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

I didnt get approved until 24 hours before the surgery. It was hell, I was on the phone constantly with the doctors office and the insurance company. 2 days before sugery I got denied, and it crushed me! The next day was the day before my surgery and I called the doctors office that I called the insurance company and they denied me. They were shocked because they have never heard of Aetna denying this surgery, so they called them and within an hour I got approved.

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

By the time the doctor asked me if I had any questions he had already answered all of them. It was very informative and I did end up asking stupid questions, but he didnt mind answering them because he knew they were concerns to me. We set up surgery before I even left the office, for less than 1 month later!

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I had no choice! My body was deteriorating right underneath of me. If I didnt do this I would have died a long and slow painfull death or suicide.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

My doctor suggested the procedure that would best suit my needs.

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 did have fears of death which I kept from everyone except my father, we talked about benificiary info and I asked if I should make out a will. I had read somewhere that the death risk was very minimal only 1% death rate. That made me happy, but then I saw it in numbers which came out to be 400 people a year, and that scared me a lot! I remember telling my dad about my fears and he reassured me that the people who died during this procedure were the people who have more complications than me and that put me at ease. I dont think you can tell anyone who is about to go into major surgery not to be scared, they are going to be scared until its over.

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 so strong and supportive! I coulndnt have asked for a better group of people to go through this with! My dad at first was very apprehensive, but I just told him that I was a grown adult and I was going to do it with or without his support.

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

I was already out of work, but I started a new job about 1 month out of surgery.

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

My hospital stay was ok. I had a very noisy neighbor across the hall that wouldnt stop screaming for the nurse the first 2 nights, and the 3rd night he started throwing bed pans out into the hall that kept hitting my door. Other than that It was great! The nurses were very responsive and fast with pain medication. I was there for 4 days, and very happy when the doctor discharged me! I would say the most important thing to bring is a small personal fan! I got so hot in that room from the sun beating in, I had the air on all the way and I was still sweating!

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

Not one complication!

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 did have a lot of anxiety a few weeks after surgery because I still had thoughts about food and what I would like to eat, and a couple of times I got very angry because I wanted to be able to eat more but I couldnt. All those feelings eventually went away on thier own! The couple of weeks after the surgery I mostly felt tired, but then I started feeling energized and was ok.

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

My first few weeks home from the hospital was nothing but a learning experience. I was like a baby learning to eat all over again, some things I would eat but others I could not.

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

My doctor is only 2 minutes from the hospital and I live about 3 miles from the hospital.

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 cant eat any red meat, my stomach just cant handle it. I eat a lot of cheese because its high in protien, eggs and protien shakes. Portien shakes are not that bad, I get one that just tastes like chocolate milk. I can handle breads and small pasta, but I try not to have them a lot.

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

I take liquid B12, 1 chewable Centrum, and 2 Chewable Tums with extra Iron every 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?

The hair loss, and the scar. The scar has always been there but it is a constant reminder of a very hard time in my life, a time I never want to relive. The hair loss started about 3 months out, and is still driving me crazy!

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

I have a support group that I go to at the hospital once a month, it is run by people who have had the surgery so it is very helpful! They can help me with any questions or concerns I have and hopefully I can help others when I am far enough out!

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

My scar goes from right above my belly button to right under my left breast. It is much bigger than I expected, and the first time I saw it I got very lightheaded and dizzy. Now I put vitamin E oil on it and that is helping it go a away a little.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes, my family watches me eat, and it drives me nuts! I feel like im a freak show to them, but its more funny than anything! We will be at a family function and we will all be eating at the table than all of a sudden I will realize that they are all watching me. Then they will realize it and we will all start laughing!