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

My Endocrnologist told me to consider it, I was so embarassed, I never went back to him!! Then I was in my Internist office and he independently memtioned it to me too!! Then I knew I really had a problem!!

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

Let the Doctors office get the approval. They afterall know better than anyone why its so important for the surgery to be done.

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

Write down all your questions before you meet with him or her. Don't leave without feeling completely comfortable with the answers.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I was tied of being fat, tied of being tied all the time , tied of taking all the medication, tied of feeling so ulgy.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

It was easy, It was the one that was less scary.

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?

Every surgery is scary, you would be foolish if you weren't scared. Have faith in your surgeon and in God.

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 is the best, they were worried about me, but I couldn't have gottent thru it all without them. Now they are all so proud, they call me "SKINNY". My friends all thought I was trying one more weight loss trick, boy are they all surprised today!!

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

I work for a Dr. and she was a supporter. She knew I was a ticking time bomb and she loves me, so she gave me her blessing!

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

I like Syosset North Shore, They really took care of me. I was there for 5 days. Attention was important, I needed alot of TLC and they gave it gladly

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

I had an infection at the incision site. It was gross, but bearable!

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 felt good for the first time in along time. I knew this was working for me.

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

Getting used to the smallest portions was alot to handle, also not knowing what to eat, sometimes I got so confussed I chose not eat at all!!

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

15 mins away!

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.

Well, I have a problem with meat, always have and I guess I always will. I used to love eggs, now I can't eat them. I get sick each and every time I eat them. I still eat very little, beans, salad, fresh vegetables, fruit, sometimes I eat desert, fat free of course! I guess I eat like normal people.

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

It got better and better, I was going to the gym 3 weeks after surgery, walking on a treadmill, riding a bike, and precor machine. I loved it and the more I worked out the better I felt.

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

Flintstones chewable, now I take Centrum. 2 years later.

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?

vomiting, I still have bouts with it, but I don't get too upset by it, i know this too shall pass.

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

The waiting before the surgery, I was approved fast and did it fast but I still had time to debate.

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

Dr. Cooperstone has a support group and I get alot from going when I can. I enjoy helping others with this. Im a big beliver in this surgery.

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

I knew what I was going to have before the surgery, I was never planning on wearing a 2 piece suite anyway!! Do you think my body at 397lbs looked better than my body at 200lbs with a scar down my stomach!!

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Several times I had no weight loss or very little when I thought I was going to lose 10lbs I lost 1, but a few days later I was down 12 lbs. I ve hit so many plateaus before and they always set me back not anymore!!

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes, men actually look my way, and I'm not the fat chick anymore, people listen when I speak now, it seems people think that because you are fat you are stupid. NOT TRUE!!