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

My doctor reccommended it. I was all for it and then decide against it and then aftet some thought and research, decided to go ahead with it.

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

I was lucky. I heard from my insurance right away and the hops I had to jump through were not as severe as what they are now. A friend had it a year after me and she had lots more to do to get approved.

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

I liked him. He was approachable and listened to what I had to say. He answered my questions and I did not feel as though I was rushed.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I was sick and tired of getting in my own way. I was tired all the time and had no energy.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I let my doctor decide. I wanted lap but he told me that it might not be possible since I already had a big scar from gall bladder surgery.

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 was so redy to have the surgery that I can't say I had any fears. the morning of the surgery, my son asked if I was on drugs alredy, since I was so happy. I would tell people to go ahead and have it. The first month is not 'fun' but well worth the recovery time to be able to lose the weight.

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?

No one said that I shouldn't have it. My husband supported me as well as my 'favorite' sister. One of my sisters thought for sure that I would die, but I proved her wrong!

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

I was off work for about three weeks. My boss backed me and was a cheer leader. My co-workers cheered me on too. It took a couple months before I had my energy back.

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

I was in the hospital from Monday until Thursday. The most important thing to take with you is a positive attitude. The first room I had was dark and I had to share it with another patient. Once I was moved, my mood brightened. There was nothing fun about the first couple days. The walks about did me in and I had trouble drinking. I put too much thought into it and worried too much.

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

The only complication that I had was depression that set in. I was put on an anti depressant a month after surgery and that helped. Depression has always been a problem so I wasn't too surprised that it set in again.

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 stressed too much about the water consumption. It was rough getting all the liquid down and I got dehyrated once and that feeling was awful.

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

Fatigue, fatigue, fatigue! Allow others to 'do' for you. Don't think you have to do it all. Know that you will be tired.

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

I was lucky...less than 30 minutes and I was there.

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 folowed the rules given to me to the letter and feel that since I did, that was why I had no real problems. I refused to complain as I did not want my weight to be blamed. There were no real problems tolerating food. I still can't eat spaghetti and I sometimes have problems with pork if is the dry.

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

THe first couple weeks back to work, I would call home to ask my husband to turn on the elecric blanket and I would crawl into bed for a couple hours. It got better as time passed. I am still cold a lot. I am not and never was as active as I should have been. I just didn't take the time.

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

I am bad about that. I did all the vitamin stuff for six months, then stopped. I sometimes make protein shakes when I feel weary. I have had blood work done pretty much as scheduled and all has been fine. My doctor quit doing the procedure as his co worker got a bad rap and the hospital quit the surgeries for awhile. THe doctor that repleaced him is not the same. I felt more a number than a patient the one time that I went to him. The office gals were different and i did not connect with them at all. My GP has taken over and I only go to him when I am sick. I get scolded but it doesn't seem to motivate me any. My iron is low and I have been sent reminders that I need to get it rechecked.

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 vomiting I experienced was caused by my own stupidity of not chewing enough or eating too much. The bubble vomit is not fun. I sometimes think I should experience it oftener so that I would eat less ALL the time. The hair loss was nticeaqble but since I have thick hair, it wasn't a big deal. I had no trouble with nausea, Dumping wasn't a problem either.

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

The fatigue for the first couple months. No one told me about that.

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

I tried the support groups that was offered but it was too many people in too small a place and everyone tried to talk over one another. I was a support person to a friend and i went with her to 'group' for about a year. The groups were run better but I did not get much out of them.

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

I have baby incisions since I was lucky and had lap surgery.