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

I was recommended to have the surgery by my general practicioner because I needed to have a lot of weight off fast (so I will be able to have my knee surgery)...I fought his efforts to have it done after hearing the horror stories of the "old" procedures....after I became better educated about the procedure I got excited and have never regreted it.

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

I have not had a problem with my insurance but my advice to those who do is keep a paper trail....of info to show your insurance carrier how beneficial it would be to them for you to be off (insulin, BP meds, etc) drugs....and look into some specialized lawyers who are advocates for patients requesting and having been denied access to Bariatric Surgery.

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

A group consultation around the table with the doctor having all our files on his lap and after explaining the requirements for being accepted for surgery and explaining the procedures, and the risks, he revieved each of our charts individually..........you can get the most from this meeting by coming with an advocate and asking many questions and also asking about costs and recovery.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I realized that I had no other choice and made the comittment which I have never regretted...it has changed my life and I still have a good doal of weight I still need to lose.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

My physician recommended the procedure and after hearing from some people who have had a few different procedures I am glad I had the one that I did

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?

The fears I had about complications were overshadowed by my fears of eventually dyiing if I didn't have the procedure from the complications of morbid obesity

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 told most members of my immediate famiy but didn't share this information with everyone because the knowledge about this surgery seemed to be rampant with rumors of the surgery from 25 years ago and those complications...and I didn't need any extra added stress from misguided well meaning people..The people I told were very supportative after the 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 not employed

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

The hospital I was in was superb....they handle many of these patients and have a caring and efficient protocol for dealing with these patients so I would recommend anyone in this area contmplating the procedure use this hospital

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

No

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 had a great of anxiety because I was approved so fast I felt I was committed now and had better getting myself syched up for this experience...I coped by attending the weekly support group meeting at the local hospital for patients who have had/or are contemplating this surgery and asked my questions and listened to the success stories of the people who had already had the experience

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

Discomfort, inability to do all that you were used to before, and getting tired more often than usual....sometimes gastric disturbances..like constipation/diarrhea, flatulence, loss of any appetite...and soreness at incision site

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

8 miles

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 was on a liquid pritein shake (physician requested of all his patients) 5/day for 5-6 weeks after surgery then for 2 weeks start off with baby foods, applesauce etc...and to this day I still have foods that cause me discomfort...I have an intolerance to sugar and fatty foods they can cause "dumping syndrome'(a feeling like you wish you were dead)...and I can eat only some proteins after chewing them meticulously, but breads, pasta and some other foods cause me stomach pain and may come up....veggies digest the best...and soups are my "friends"

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

I have adifficulty with this because I am disabled because I need to have bi-lateral knee replacements and do not get around well

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

VitC-Vitamin Suppliment with Co-Q 10, and Ferrotrinsic, also Calcium...are needed daily

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 only when I ate something I couldn't or shouldn't handle.......and stopped around the 8th month......I will still dump if I have the wrong thing to eat......the hair loss is the most disturbing...but if I succeed at losing all my weight ...Hell...I'd wear a wig!!!

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

The post operative pain.....even though they did a great job helping control it it was hell for 2 weeks....then bad for another 2 weeks.

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

We have a support group that meets weekly run by a psychiatrist that works with the patients pre-operatively also....and different weekly speakers and questions/answers and recognition....the support group helps many people over some rough spots and helps them comply with the program....this is one of the most important parts of the program.

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

I have had surgery iin the past so I knew what to expect so I was not shocked and it was what i expected it would be

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I have reached it now...in the past 2 months I have only lost 2 pounds...it is getting frustrating

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

yes I have had many different reactions from varied people.....One man even had the gaul to come up to me and tell me he couldn't relate to me when I was all puffy.