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

I had surched the internet with out finding really anything to help me with what I was looking for. When I found this site I was so happy because there was so much information and people here to also help on a personal level.

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

I had so much trouble getting approved for my surgery I had a contractual exclusion but I wrote a letter to the bord of trustees of my insurance group and they made me prove medical nessity and I defanitaly was able to do that so they approved me after almost 2 years.

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

The first meeting with my surgeon was after I had seen and done everything and I was ready for surgery. I think it was like 3 days before my surgery that I was finally able to get an appointment with him. When I finally did meet with him I was really impressed he is a very knolidgeable doctor and really seems to know what he is talking about and actually seems to care.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I had 4 years of looking and then trying to get approved to look at all the facts and I think I kney right away when I saw the results and what people had to say about it that it would be the tool that would work for me. I talked to many people only one who regretted having the surgery but I think if she really stepped back and looked at the real picture of how she was I think she was so much better off now than before.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I have small children and I looked at the facts of the band that you could still have anything you pretty much wanted and what the average weight loss was and I knew that would not be good for me I needed somthing more drastic and the lap gastric bypass was it I wanted it lap because of the healing time and the little scarring compaired to the big one just more practical for me.

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 looked at my Dr.'s record of fatalities and they were so minute and I was told I only had about 2 years to live if I was lucky I really was not scared at all about dying during surgery I trusted my doctor and I would tell anyone that is really overweight that the riske of being overweight and dying orom so many difrent things just hanging over you all the time really out weighs the possibility of dying on the table I know it is possible but you could dye on the weight to Mc Donalds tonight it is just a chance I would take to have a much healther 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?

before surgery my family was really scared and really not supportave but now that they see all I went through and all of my success they are so glad and tell everyone my mom even carries a pic. of me to show her friends. I have a sister who lives away and I sent her a pic. and she wanted to know who was posing for me because there was no way that was me that I really looked good and it really made me feel good.

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

I was in the hospital 3 days and I was very comfortable the nurses took my needs into consideration. I brought only my essentuals and lip gloss that was really good because I found my lips and mout to be dry after surgery.

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

I went home feeling like supperman I was ready to conquer the world I fealt great knowing I was on my way to being thiner and healther. I did over do it I went to school with my daughter and then went to Wal-Mart 2 days after I was home from the hospital I felt good enuf well my insides were not good enuf yet I did pull a muccle in my stomach near my biggest cut and was back in bed for 2 weeks I could hardely move I was getting better and I was trying to put on a shirt and I pulled it allover again so I had to start all over again but it was all my fault I tryed to do to much to fast.

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

I went to New Orleans to have my surgery and it was about 2 hours 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.

I was on strictly my protien drink for a month with the protien rich jello from the dr.'s office. after that I tryed broth and after 3 months I cannot tollerate much more than chichen broth with some overboiled angle hair pasta in it and then just a few noodles.

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

after surgery I felt like I could do anything then I hurt myself and I was put back in bed for another 2 weeks then I was up again but took it slow.

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

I have been taking the vista vitiamines and all my blood work has allways come out just fine

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 do vomit if I eas somthing to fast or even if I drink too much watter but you just have to learn how to eat and it stops

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

The worst part about the entire process was getting my insurance approval becides that everything went smothely.

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

I go to group sessions they have them daily and they are usuall allways full you can ask questions and the most important is helping others who are thinking about having the surgery.

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

I have 6 little insignifant scars compaired to what I had to look at before they are nothing I can bairly see them they are fading really fast.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

I have noticed people looking at me so difrently not like oh my god look at that woman I just get the nice looke now and some really nice looks especally from my husband.