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

My aunt and I were at lunch one day. She had her gastric bypass surgery in 1981, and we got to talking about it. She suggested looking into, and that she would do it again. That's when I began my investigation into the options and details.

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

It went great. I had testing done for my co-morbidities prior to applying for this procedure with my insurance company. I believe that this made things go much more smoothly. Having the doctor's office do the submitting is a must.

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

My first visit went well, but I was feeling scared and nerveous. It's a big step! Make a list of questions to take with to the appointment. It's so easy to get confused and forget what you want to know that may not be covered at the appointment. Don't be affraid to ask any question! I asked my doctor if he "put up with wineers" and "if he had lost a patient yet". Silly, but serious still!

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I believed that I wasn't going to get better if I didn't. Learning about obesity and how it affects the longevity and quality of life really made me think.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Definetely laparscopically. I feared the open procedure due to higher trama, longer recovery, greater pain, and higher probability of complications. Not to mention the awful scaring.

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?

Find a good surgeon! Make sure that you are comfortable talking to your surgeon about anything! I believe that helped my confidence build! The first time that I met my surgeon, I asked him if he took whinners and if he had ever lost a patient before. Silly questions, yet very serious too. I wanted him to know that I was very nervous so that he would know how to better help me. Honesty is the best policy! Understanding the risks is a must.

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?

Most people that I knew, knew about my surgery. Many considered it "elective", like plastic surgery. Many people didn't understand the disease of obesity. The surgery is a highly charged, conterversial issue for most people. Many tried to talk me out of my decision. My kids thought that if their mom wasn't fat, that she wouldn't me the same person. They were worried for me naturally. Don't think that I would do it differently.

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

I kept the details to a minimum. I've worked for my employeer for over 5 years, and don't usually take any time off, except for an occassional sick day. They were very good about it. I did make sure to sigh up for short term disability prior to my surgery, and filled out the family medical leave form, so that I wouldn't get let go from my job while I was recovering.

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

The stay went well. I had great, caring nurses. My stay was 2 1/2 days not counting my surgery day. Chap stick, comfortable PJs and slippers helped. Also brought a few photos of my kids while I was away from them.

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

I had to have my Stoma (opening between the stomach pouch and small intestines) stretched a little... really easy and made me feel a lot better! 7 weeks out... deep vein thrombolisis (blood clot in the main vein of my leg). That was more painful and scary than my gastric bypass! Keep up on lots of water and calcium after surgery, and avoid birthcontrol (estrogen type) if you can... at least until your a ways out of surgery to reduce this happening.

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 was very excited and scared too! I tried to stay positive and focused on the BIG goal for myself. Finding this web site and seeing so many successes REALLY helped me... right up to the night before surgery!

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

The first month is really a challenge.. all the way around. I had to remind myself of why I was doing this (for me), and that "this too shall pass"... and it has! It takes time to learn and form new ways of thinking and doing... I had to be patient with myself and others too. It's a new life, that's for sure!

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

Less than 20 miles... didn't affect my aftercare.

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.

Not much at all to begin with. I went from clear to full liquids. Then tried soft... that's when my Stoma (opening between the pouch and small intestines) appeared to be a little snug. After having it stretched a bit (didn't hurt), I was able to eat better. Pasta, eggs and bread don't work for me. Wet foods do better (spinich, soups, deli ham, etc.) I think I had to heal before I could eat more normally... and in that time I've done a better job of learning how to eat/what to eat. I can eat most anything now... just not a lot of it. I can eat chocolate, cookies, pop, alcohol, just not much of it.. and that's better for me. Grease is definetely a no no for me! I love jerky now!

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

I started with little walks (1/4 mile or so)... signed up at the YMCA and started swimming laps and relaxing afterwards in the hot tub. It really does help to find something that you like to do, and then do it. Even if its not a full workout, just getting in the habit of going/doing really helped me break out of my shell!

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

I don't like the protein drinks.. I will eat protein bars. Flintston vitamins (2 a day) and the sublingual B complex under the tongue once a day really helps!

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?

Nausia lasted the first 4 months for me (kinda like a sour stomach). Only vomitted when I did something wrong. No dumping. Eating something like jerky or cheese (protein) before bed helps me to rest better, but I do wake more now. My body isn't as padded now, and I feel a bit of discomfort due to the change. Hair loss!!!! You bet! Started around the 4th month. I'm 5 months now and it's still coming out... Sure hope it lets up soon! Trying some hair products to help me out, and uping my protein and calcium as much as I can.

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

Feeling crapy and sick. But it passes.

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

My doctor's office holds a monthly support group. If made friends there, and some of us keep in touch. I highly recommend this! It's so important to know that we are not alone, and that we have support that can understand what we're going through in a way that no one else can. I believe that we can do together what we can't do alone.

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

5 - 10mm scars from the laporscopic procedure. Very small... be nice not to have scars.. but it's not bad at all. I had hoped that they would be lighter in color... but it's not bad at all.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

A few... but that's normal. Again I tried to be patient with myself. Then I think about everything that I'm consumming in a day (add it all up). Being more active can really help to. Parking further away from the store door and stuff like that add up! Sometimes when we aren't loosing lbs we're loosing inches.. good idea to measure too!

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Somewhat. Men seem to look more and longer than before. Not sure how I feel about that just yet. Lots of compliments and questions, which are nice up to a point, then it's like "please treat me like anyone else!" Some folks like to inspect everything that I eat. I've heard a lot of "you can't eat that!" They don't know what I can or can't have! They just like to butt in. I try to remember that I'm not an experiment... I'm a person too, and if I want to taste something, then I can. I just can't eat a whole cheesecake.. but then again, who should?!