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

I BEGAN TO DO RESEARCH.. i "searched the net" and read everything i could get my hands on.

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

so far haven't had any problems.. contact them personally and ask questions.. ask if they have any "exclusions" regarding weight loss.. ask if they cover "preventive medicine"..NO QUESTION CONCERNING YOUR HEALTH IS A STUPID QUESTION!!!!...

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

my first visit, i got weighed... saw a video... was able to sit with the surgeon and ask him questions.. to get the most of your meeting ask how many surgeries he's preformed of this type ...ask which is best for you... ask about the sucess rate..ask about different types of surgical procedures for weight loss..ask about the surgery itself.. ask how long you'll be in the hospital..ask about the scar(where will the incision be)..ask if you'll have a g-tube or an NG tube.. ASK IF YOU'LL HAVE AN UPPER GI after surgery...

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

i am a registered nurse, i care for elderly, i see first hand the debilitating effects of morbid obesity..as we get older our quality of life is greatly affected if we are obese...

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

my surgeon explained the procedures and told me which were more sucessful

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 fears sre not from having the surgery,,my fears are from NOT HAVING the surgery.. of courses there is risk.. there's risk in everything we do.. (a person could choke to death on a teaspoon of water)..yes, i'll be having to take medicine the rest of my life..but i would have to do that anyway..i am diabetic..yes, i'll have to visit the dr. more frequently..but i would anyway...as i've done more reasearch and as an obese person we owe it to ourselves to have a chance at a "HEALTHY LIFE"

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?

family was upset at first but i gave them as much information as i could and helped them understand that this procedure could help me live a lot longer...now they're o.k. and anxious for me to get it done...

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

my employer has been very supportive i will be out of work for at least 6 weeks

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

on the day of surgery, i arrived, got checked in, had all my vital signs taken, saw the anesthsist, then sat in a recliner and waited my turn for surgery. just before surgery an IV was started. the procedure took about 3 hours then i was in recovery about two hours. my total hospital stay was three days[actually 2 and a half]. wear comfortable clothes to the hospital,[you can wear the same clothes back home] bring a hair brush!!!!,tooth brush,and your favorite pillow

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

i had no complications. after the NG tube was removed my throat felt better.[if your throat is sore, ask the nurse for a small bottle of normal saline then gargle frequently. it really helps]. i was uncomfortable, because i sleep on my side. after surgery your pretty much on your back, but the bed was adjustable so it wasn't that bad. post-op, my incision took a little while to heal because i had some drainage.. it never got infected, just took a little longer than "usual" to heal [maybe because i have diabetes]

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

for two weeks after surgery i was on clear liquids for two weeks. during those two weeks i really missed "chewing" i was never hungary, i just missed the sensation of chewing. [jello really helped!, sugarless gum was recommended but i swallowed too much air.. the jello was better] i coped with anxiety by putting headphones on and listening to wonderful music..GEORGE WINSTON'S "DECEMBER" is wonderful!!!! i also meditated.. i used this time to get back in touch with my body...

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

first few weeks are a "healing period" your energy level will be low at first, but,DO NOT STOP MOVING!!!!!get up and walk around your house.. every time you move, you improve your circulation. when you feel like getting out take your time, but walk... walk in the mall, or a grocery store walk up and down the isle at walmart or target..just WALK!!! follow all the recommendations the dietician has given you.. don't think you DON'T HAVE TO FOLLW THE DIET RESTRICTIONS.. you'll only make yourself miserable.. keep in touch with her as often as you need to.. keep a food diary, so when you meet with her post-op, she can make sure your getting the protien you need...

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

i live in new london,ct.. i had my surgery done in new york [about three hours away].. my aftercare really wasn't affected because i also have a primary physician close by that i see..but my surgeon can easily be reached by phone, or e-mail..support groups are held every thursday so i car pool with a friend.

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.

so far [it's only been a month] i have been careful to chew any food to "applesauce consistentcy" before swallowing..OFF LIMITS=no concentrated sweets, no refined sugar, at first milk bothered me, but not recently..[after two weeks of clear liquids i was progressed to pureed for two weeks..now i'm slowly adding regular foods but am making wise choices] you have to make sure you get enough protien,because it helps to regulate blood sugar..and keeps you from losing muscle mass...i still won't attempt any beef or pork, fish has been o.k. and chicken has been o.k.

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

low energy level but i kept moving.. gradually your energy returns and actually exceeds any energy level you've ever had before..that's why it's important to take in food for your body..you won't feel like eating so make sure that the food you do choose is filled with protien, and "good fuel" for your energy

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

i take two chewable vitamins with iron, two chewable tums with extra calcium, b-complex with extra b-12, i also drink a protien shake 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 haven't had any real problems yet.. the only time i got nauseated was after i tried milk for the first time.. i've noticed that my sense of taste is much keener.. water has become my new "best friend". i keep a bottle of it with me at all times...

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

having to wait so long to get the surgery finally over with..

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

i am not participating in a group at the moment...however i do "log on occassionally to wls and look at topics there...i do have a "medical backgroud, and i have a personal m.d. that is extremely supportive...i see her at the hospital on rounds, and i had appoint ments once a month for about 6 months, then every three months, for the next few quarters...now i see her every 6 months...she keeps close check on my blood sugars and total iron levels...so far no problems....my lab work has remained within normal limits..

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

the scar is only about three inches long..(pretty much what i expected)

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

it's bee 2 years since surgery...i have lost approx 150 pounds and have plateaued...now i am exercising three times a week...still would like to lose about 50 pounds.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

people do treat me differently...(but i also respond differently to people)