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

From a co-worker. I was excieted for her but scared for myself.

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

Never got insurance approval and charged it to a credit card. I thought why not there are alot of other things over the years I have charged to my credit card for weight loss and none of them as sucessful as surgery.

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

My first visit was great. I had all my questions written down so not to forget any of them.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

This surgery is my last chance at weight loss and I was approaching age 46, I no longer could conveince myself I could do it on my own I had tried that route for 18 years now.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I went to a siminar about all the types of procedures and that was very useful on helping me to decide.

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 have no fears about dying. Death in these types of surgery is so small. Complications are also small...I prayed about those and so far he has seen me through without and complications.

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?

My parents were alittle afraid. My husband was fine with my decision, and true friends were happy for me, not so true friends teased about how I wouldn't be able to eat anymore.

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

My boss was alittle worried, not because of the surgery many co-workers had had it before but becasue they had just cut back and now the other staff would have to work short while I was gone, but she was very gracious. I was off one month since I lift and pull on some of my patients. People with desk jobs usually go back in two weeks

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

I stayed overnight about 36 hours total. The care I received was very good. I had morphine for the pain while at the hospital. You don't need to take much some comfortable clothes and slippers. Oh and of course toothpaste and stuff like that.

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

No complications what so ever.

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

First relieved, but then nervous as it approched, I stayed very busy.

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

I was mad because I couldn't eat what ever body else in my house was eating. I was in pain and didn't tolerate the pain med. But after a week I was feeling much better and had lost some weight.

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

I traveled about 40 miles. Not to far.

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 only liquids for a week with some protein drinks. At the beginning of the second week a scrambled egg and basically then the rest of the day liquids and protein shakes. That continues for about 10 days and each day you add a different food, like deli turkey, cottage cheese, yogurt, fish, then a week later some well cooked vegetables. Off limit foods- pop, alcohol, chips, popcorn, corn, breads, deserts. I have tolerated everything pretty well I have had some indigestion after I eat sometimes, I guess I have takin in alittle too much ot too fast. I love garlic on the shrimp but you won't want quite as much after this surgery.

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

I walked around the hospital later that evening slowly and each day I was able to move easier and easier. Driving and wlaking fine within a week.

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

Multivitamin, calcuim, complex B,-those are all chewable and Vitamin D it is small enough to swallow. I also for my own personal reasons take fish oil and coQ10 too.

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 had surgery only three weeks ago and haven't had any of these symptoms. My understanding is if you drink the protein shakes that are reccommended you won't have hair loss. I was alittle nausea the day I came home from hospital and the next day and that had been it.

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

The pain you feel when you first start taking liquids into your stomach and you can't believe that you feel so full after a tablespoon of chicken broth. But not to worry the doctor said it was the staple line that casues that feeling and once it heals some in a week or so it goes away and it did.

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

There is one but I haven't been. I have been talking to others that have had the sam sugery via e-mail and my co-worker. But I feel it is very helpful to have someone to take to that has been through it before

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

Six small incisions the smallest 1/2 inch the largest an inch and half. They are healing nicely and they are exactly what the doctor told me they would be.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Haven't lost any weight since week two. Now at week 3 with no more weight loss but everyone says not to worry it is going to show up here any day now.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

A few people who say they are friends but really aren't, other than that not yet.