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

I had two cousins who had the surgery. Then my doctor suggested it when I was in for an appointment and I tipped the scales at 326 lbs.

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

It took me 11 months to get approval. I had to have parathyroid surgery first. I had to do the six months of consultations with a dietitian. My pcp was great though through all of this and it actually went very smoothly.

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

My first visit to my surgeon was very informative. I think the best thing you can do prior to your first visit is get educated. Know what questions to ask and then don't be afraid to ask them. Find out all you can about your surgeon prior to your first visit and don't be afraid to ask about his qualifications.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

My health had deterioated to the point where I was going to die, literally, without this surgery.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I took the suggestions of my pcp.

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 actually had no fears. I was confident that life couldn't get any worse than it was prior to surgery. I think if you do your homework prior to surgery, most of the things you could fear will be resolved.

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 and friends were a mixed bag. Some of them were glad for me and others were a bit skeptical. I have lost friends since my surgery and that has been hard. But the people in my life who matter most, my husband and my sister and brother, have been so supportive. They are the ones who have made my decision to have this surgery worth it.

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

My employer had no problems with this surgery and pretty much treated it like any other surgery someone would have. I was off work for only three weeks because my RNY was done laproscopically. Since I sit at a computer all day, going back to work was not a problem.

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

I could not have received better care while I was in the hospital. I was at a hospital the specilized in gastric bypass surgeries. I was there for five days because of a problem with my blood pressure that had nothing to do with the surgery. The most important thing to take with you is comfortable clothing to come home in and a pillow to hold against you on the ride home.

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

I had no complications and came through the surgery very well.

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

Physically I felt fine. There were a lot of things though that I had to learn to deal with. Food was my best friend and now it was no longer a part of my life. clothes no longer fit right and I had to always be buying new things to wear to work. I had a great therapist though who helped me get through the emotional and anxieties that I experiences. I would recommend that everyone have a therapist prior to and after surgery to bounch things off of. Also, my treatment teat was great in answering any questions as far as what normal feelings were and what I should be experiencing.

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

The first few weeks were rough. I am not going to lie. You are sore and yet you must walk and exercise moderately. I was extremely tired and also went into the terrible post-surgical depression. I was fortunate to have a strong group of people who rallied around me and helped me get through this time. Learning new eating habits and just dealing with all the emotional changes I think were the hardest things for me to face.

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

My hospital and surgeon are about 50 miles from where I live. It actually had no effect on my aftercare. They were as close as a phone call if I had any questions and yet were close enough that if I needed to see them, that was possible.

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.

Of course the first few weeks was liquids. Then it was pureed foods for a month and then a regular diet, so to speak. I try to consume no more than 1200 caloreis a day, even though I am two years out. I still have a hard time with portion control. As far as off limit foods, those include anything with sugar in it. It makes me deathly sick. My doctor also says no soda but I do cheat where that is concerned. I still can't eat a lot of things without getting sick and I have no problem staying away from those things. Some of these include anything fried (the smell actually makes me sick), eggs still make me sick,a lot of beef products like hamburger.

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

I was actually walking the halls 1/2 hour after I was back in my room after surgery. I started walking 1/4 mile when I was discharged from the hospital and now try to walk at least 1 mile a day. I love that I can now physically exercise and I enjoy my time exercising. I have seen such an increase in my energy level since I lost the weight.

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

I take a multitude of vitamins daily. I take a multiple vitamin. calcuim. magnesium. B-complex, B-12, iron, and vitamin D.

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 still cope with dumping occasionally when I eat certain things. When something makes me nauseaous, I tend not to eat it again. I think the frustration of sometimes being able to eat something and then the next time I eat it it makes me sick has been the worst for me. I am actually afraid to eat out for fear I will get sick.

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

The worst part for me was how people percieved me after the surgery. I have lost friends over this surgery. I have had a host of people tell me I took the easy way out. I am no longer the "token fat person" at gatherings and that has made some of our family and friends nervous. My clients even treat me differently since I lost weight. There is such a stimatism attached to being heavy and I guess I never realized just how badly people look at the overweight person until I lost the weight.

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

I attend two monthly support groups. One of the groups is at the hospital where I had my surgery and the other one is local for just those of us who are post-op. They are very important because they show me I am no alone in my struggles.

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

I had my surgery done laproscopically and I only have six tiny scars. They are not a problem for me.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I have been at the same weight for the last year and that has been frustrating. I just can't seem to move the scale. I have lost a ton of inches but no weight. Even my nutritionist is not able to figure out why I can't move the scale.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

People definitely treat me differently now. My work colleagues, my husband, family members, and friends all look at me differently now. I have people who never would give me the time of day who now want to be best friends. I had a real hard time with my husband until I realized that he doesn't see me anymore as his fat wife and is really proud of the weightloss not just my looks.