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

I first saw it in a women's magazine.

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

Just hang in there. It may seem like your very existence is hanging onto the day when you get the phone call but it will come. Remember.. good things come to those who wait. *grin*

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

The first visit is very informative. You learn a lot from it. If you write down any questions you may have before you go you are sure not to forget to ask something.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

Not being able to play with my children like they want me to. And my little boy asking me why I was so fat. That was the straw that broke the camel's back.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I wasn't really informed on either procedure but having open seemed more do-able since you can't change the oil on a car with the hood closed.. know what I mean?

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?

My main fear was dying on the operating table. Why, I don't know. I suggest though, anyone considering this surgery make your peace with God just in case he wants to take you home while you are in there.

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 husband was behind me all the way and so was my father. My mother nearly had a cow. I went online and looked up all the success stories I could find and showed her other people's success and now she is my biggest supporter.

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

My stay in the hospital was not a bad one. I had some really great nurses. Looking back now the bed was really cool. It went from a laying down position up into a regular chair type thing. The things that go on your legs to prevent blood clots area pain though but they don't stay on forever.

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

No. I didn't have any complications from the 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?

The first few weeks after surgery you get really tired of how things are really fast. Especially when people around you are eating and enjoying things that you want. It helps a whole lot if you have a good bunch of supporters around you.

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

The worst thing for me right after surgery was the pain in my ribs. The pain from the incision wa smore tolerable than not being abnle to stand upright. It took me a good 2 weeks before i could stand straight up.

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

I travelled 4 hrs from home to have my surgery. With Dr. Appel he just wants you to stay in town a little longer after surgery to make sure there are no complications.

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 after surgery what I wanted to eat and what I could tolerate smelling really changed. Like most I ate lots of jello, some of the nastiest stuff on the planet that some people call soup and drank lots of fluids. Just smelling things cook now can drastically affect your stomach and your appetite. It does for me anyway.

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

I didn't hardly get out of my own way right after surgery. I just did what my body would tolerate for the first 5 weeks cause I had a tube coming out for that long.

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

I take chewable vitamins everyday and b-12

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 vomiting come and go still.. Just depends on how my stomach deals with smells and all. The hair loss was noticeable. I have got some baby hairs growing back.. Thank goodness.

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

Hmmmm... I'm not sure what the worse part was as of yet... I'll have to get back to you on that one.

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

I don't attend any support group meetings.

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

My scar is kinda big. It goes from right under where my bra goes all the way down to my belly button. My scar is what I expected, I just wish it wasn't as big. Gives me more character I reckon.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I have had plenty of plateau experiences. Its something you just have to deal with while you are on it. Sometimes it just takes changing a little something that you are doing to break it.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Sadly to say, yeah, people do treat you differently. Its like they got time for ya now that you aren't quite the person you were before. The outaside is different so now they got time to try to get to know the inside. That's when you want to say get a life loser. You didn't have time for me then don't bother now.