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

I first found out about the RNY and I thought this is not for me.

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

It was easy for me, but I made it quite clear to the insurance company that I was only having the DS and would pursue it mercilessly. Don't know if that made any difference, but I was approved within hours of it being submitted.

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

I had a lot of questions, but I didn't meet him until 3 days before the surgery and he had been up all night, the night before, so it was rather unsettling. By that time, most of my questions had been answered.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I couldn't keep on going the way I was. I was insulin resistant, having serious knee problems, and unable to enjoy my life.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I worked with someone who had the DS and I knew I didn't want the RNY or Lap Band, so that was it.

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 main fear was about having chronic diarrhea as a result of the surgery - we'll see how that goes.

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 I wouldn't have handled it differently. We've always been straight forward in my family, so I didn't have to hedge around anything.

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

I am a consultant and my boss was very supportive. I ended up being out something like 6 weeks - not because of the surgery, but because of a number of other things that happened while I was out. I didn't tell the agency I worked for until very close to the time. I figured if my boss at the client site was OK - it didn't make any difference. They weren't paying me while I was out.

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

I went in Wed. morning had the surgery and came home Saturday afternoon. I didn't use anything I brought except my CPAP machine, my slippers and my gown (for walking the halls).

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 have had many surgeries over the years and had far more anxiety about the PICC line than the surgery. I tried to ignore the whole thing. I also had a bad fall 14 days before my surgery (broke a bone) so I was busy dealing with that.

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

I was very tired. I got sick of eating the same thing all the time after about 1 1/2 weeks. I wasn't mentally back to normal for at least 2 weeks. I had severe mood swings during the first 2 weeks. I also had some nausea.

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

Not too far.

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 am 9 weeks out. I am not allowed caffeine, alcohol, tomatoes or citrus products. I am experimenting with just about everything else. I tried fast food which came right back up. I tried Chinese which gave me terrible pain and made me nauseous and I have pain when I eat even one bite too much.

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

I've been walking on a treadmill and outside. I've been swmiing and doing a little machine exercise.

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

Mutil-viatmin twice a day. Calcium three times a day. ADEK three times a 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?

Nausea has been the worst thing so far. I had an iron stomache before the surgery and was never nauseous unless I was really ill. I haven't lot hair yet, but am afraid I will. I'm not getting enough Protein because I haven't found any I can stand.

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

So far, learning how to use my new gut.

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

I don't have any right now. It works for me. I'm not a 'group' kind of person.

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

I had the Lap DS so I have 7 little incisions. They're taking longer to dissapear than I hoped, but at only 9 weeks out, I guess I'm a little over eager.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

One week, I gained 2 lbs. I had C-Diff and dehydration and had to go have IV fluids. I couldn't understand how having so much diarrhea, I could still gain weight. However, it went away the next week, plus more.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Maybe a little, but I'm still wearing the same clothes - so not really yet.