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

My niece, she is my hero. I talked to my family dr. and told her I wanted the least procedure. I honestly thought I would go through all the testing, appt.s and then cancel the surgery. But I didn't cancel and I couldn't be happier.

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

Like I have said in the past I really didn't deal with the insurance. Dr. Evanson's office manager, Colleen, took care of everything. Whatever the insurance needed I got to them, I had documents from WW and dates of everything else. Colleen and Becky worked with insurance, what a stress taken off my shoulders.

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

There was about 15 people in the first meeting then we all meet one on one with Dr. Evanson. He is awesome! He listens! Take notes and take a friend to help you remember what you forget.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I was heavy and needed help. I was still in question of whether I would go through it or not until the last minute. But the time of surgery came and I was as calm as a cucumber. Walked into the surgery room with head up and no shaky nerves.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Dr. Evanson and I talked about every procedure and together we decided what was best for me and my eating style.

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?

Get on ObesityHelp.com, those chat rooms help calm your nerves.

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 very supportive. Friends-why are you having this done. You can do this by yourself. You are not that heavy. My friends were not supportive but my family was.

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

My employer was more worried about how long I was going to be off rather than my health. I was lucky to work in an office where I could walk after eating something to fast. At first I did have a problem with things getting stuck so walked after every meal sometimes 2 or 3 times after a meal. I was only off work 2 weeks.

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

Hospital stay was good. St. Vincents has a walking trail on the floor that is marked off by butterflies. A chalk board to keep track of how far and often you do walk. I was in the hospital 2 days. Walking shoes, hard sole house slipper, I took clogs that worked well. You do walk a lot while you are there.

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

None for a couple of months.

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 felt good. The nurse told us to eat while reading to slow yourself down. Take a bite, read a page, take a bite, read a page, it works. What I did that was wrong was find 2 things I really liked, eat them over and over now 2 years later I can't eat them anymore not can I stand to smell them either. It was spring, I live in town, when I became anxious I would walk in my pjs. A neighbor stopped me one day and ask why I didn't wear clothes to walk and I told her I had surgery and she thought that was ok.

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

Eat slowly, take pain meds when you start to feel like you might need them don't wait. The pain isn't that bad but still don't wait. I bought some cute little dip dishes for my serving dishes so that I would feel special. You are special do what you can to remind you of that.

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

3 hours one way but trust me it was worth it. It didn't affect my aftercare. I could call if I needed to and if we could handle it over the phone we did. One time I had a problem tried to make it there but couldn't, went to the local ER. Er doc called Dr. Evanson told him what he thought and what he could do. Dr. Evanson told him "She is my patient and I want her here." I was taken by ambulance.

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.

Sugar, Sugar, Sugar, crystal light kills me? At first I could drink milk but not now. Eggs upset my stomach now, sugar free ice cream kills me. Sugar kills me. 2 years out and now I'm having trouble with pain in stomach. I have that checked out this Friday. I had my gall bladder removed in October but the pain is still there and getting worse when I eat anything bulky like meat. I still eat slowly, I still don't eat a lot of bread but the pain gets really bad at times. If I could tell anything one thing it would be chew, chew, chew slowly.

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

After surgery I walked after every meal. Surgery was March 28th on Memorial Day of that year I was diagnosed with kidney cancer. My life turned upside down. It took me several months to heal and when I joined the gym I hurt my shoulder before the first workout. I mended slowly from that and never did pick my activity level back up. Bad for me and I know that.

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

3 calcium chews a day 3 chewable children vitamins B-100 on tuesday B 12 on wednesday

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?

Dumping and it continues today. I hate going someplace and asking for sugar free, drink or eat it, blood pressure and heart rate goes through the roof so I find out it wasn't sugar free after all. I suffer from gas but gas probaly saved my life. It was gas that sent me to the ER the night I was diagnosed with kidney cancer. The ER doc I had was great, had worked with baritrics and called for a cat scan with contrast even though he could see the gas in the xray. The cat scan showed up my kidney cancer which usually lays silent until it's to late. Thanks to him I have my life and health.

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

Dumping and change in bowels. Monitor your bowels and don't wait to ask for help.

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

I did not attend a support group due to the 3 hours of travel. My niece was my support group along with the rest of my family.

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

What scar???

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

I can get away with anything because no one recognised me at first.