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

From television commercials. I also worked with a woman who had lost 200 lbs from the surgery and she was very helpful.

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

I had absolutely no trouble getting insurance approval.

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

Go prepared with written questions.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

For eight years I had tried every diet in the book and would always lose but gain the weight back plus additional weight. here was a feeling of hopelessness. I had to do something and the surgery was my way back.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Open RNY was the only option at the Center.

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?

Yes, I had fears about dying from the surgery, and I even drew up a will. My suggestion to people is to NOT read stories on the internet about people dying from the surgery, but realize that it is a very remote possibility as it is in any surgery.

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

I was upfront with my employer and fellow employees. Most people understood but there were those who didn't agree with my decision ... why can't she just lose the weight on her own. Would I be honest with them if I had to do over? I probably would because I am an upfront person, but be prepared for some negative comments. Just blow those comments off because those people do not live in your shoes 24/7. I was off work for about eight weeks.

What was it like attending your first information seminar on weight loss surgery? Were you glad you attended? if so, why?

I didn't attend an informational seminar ... I didn't even know there was such a thing.

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

I was hospitalized for four days at what was then called the Bariatric Treatment Center in Ypsilanti, MI. The nursing staff was fantastic.

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

The only complication I had was a hernia. Although I didn't carry anything remotely heavy for several months, I still managed to get the hernia. My surgery was Feb. '02, and I had the hernia surgery Dec. '02. If I had to do over, I would have had the hernia operation not at the Bariatric Treatment Center. I had a terrible wound infection and it took many months to recover.

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 excited and couldn't wait for the surgery date. Yes, I was feeling anxious and afraid because I had never had major surgery before and I had read stories that people have died after gastric bypass surgery. I talked with my family about my anxiety, and I kept very busy.

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

I slept a lot for the first month after surgery. The first night I was home, I asked my daughter to stay with me mainly to see how I was able to manage. My mother would come over every day to feed my cats, scoop litter, take my garbage out, and do things that were difficult for me.

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

A mere four miles to the Bariatric Treatment Center (which I think now is called Barix?). There was very little aftercare. I am not a group person, although I did communicate with others online and that helped tremendously. But frankly I thought the aftercare at the Center was virtually non-existent.

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

As I said above, I was very tired and my energy level was low.

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

Bugs Bunny vitamins (I love em) and Tums.

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?

No sleep disturbance or vomiting. My hair did thin out a bit, but after the first year that was no longer an issue. Dumping was a problem early on. I remember not making it to the bathroom a few times and that was horrible ... I had heard stories about people vomiting a lot after the surgery, but that was not my case. However, there were times that I would have what I would call the dry heaves. As for the dumping, even to this day if I overeat sugar or fats, I am miserable for several hours, feeling as though I have the stomach flu. It certainly helps keep my eating in check.

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

Low energy level, drinking all the water (I hate water), and the hunger I felt the first month after surgery.

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

The only aftercare support I was involved with is online boards which were a tremendous help to me.

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

My scar from the gastric bypass was much better than I anticipated. However, that changed after my hernia surgery. I had a wound infection after the hernia surgery where I had to go back in surgery several weeks later, be re-opened, and cleaned out. It had to heal from the inside out. The scar from that (which was where the scar was from the gastric bypass) is very thick.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

After I lost 98 lbs, I just stopped losing weight. I didn't and still do not kick myself for not reaching the goal which was losing 147 lbs. I think I did very well, and am happy with the way I look and feel.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Not really