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

I first found out about it when I went to a Dr for a new diet pill. He had mentioned that there was a surgeon that was going to start doing the gastric bypass surgery and he told me to think about it. When I went for my 1st appt with Dr Simon I thought could this really work for me!!!!

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

I was in for a total of 5 days. My stay was okay. The staff at this hospital has learned alot with this surgery in the past 2 yrs and has improved greatly. I can't say much on what things to bring because I was out of it for a few days and didn't feel like doing anything or seeing anybody.

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

I didn't have any complications from this surgery.

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 felt very scared, excited, am I doing the right thing, can I go without eatting my favorite foods. I talked alot with my husband about what I was feeling. He was a great listener but would never offer this opion about what I should do.

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

My first few weeks were very hard. I went through alot of emotions. I cried alot I was mad at myself because I couldn't eat. I was in pain I was tried of throwing up all the time. I couldn't even smell food without getting sick to my stomach. Thank god my husband was home with me. He did everything from fixing dinner for my boys to helping my in the bathroom. He was and still is my support system. It will seem like when you watch tv all you see is food commericals. I would suggest that you start doing some type of exercise asap after your surgery and also start some type of hobby. I loved to cross-stitch so before my surgery I went and bought a project to do this helped me get through the days.

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

I work at the hospital where I had the surgery so I didn't have to go to far it's about 10 blocks from where I live. It was great that I didn't have to travel but if I had to travel hours to see Dr Simon I would.

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.

When I came home I was still on clear liquids like broth,jello anything like that. I than moved up to soft foods like pudding, mashed potatos it was about a week or 2 before I got to these. I drank alot of gatorade also. By the 4th week I was trying different foods with more substance to it. I wasn't able to eat meat for about 3 months after surgery. It's like a game you play with your new stomach one day you might beable to eat something and the next time you try it it might not agree with you. The only thing that I'm unable to eat is ice cream it makes me very sick even now 2yrs later. I can drink milk and eat yogurt I don't have a problem with any dairy products but for some reason I can't eat ice cream. Spicy foods bothered me for a long time and bread is a very hard thing to digest after surgery so be very careful. You need to cut your food up very small and do not drink when you are eatting your meals.

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

My actvity level was very low when I came home I had no energy. I was tired all the time but that is because I wasn't getting enought nutrition and the surgery itself will take alot out of you. I went to work 5wks after surgery and I was very drained. It was very hard to go back to work that soon.

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

I take a one a day vitamin and a calcium pill

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?

The worst for me was nausia and vomiting. I did have a problem with sleep I wasn't able to sleep at night after the surgery. I never had the dumping part of it. My nausia and vomiting lasted a few months after surgery.

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

I really don't have a worst part of this surgery I guess other than the side effects that I had. It is a painful surgery at least it was for me but the pain, vomiting and nausia was well worth it.

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

I was able to talk with a nutrionist and I feel that this was very important in my recovery. I needed to learn how to eat in smaller portions and to eat the right foods. My surgeon is trying to get a support group going for his pt and I feel this will be done soon. I also talk to some of his pt's that are considering having this surgery. I speak with the one's that want to talk with someone that has been through this. I enjoy talking with these people helping them understand that they are not alone. Everybody needs a support system or at least someone to talk to. I know when I had the surgery done I was like the 3rd one and there was no one to talk to so I'm glad I'm there for his pt to talk to.

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

I have 5 small scars that are about 1 inch in lenght and that's it and with all the stretch marks I have you don't even know they are there.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I did have plateaus I didn't change a thing that I was doing your body just needs time to adjust and you will start losing again. I stopped losing weight about 17 months after surgery and I have stayed at this weight for 8 months.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes I do!!!!! It is amazing but than again awful how people treat you before and after you have lost your weight. When I was heavy people acted like they were better than I was. Now they treat me like a normal person. People watch you eat when your overweight and believe me they will watch you eat once they know you have had this surgery also. They are so curious about how much you can eat and what foods you are eatting.