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

My mother had it a year before I did and after seeing her results and the great care she got I knew that I needed to look into it.

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

My care from my Dr. was excellent. The nurses and the rest of the staff, however, left a lot to be desired. I had to have four different IV's because they were pushing too much fluid through and blowing out my veins. They did not ever change my sheets. However, I was only there three days and the worst day was the first. I hated having the tube up my nose, but it came out the second day. After that I was free to get up and go to the bathroom and to take a shower. It is important to bring someone who can stay with you, nothing that is tight or binding on your stomach, and socks, and your personal hygene things.

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

I did not have any complications from the surgery.

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 like I was starving two weeks after surgery. I called Dr. Sam and he said I could move from liquids to mashed foods. I.e. scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes, things like that. I made it a piont to get up and go walking to help speed the healing process up. However, I did feel as though I was going to starve to death if I didn't get to eat real food soon. I was dying to actually chew something.

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

I was very tired and relied heavily on my pain medicine. If anyone in the house was cooking something that required frying the smell made me so nauseated that I would instantly vomit. Sitting up was horrible. Your stomach muscles hurt so bad you don't know how to lay to get comfortable and then when you have to sit up it hurts like hell.

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

3 hours.

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.

Anything with sugar. It took me almost a year to be able to eat beef. Since the surgery I can not have anything that has too much sugar or to many carbs. Tuna and chicken are now some things that I can not eat as well now. I was told before surgery that I probably wouldn't be able to eat Chinease food, so I haven't even tried it. The first couple of weeks, all you want to do is chew, but you are either on liquids or soft foods. After my check up however I was moved up to real food and told just to experiment with what my body would and wouldn't let me eat. I can eat about a cup of food at a meal now, but sometimes I eat too fast or drink while I'm eating and that makes instant pain that can last up to a whole day. When that happens you have to go back to the liquid diet for a few days to let your stomach settle down.

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

I didn't want to do anything, but I knew it was important to help make sure I was healing properly and to also help the food pass through the digestive tract.

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

I get a B12 shot everyweek and take an iron/vitamin supplement once a 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?

Dumping and Hairloss, I just had to wait them out.

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

Having the tube up my nose right after surgery.

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

My mother, my grandmother, and my boyfrien. It was extremely important. If it hadn't been for them I would have gone crazy. I think it is imporant to talk to someone who has been through what you have been through that way you can tell them how you feel and they can actually understand what you are going through.

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

Very light almost not visible and shrinking as time goes on. It has actually gotten smaller and doesn't bother me at all. Sometimes, however it does burn a little bit, but then the burning goes away.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I plateaued at 200 pounds and again at 145. I can't seem to get past the 145 plateau.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes, people I went to school with snub me because they don't like the fact that I no longer get to be the "fat girl" in school. All of the guys that ignored me in school now try to be my best friend.