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

My mother had surgery 15 years ago

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

I did not need to get involved, My surgeon and nurse took care of everything, be patient!

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

write down every question as you think of them. Take all your concerns and questions that you can think of from the day you get your date for your consultation until the appointment. You'll never have all your questions they will come with each hour, day, month....I still have them.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

When I researched the surgeries available to me and was comfortabe with the results and I am a nurse and I asked alot of questions at work

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

My doctor only does the RNY and it was the best for me because I am a BIG sweet eater and need the extra help

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?

fears of dying, I still have young kids. I had all the fears of having the surgery.

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?

concerned. scared.

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

My stay was wonderful. I got put in the luxury suite for the goveners by accident and had to stay...Darn! I was there 5 days. Had some lazy nurses and some wonderful nurses. Doctor and team were wonderful. Take a House coat cause you have to walk the halls. You know how you usually look forward to meal time, don't get excited!

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

no

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

the fears stayed until I was through the surgery. Once I had my date I was very excited, and I prayed

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

Take it easy and slow.

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

15 miles

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.

Ate red meat at 10 months, only 5-6 bites, still, even after 11 months, I can't eat rice and corn. I could tolarate sugar in my drinks such as tea and coffee, but now I'm having trouble. Now when I get a craving for sweets, I keep bite size candy bars around and one will curb my craving and I don't get sick. Anything after two and I get sick. I don't vomit, I get dumping syndrome

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

My activity would have been higher but I had complications with severe TMJ (in the jaw joint, from grinding teeth) that caused severe headaches and severe arthritis in the jaw joint.

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

one 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 syndrom, hair lose, nausia when eating sweets

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

the garden hose down my nose

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

none

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

yes

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

2 plateau's since surgery

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

People say I'm really "pretty" now when before I was "so pretty in the face"!