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

Initially I was afraid of it. My aunt had it done many years ago and almost died. Surgery has improved greatly since then.

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

My insurance SUCKS. Our policy excludes just about everything except a basic sore throat. I HATE the insurance industry. They are scumbags.

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

First visit was an informational seminar. One of her partners led the seminar and he changed my mind from lapband to gastric bypass.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

My mother told me I had to.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Initially I wanted lapband because I didn't like the idea of carving up my innards. After the surgeon discussed both, I decided on RNY GBP because of the quicker weight loss and avoiding fills, etc. Also, I became turned off to having some foreign object flopping around in my stomach.

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?

When it's your time to go, it's your time to go.

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?

Overwhelmingly supportive.

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

He's a health nut and agreed with my decision. However, he was irritated that I couldn't come back to work in 10 days like I thought I could.

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

Don't think you'll get rest in the hospital. They come in at all hours to take your blood pressure. I was there for 2 nights. Bring your own comfy pillow and lip moisturizer.

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

No complications.

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 quite nauseated for 6 weeks because I wasn't eating enough. Once I started eating, I felt great.

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

Expect to crave your former junk foods. You won't have an appetite, but you'll want pizza and tacos, etc.. It's hard to describe. I was lethargic and just wanted to lie down.

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

I had to drive one hour to the hospital.

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.

Certainly, fried foods are off limits. Unless, of course, you want to sit on the potty for a while. Sugars don't affect me as much as they do others. I'm 11 weeks out and still have trouble with salad.

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

Blah

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

I take a multi-vitamin, Supreme B Complex (yucky), iron and B-12. I'm also supposed to take Calcium, but I don't because I forget.

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?

Nausea for 6 weeks. Doc gave me nausea meds which didn't help. To cope, I whined a lot.

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

Nausea.

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

They have a support group, but I have never been.

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

I have 5 slits on my stomach. They're a little longer than I thought, but it's better than having a huge butt.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Three horrid weeks of going up and down the same stupid half pound. But, my clothes kept getting looser.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes, people don't divert their eyes when they see me.