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

I had tried many different diets and my personal care physican began informing me about the possibilities of bariatric surgery about three years ago. At first I was terrified, it was too drastic and I was afraid of surgery.

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

I got insurance approval right away, the problem was my HMO went bankrupt in the middle of everything and threw my paperwork into a termoil. This should not have happened if the new doctors office were actually willing to help, but they were not and getting Blue Shield involved actually took longer than it should have. My advice if you do not get approval is to file grievance with your insurance carrier (it takes a couple weeks to find the outcome) If you are still denied call your local congressman, things happen when they get involved.

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

My first visit with my surgeon was very informative. He is a wonderful doctor and took the time to even draw a diagram of the surgery he was doing and how he was going to do it. UCLA's program is the best and the preop support was wonderful. To prepare for this you should write questions down so you remember to cover everything you may forget to ask.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I decided to have surgery because I liked the doctor and I was familier with the UCLA support program and had a friend that just had the same surgery and surgeon.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

The doctor decided what proceedure I would have and I trusted his knowledge

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 more afraid of dying because I did not have the surgery, and I would do this again in a heart beat/

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 family was very supportive, my friends thought I was crazy. They have been very supportive after surgery.

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

I am self employed. I began working the week after surgery

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

My hospital stay was great. I stayed two nights. Bring your own pillow, a back scratcher, robe, slip on slippers, a fan, lip balm,

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

No complications

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

Ucla has a support program on line that pre ops and post ops belong to and lurking and posting in the support was very helpful because questions are answered even before you may think of asking them. It is like going to councelling 24/7 and you have a direct connection to all doctors, nutritionists and other patients in the program.

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

Take it slow and keep hydrated

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

30 miles It did not affect my aftercare at all.

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 am now seven weeks post op, I am able to eat chicken in small amounts, Potatoes hate me, veggies cooked and raw are fine, fruit fresh and canned is fine. I can eat crackers but will have one or two only for lunch. I eat tuna on crackers for lunch. Turkey doesn't want to stay down yet. Melons are the best. I have to stay away from red meat. I have to get in 80 to 100 grams of protien a day which I do with a designer protien shake in the morning and a small lunch and sometimes the same at dinner or another shake at night. The shake I take is 53 grams per shake so that works for me. I have to watch out for beans,pasta, potatoes, corn, bread and rice. I can have them but very little. Soda is off limits but I like water and drink alot of that. The first two weeks after surgery it was a clear liquid diet, then for the next four weeks it was creamed soups and some chunky veggies in it. I am now experimenting with regular foods.

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

I am a day care provider. Plus I do a lot of walking

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

Flintstones until the six week check up then prenatal vitamins. I also have B12 shots every month, and Tums four times a day for first six weeks and then Calcium Citrate every 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 have dumped a few times when things I have eating don't agree with me otherwise no other side effects

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

The problems I was having with the new doctors office in executing the surgical approval.

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

I belong to the UCLA online support group. It is the best and has been the most important part about dealing with the problems pre op and post op.

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

I have four small incisions from lap surgical proceedure.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

None yet

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes but I think it is my own attitude that actually shows them that I don't care what they think cause I am finally controlling my life.