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

On this web site. Initially, I thought it was too good to be true! :-)

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

My experience was very discouraging. The ins. company really did their best to give me the run-around. I would go through the highs of thinking I was approved and then the lows of facing yet another approval obsticle.

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

He was so nice, caring and patient. He explained everything in a way that made it very easy to understand. He was supportive and did not try to effect my decision in any way.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

Hearing everyone's possitive responses to my emails. lol. I sent out alot of emails to patients of the Doctor. :-) But honestly, In my heart I had already decided to do it as soon as I find out their was really a surgery for it and this was not a gimic.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

My Doctor made the decision. I trusted him to know what was best for me. Afterall he is the expert and I had no idea what I was talking about. lol

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 was a little afraid of dying during surgery. But if I was going to die, I would rather die in my sleep. lol (just kidding). Just like all other huge decisions in life, this is a very scary consideration... but my God, it is terrifying to think of how many years I just went through the motions of living and never really LIVED. How many years I wasted is the sadest part and my only regret is that I did not know of this surgery YEARS ago!

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?

I did not tell many people. None of my outside family knew. I only told my Husband and a few close friends. All of them were VERY unsupportive. My husband thought I was CRAZY (to risk dying and leaving him and the kids alone). My friends all said "why dont you just go on a diet!!!) Most of them were still unsupportive afterwards until the I started losing alot of weight and then some were supportive and others were and are very jealous. :-(

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

I did not tell them what type of surgery I was having. I only told them I would be out for surgery. I was gone almost 8 weeks. I could have gone back in 6, but I got kinda depressed and lazy after surgery. Once I took myself back to work and heard all the compliments pouring in, the depression lifted! lol

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

My stay in the hospital was terrible. Most of the nurses were very rude and unattentive. I have a pretty high threshold for pain. However, this pain was so unbearably aweful that I could have used some REAL patience from the nurses. They were so pushy and rude that they made an unbareable situation much worse than it had to be. Bring some really comfortable (big) pajamas (a couple pair, as you are likely to mess them up a bit).lol. Bring slippers and a comfy pillow. Anything you have from home that would make you more comfortable, because you will sleep most of the time. I brought alot of magazines, etc. that I never used. I was too tired to do ANYTHING but sleep and the bed was soooooooo uncomfortable. Those pillows are terrible.

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

I was just so sore. I sleep on my side or stomach and that was nearly impossible to do anything but lay flat on my back, so I got a heck of alot of pillows and supported them around my body to help me lay to the side slightly... If not I would have never gotten any sleep. Also, (sick but true) it is very difficult to "wipe" after you use the bathroom. I got a huge plastic spoon that I wrapped alot of tissue around to clean myself. Afterwards I just threw this spoon away! lol

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

Oh God. I was soooooooooo thrilled! I was terrified but the excitement I felt outweighed my fears. It will help to have at least one good support person that you can admitt all these fears to. It was difficult to shoulder all of that alone.

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

Well, I was in such pain. I was so tired, and very unexpectedly I became very depressed. It was all over and I guess I finally allowed all these feelings to "hit" me. I was overwhelmed with emotions. I cried alot. I was angry that I had to take such drastic measures to feel good about myself. I felt like I was being punished for being fat. I was terribly mournful. However, it does pass. Once I got back to work and interacting with people, the depression soon faded. Once I heard all the compliments I got very excited and it was all down hill from there.

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

Approx. 35 minutes.

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.

It seemed as though I hated EVERYTHING the whole time I was on pureed foods. I tried eating the samed things my husband ate (in the food processor) but it all tasted terrible. I was pretty much living off of runny oatmeal and pureed "boil-bags". I was soooooooo happy to finally be able to eat real food! Since the surgery the only thing I really cannot tolerate is milk. I would kill for a bowl of cereal! lol!

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

I was not active much at all until the 2nd month after surgery. I still get very worn out at times. However IF you REMEMBER to take your IRON supplements you will always feel soooooo much better! :-)

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

Iron, Multi-V, Calcium, Vit-C (and I take some zinc for my hair thinning out). But the iron helps me the most.

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 had nausia and vomiting for a little over a month after the surgery. My hair started thinning in the third month and is steadily falling out. I had very long hair and recently cut it all off to hide my thinning. I do not have any bald spots, but before surgery it was very thick and the short style I have it in looks very cute. No one can tell it is thinning now.

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

Waiting for the pain and the nausea to subside.

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

None.

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

It is very ugly. Looks like a huge red/purple zipper! lol Honestly I did not think it would be that thick or dark. Hopefully it will lighten over time.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Every time I go back to the Doctor he tells me that I have only lost a few pounds. However I am losing INCHES like CRAZY! I will take inches lost over pounds any day! lol. Every week I am fitting into yet another thing I couldnt wear the week prior! Yahoooo!

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

OMG! YES! They are so much nicer, respectful and tentative! Isnt that sad!? I wish I could say they have all treated me just as they did before the surgery but that would be sooooooooo untrue. Shallow is the world we live in! :-(