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

I did not hear about WLS from one source. You hear about it all the time on TV, people in your life that have had it, etc.

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

I had both my PCP and my OBGYN write a letter to be part of the package that went to the insurance company. You really need the support from your primary care physician. I would ask to see you medical records at you PCP and see if they kept a track record of your weight. Everytime you came in, they should have logged your weight in the records.

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

Read FAQ's on thier website first to get those questions out of the way and since their time is valuable, focus on questions that are not on thier FAQ's on thier wedsite.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

10 years of unsuccessful dieting. I realized the obesity is a disease and it is not as simple to just put the doughnut down. It is a lot more complicated then that. I think I have food addition. Just like an alcoholic, drug addict, smoking, etc.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I have 94 pounds to lose. I am convinced that Lap Band is a good surgery for people that have ~100 pounds to lose. I believe gastrici bypass is better for if you need to lose !50+ pounds. It is personal preference.

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 not too concerned about dying because my surgeon was a liver transplant surgeon before doing WLS. Plus he had been doing WLS for 7 years. The important thing is to go to a bariatric center. I would not recommend going to some general hosptial trying to get into the bariatric game to make money.

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?

I have had a tremendous amount of support. No one really gave any negative vibes. They just wanted to make sure I was making the right decision.

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

My supervisor is from Europe. He did not seem very reactive to it. He just blew it off like no big deal. I was out 3 days.

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

I really thought my pre-op care was awesome. I had a great pre-op nurse and my anastiesiologts was funny and made me laugh to help with the nervousness. My post-op was OK, but the X-ray tech ran over my IV with the wheelchair (that hurt)! and my post-op nurse never gave me my call button, it was hanging on the wall. I had to go to the bathroon really bad and she came in the room finally and told me they were going through shift change and that I would need to wait. She never told the new shift nurse I had to go to the bathroom. 1/2 hour later I finally got to go!

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

No. Just the basic healing of the incisions. Get some anti-itch cream...you will need it!

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 prepared for the change in life. I cleaned out all my kitchen cupboards, fidge and freezer. I educated my family on the Lap Band as much as I knew.

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

Have your liquid food ready for easy puree in blender. The night before surgery, cut up your strawberries, etc. for your smoothies. You will not want to fuss with that after surgery. The first few days I slept alot because of the paid meds. But I made my slef walk around the house 30 minutes a day. I was surprised at myself that I could actually spot clean my house the next day. I was wiping down counters, loading dishwasher and soarting laundry. About 1 week after surgery I started to have soreness at my incision sites. I used Cortaid 12 hour itch relief, that did not work as well as Benedryl cream.

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

40 minutes

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 lost 8 pounds in two weeks. I kept a journal everyday which is really important. I do not like jello or pudding. I ate fudgecicles, popcicles for snacks. I had Cambell's Bean & Bacon soup in the blender. Also the New England Cambell's soup at hand was good. I also like this Cambells Select Mexican Chicken soup, it satified my taco cravings. All my soup went in the blender. Soup is very filling and low in calories. The first week I had little appetite and was eating between 600-800 calories a day. The second week I got my appetite back. I had baby food, applesauce, soup. I do not like the protein powders. They smell and taste funny. I got my protein from Carnation Instant Breakfast, 1/2 cup SF choc milk, Blue Bunny vanilla yougurt , 1/2 banana and ice in the blender. This smoothie is 14 grams of protein! with no nasty protein powder taste.

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

I surprised myself by going to Walmart on the third day after surgery and walking the aisles, I also went to Staples. I started working out at the gym in the 3 week...I even did circuit training (but with lighter weights). You will be surprised how fast your body heals.

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

I heard Bugs Bunny tasted better then Flinstones, so I got those. 2 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?

I just had nausea the 4rth day after surgery. But it was triggered when I went to go get my nails done at the salon and I think the fumes got to me. I think my stomach was just not ready to be around those kind of chemicals.

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

Getting my blood taken. I am a hard blood draw...tiny veins in my arms. I am a big baby when it comes to that. Also, when I first got up to go to the bathroom after surgery....that was really painful. But the more I got up out of bed the better my stomach felt.

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

I go to a local support group that has 15 people.

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

My scar looks OK. I noticed some of my skin protrudes out. It feels bumpy.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Not yet, too soon.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Not yet, too soon