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

I thought of it like a cure for my disease. I educated myself for a long time before even really taking the steps foward to go through with the surgery.

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

Easy. I obtained doctor notes from previous doctors I had seen. I gathered up my history of weight from doctors.

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

It was awesome. It felt like a breathe of fresh air. I felt like there was hope for me. I had done a lot of research before I seen my surgeon. I asked a lot of questions. Make sure you write all your questions down. Fill in the answers at the visit. This way when you get home you have time to look over it all and think about it.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I had waited too long to have this surgery. I did all my homework. I can honestly say that I tried all I could to diet and be healthy before deciding surgery. *Make sure you start to save money before you have the surgery. There is usually always a program fee est. $2000.00 required out of your pocket before surgery. This includes a dietician, an exercise trainer, and program meetings you'll need for the rest of your life.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I did a lot of research. I tried to weigh the risk with each option. I wanted something long term. I didn't want a foreign object in my body. I decided to go with the RNY bypass. It was done laproscopy. That made it an easier decision. I wasn't going to be cut 'open'.

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 feared I wouldn't lose weight with the surgery. I feared I was going to have complications after surgery. There are risk with ANY surgery. I was confident in my decision. I was confident I'd follow the strict rules after having the surgery. I think most of the complications following surgery are from those who didn't follow the rules. You can't eat or drink the way you did before surgery. You have to remember that. If you don't you'll have complications and/or gain the weight back. After coming all this way, I wasn't going to have that happen. Make sure you are doing this for the right reasons. Make sure you did what you could to lose weight before surgery. I checked out my surgeon. I talked to other patients that had the surgery and I talked to people that used the same surgeon. I made sure my surgeon was experienced and I had a good bariatric team to support me after surgery.

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'll just say the only person willing to hear me and support me was and still is my husband. I did my best to educate my family before going through with the surgery. They had heard so many things from the media about the surgery that they weren't willing to hear anything from me. You can't not always believe what you hear in the news or on tv people.

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

Only my human resources department knew. I advised my boss I was going to be out for surgery for a month. I decided not to tell anyone about it. This was a very personal matter for me and I didn't feel it was anyone's business. I was out for a month. I was on short-term disabilty. I could have went back to work sooner though. I was feeling good about a week and a half after surgery. My surgeon suggested I stay off work though.

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

I had a short stay at the hospital. I was there for 3 days including the day of the surgery. I brought lose fitting clothes so that I didn't have anything tight against my stomach. I brough a hairbrush and deoderant. *Make sure you walk walk walk after surgery. You can always get pain medicine, your at the hospital. Make sure you try to drink and eat. This way if you have any problems or questions you can have that taken care of at the hospital.

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

I didn't have any complications. Thank you God. I prayed every day thanking him.

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

I FELT SCARED AND AWFUL THE FIRST TWO WEEKS. I was trying to adjust to my body not being hungry and my head being hungry. I had cook still for my kids and husband. I wanted to eat but couldn't. I was very tired. I wasn't getting any food for engery. I went on ObesityHelp.com to the message board when I felt scared and unsure of myself. I had a lot of support! *Make sure you eat your protein. This makes you stay full and gives you energy. Always make sure you walk walk walk and get fresh air. I made the mistake of laying around when I got home from the hospital.

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

I had to travel about 15 minutes. I was lucky enough to have a bariatric center near me at the local hospital. Actually there is another across town as well.

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.

I trained myself before surgery to stay away from high fat and high sugar foods. It has been easy for me. I eat only what is low/no fat or low/no sugar and I use splenda for sugar substitute. I don't have a problem with eating any foods. I just limit myself to 1 cup of food for meals and 3/4 cup for snacks. *I have to make sure to eat every 3hours or 6x's a day. It's very important. It keeps your metabolism going and you don't get hungry during the day. Your new stomach will let you know immediately if your not feeding it or putting water into your system. I was stuck at a certain weight for 2 weeks because I wasn't eating enough. When you don't eat enough your body stores your food. *Whatever you do, stay away from caffiene. I have drank it a couple times and it makes your stomach hungry for hours. You can't get enough food. I don't why that is but caffiene is a huge NO.

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

It's been awesome. I thought being off caffiene I'd be tired all the time and actually I have a lot more energy. It's not a big task to do laundry or get the kids in and out of the car to go into a store. It feels good.

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

I take Bioton 5000mg 1x day. I didn't start that right away and I wish I had. I take B12 500mg sublingual 4x's a week 'woman once a day' multi viatmin 1x day zinc 35mg 1x day calcium 1000mg 1x day

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've only experienced hair thinning. It just started about 3 weeks ago and I am only 3months post-op. It's hard for me to cope with this right now. I wasn't honestly expecting such a hair loss. I am doing everything possible to control it. I'm taking extra zinc and biotin. I wash my hair every other day. I'm not styling my hair with harsh products and irons.

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

I think the worse part was getting over that fear of having a complication before having the surgery. I was scheduled for surgery and had to wait a month. The whole month waiting for the date to come was hard. I was so anxious and ready to get it over with already. I think the first week after surgery was a pain. I was tired of jello and broth. I wanted to drink milk or eat pudding and couldn't yet. I was getting desparate to have something other than liquids.

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

I always go to the Obesity Help website for answers to questions I have. I can call my dietician or surgeon anytime needed. I have myself on a good exercise program. Any bit helps. It's important to keep myself reminded that I've had this surgery and I can't eat the way I used to. Going to the website reminds me of what is ahead of me. This surgery doesn't do all the work for you. You have to work with it.

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

They are minor. All I can think about it getting a tummy tuck. I don't need anything else tucked or touched. I love myself. I just need a tummy tuck because I've already started to get a rash under the extra skin. UGLY. That's all I can.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I wasn't eating like I should or drinking water like I should. I was stuck at the same weight for 2 weeks and was VERY discouraged. I went online to the Obesity Help message board and asked why this was happening. I got a lot of good answers and advice. I started eating more and drinking water and the weight came right off.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

No. I was bubbly and happy before the surgery and I still am. I think, or hope, that was the first thing people noticed about me and still is. I have had a lot of compliments about how I've lost weight.