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

WELL I HAVE TO ADMIT I HEARD ABOUT IT WHEN I WAS YOUNG AND THEY WERE JUST BEGINNING TO DO THE SURGERY ON PEOPLE. BUT INSURANCE DIDNT HELP SO IT WAS BRUSHED OFF BY MY PARENTS LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE I WANTED TO DO TO BETTER MYSELF. WHEN I BECAME A NURSE AND GOT INSURANCE THROUGH MY EMPLOYER I JUST HAPPEN TO ONE TIME MENTION IT MY PRIMARY. HE TRIED ME ON SOME ANTIDEPRESSANTS FIRST AND WHEN THERE WAS NO SUCESS HE FINALLY GAVE ME A REFERRAL TO SEE A GERNERAL SURGEON AND THATS WHEN I FINALLY HAD A VERTICAL BANDED GASTROPLASTY.

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

I guess I can say I am a lucky person. My insurance MVP Select approved my gastroplasty 2 times and RNY almost immediatley.

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

I found any appointments I had with my surgeons were to the point with risks and they remained open and gave me time to ask questions and answered them all without hesitation. Even questions I thought were stupid they still answered for me.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I would have to say my children. I have never been able to enjoy going places and doing things with them. And to have them be embarrassed of me was the worst. I couldn't breath and my energy was at the lowest possible.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Yhe first surgery was the gastroplasty. It was more of a convience because they did the surgery in the local hospital. And had a life and husband that was very possesive. So leaving the city for surgery was just not oing to happen. I left my husband finally and had started to gain weight. So my primary sent to albany to see another dr and thats when after of year of putting weight back on, I should have the RNY.

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?

Well I kind of decided if I kept gaining weight and getting fatter I was going to either die for obesity or severe depression. Either way I was going to die. So surgery was trully the best route for me.

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

I was lonely because I was 1 hour away from home so it made it hard for people to visit me. My stay was only 5 days. Women a hint for ya...Bring plenty of underwear and maxi pads because even if your not due you will still have a great chance you will start your period. I did and The hospital was not prepared for my needs. It made me uncomfortable and made me wish I was home. Just deoderant and hairbrush and your own toothbrush was really all I needed. Maybe a good book for the last 2 days.

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

No complications for me. I did real well.

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

At first alot of discomfort and pain. The medicine he gave me helped with that. Anxiety was I couldn't eat and felt every emotion known to man. So I cried alot even when nothing was even wrong.

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

Liquids and more liquids. I to this day can't even look at jello without gagging. It was slow going and I reasted alot. I felt alittle better every day and in 3 weeks was finally able to lay on my stomach to sleep.

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

I have to travel an hour and yes I have not followed up as often as I should. I have to take a day off from work to see my doctor.

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.

The first 15 days were clear liquids. Then I went to soft foods and drinking full liquids. I eat pretty much anything I want now and just eat very small amounts and I continue to not eat and drink at the same time. I stay away from anything with sugar in it including drinks.I am happy to say I have never and plan to never experience the dumping syndrome.

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

I fatiqued very easy in the first month. I took lots of rest periods and drank fluids as much as possible. After the first 2 months I was back to myself and even better. Energy level went sky high.

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

Daily I take Multivitamin with Zinc...B12 1mg...Calcium with VitD...Tagament @ bedtime

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?

Well I still have indigestion alot so I tend to vomit almost everyday. Sometimes the acid in my stomach is more than I can handle. I have Tums (sugar free) with me always and that usually helps. I have had some hair loss but I am working on increasing my protein to help with that.

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

I would say the heartburn and the indigestion.

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

I have none at this time.

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

I only have small scars form the scope.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I have plateued 2 times and got scared but just stopped thinking about the weight loss and stayed off the scales for a couple of weeks and it kicked back in. I also dont see much weight loss around the PMS time of the month.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes they sure do. I here my god your so skinny and the men sure are taking notice. I take time to put makeup on and well it was great to buy size 14 in jeans instead of size 30.