamins and acai berry.

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 didn't have much nausea or vomiting after the surgery. I was able to control all that for some reason. I did throw up, but it wasn't much or as frequent as other people complained. I did lose a lot of hair and I'm still losing it. I am currently taking some chinese herbs for my hair.

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

I honestly don't have any complaints.

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

My family and friends.

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

The scar is ugly but looks better than what it was at the beginning.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I had a plateau right about 40 pounds lost. This lasted for only 3 weeks and I started to lose again after that. I just came out of my next plateau, when I hit 100 pounds lost. I got out of it, again 3 weeks later and I'm at 114 pounds lost now.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

yup! I definitely get noticed more!