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

I had known about it for years! Just needed the courage and inner peace to do so.

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

For me it was very easy.....3 trips to the doc,nutritionist and psych....approved....but needed to get cardiac clearance! If you are thinking about this....do it for yourself!

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

Be prepared...research, research, research....talk to others that have had it done..... I briefly met my surgeon for my endoscopy...and then the day before surgery. His wife is his partner in crime...she does all of the initial work and coordination....she also sees you for follow up.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

It just came to me....and I made the decision in April and had it done in September. I had originally tried to get approved in Mexico.....where was my head? Thank god I got turned down!!!!!!!! I just can't imagine having your support a flight away.....it can be concerning being 3.5 hours away but the telephone works well.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I went back and forth and decided on the vbg vs lapband.....sometimes I wonder if the RNY should have been it.....but I know if push comes to shove and somethings needs re working, I can go to that.....I am confident that it will not need to be...

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 in surgery and that I might have a leak from my pouch.....oh yeah and blood clots! Rest assurred with all of the heparin they give you and getting up out of bed helps.....as for dying as you can see I did not and not leaks thus far! My fears were real at the time but unfounded........be confident in your surgeon. Look at the hospital stats....

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?

99% have been supportive....When things got bad for awhile my husband verbalized regret...but I know that was because he felt helpless at times.... There have been a few poeple that have only talked about the megatives but I feel that this hits too close to home for them. They struggle as I do....but don't seem to be able to help themselves out of the dark side....I support them in whatever they do...and I hope at sometime they will support me.

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

My brother and I own our business...he was very supportive and my employees were supportive with things like lifting and such.....I was out 2 weeks...but my first few weeks back were not good.....

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

I was in the hospital one and half days.....it was actually a very bad experience....I did not have good pain control at all. I have Fibromyalgia for which my meds had been stopped....I did not get much help from the nurses so after waiting 1 hour to get to the bathroom, I got myself up and going.....I got myself up for walking...did not sleep too much pain and SICK to my stomach....I think this was almost the worst part of everything.....

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

none

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

As stated earlier....weeks 3 and 4 were the worst...a lot of stomach pain and back pain...at first I did not cope at all....then I made myself be brave and move forward....things got remarkedly better after that....

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

I thought it might be a walk in the park...but I was one of those that had issues getting my tubes tied.....I guess I don't handle those things well.....

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

3.5 hours south......

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.

right now I am still on soft foods.....have tried pasta and rice.....not so great.....a weird thing is I now like my fluids cold(water, crystal light)... I had always liked them room temp because of sensitive teeth...weird or what

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

limited as I have been feeling weak from my loose poops! Drained

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

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?

nausea and the poops.....still continue

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

weeks 3 and 4 with the pain from the stomach and loose poops!

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

I read OH every day and it has been a life saver!

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

I have 4 ...one still has a bit of stitch sticking out....I have one that has a bump on it but....do not despair...I will wear a 2 peice bathingsuit in June...

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I am at a stall right now!

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

not yet