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

my best friends brought it up and i started thinking about it as well....then at my appt I discussed it with my doctor.

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

It was really easy. I put in a letter and within 1 week or less I got a call from the hospital that general surgery wanted me to come in for a consultation. I went in and then the processed started. MY advice is to do research on the surgery beforehand. I think that is what got me approved so quickly.

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

My first meeting with the surgeon was lots of questions. They wanted to make sure I was a good candidate for the surgery.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

When I got a call back after getting labs done that I had high cholesterol and then when I had to keep getting test done over and over for some cysts they found. Then the doctor said..."Well if you lose some weight then you wont have this problem!" Then she followed with"You are twenty something years old and you have 2 small children...you want to be around for them!" It was like a wake up call

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

research

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?

I only feared being in tons of pain afterwards and I didnt have any pain until I got home. It was tons of gas pain so....when the doctors say WALK... do IT or you will have gas pain.

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 scared to death...friends were too but supported my decision. Everyone was still very supportive afterwards too

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

[[work for myself]] but I was out of work for a month and a half due to pain and not feeling "normal"

What was it like attending your first information seminar on weight loss surgery? Were you glad you attended? if so, why?

it was a little strange because I felt so negative toward it...I was in lots of pain and I didn't want to stand there and say everything was peaches and cream when it wasn't.

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

the hospital was AWESOME...although I couldnt hardly eat my 30cc of broth or jello or water. My nurses were all nice and it helped to have a super cute guy to come check on my every day, lol! Bring...a book or two and a laptop or ipod. You wont be able to shower much because of the incisions but my husband washed me with a washcloth bcause I felt nasty. He only washed the bottom half of me and then wiped my upper half.

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

I had LOTS of gas pain. And then got an UTI from the catheter. NO FUN AT all....I was in the ER 1 week after surgery. Make sure your ICU nurses know how to empty your urine tray bcause if they dont you will get a BAD UTI and it hurts... like hell!!

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

after surgery I was still dealing with an UTI and gas pain. I cried for weeks thinking I made the worse mistake ever

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

[[no comment]] read above...I was like 1 in 10 who had a bad experience

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

not far....abut 25 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.

After surgery I couldnt stand the smell of food. When I wa able to eat pureed food I tried to puree some chicken in a blender and I HATED the taste of chicken. I am just now able to tolerate chicken. I bougth everything turkey. I can no longer eat pork now...it makes me very ill.

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

HIGH!! I love to exercise and I have lots of energy to do it and then some.

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

multivitamin everyday calcium x2 everyday biotin everyday ( gonna start taking it 2x a day) whey protein everyday

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?

hmmmm nausea for a bout a week vomiting... my pouch has a mind of its own...I can tolerate foods on some days and then on some days they make me very sick my hair is starting to come out a lot now. I may just need another trim...not sure. It was growing so fast and thick after surgery only to thin out :/ The hair loss is not good for me...makes me very sad. I hope it comes back soon :(

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

the gas pain

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

Group support on base...I love it but would love to meet other people in my area who had this surgery who I share the same interest with

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

VERy tiny...the surgeon had to look for them very hard when I went to my 1 month. 1 of them is starting ti keyloid but its not bad

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I am plateauing right now...Ive been at the same weight for weeks. Its unnerving :( I just want to meet my short term goal before October and I'm not sure that will happen now :(

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

YES... and with friends like that... who needs enemies?? Some of my "friends" who barely spoke to me at 200+ pound have plenty to say to me now...