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

I am a scrub nurse in the OR, so my first contact with the surgery was in helping my doctor perform them on other people, believe it or not.

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

I had no problem with the insurance company. If you are turned down, keep fighting do not give up!

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

It was kind of funny for me seeing as though I saw this man everyday and helped him do the surgeries I now wanted for myself. But he treated me just as he would any other patient, he went through the surgery step by step, from pre-op to post-op. If you have any questions or hesitations this is the best time to ask. When it is just you and the doctor.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

One night i was watching the news and a story came on about the comedian and actor John Candy. It said that he had just died and that his weight was a contributing factor, it said that he weighed 300 lbs. I said oh my God, I weigh more than he does, that's what changed my mind.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

By talking to my doctor and by being in the OR and actually performing the surgery on other patients and seeing the results

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 had no fears, If you do have any make sure that you discuss them with your surgeon

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, and they still are. As far as my friends are concerned, I really did not tell them much, it was my decision and mine alone.

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

My employer was behind me 100%, they knew what I was going to do, I was out of work for four weeks, then I went right back to the OR doing the surgery for other people

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

Fine, My doctor got me up the night of the surgery

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

None what so ever

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 did not have any anxiety, I was ready to go!

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

To take it slow, and do exactly what the doctor tells you to do and not to do. Make sure someone is there to help you.

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

Not far at all, I worked there.

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.

Basically sweets were off limits. We followed a strict diet that my doctor had given me. For the first two weeks I was on a liquid diet, then we went to a soft diet for the next two weeks, after that we added small amonts of meat.

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

I got up every hour to walk, even if it was only from one room to the next. Keep your level of activity constant

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

Multivitamin with iron twice a day. B-12 once a day A & D once a day and I take and additional iron supplement.

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 did not have any of the above symptoms, I followed exactly what my doctor said and I was fine.

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

Not being able to do what I wanted to do right after I came out of the hospital.

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

Right after I had my surgery and right before I was very active in the support group. It was very helpful having people who had been through what I was getting ready to go through to share there experience and to know that I was not alone in this process.

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

I could care less what my scar looks like to be honest. I would rather have the scar than the 160 lbs any day.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I hit a plateau about one year out, but that was only for a short time and it passed

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

DEFINITELY!!!!! You would be amazed at the difference a few hundred pounds of weight can make :-)