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

I heard about it on TV when Carnie Wilson had it done. Then I saw a 'Dateline' about 3 women who had it and how it changed their lives. I still said 'No way. I can't go through the rest of my life like that.' Well, I came to realize, I can't go through the rest of my life like this, either.

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

I had NO problems with approval.

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

I asked a list of questions I had written down over the previous 2 months. I made sure I felt comfortable with all answers before I left.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

My friend has such success at it, and I was looking for some kind of light at the end of the tunnel and this seemed to be my answer.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I decided I didn't want a 6 inch incision in my stomach, so lap was the only way to go for me

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?

This may sound unbelievable, but I had no fears about complications. The only thing I was worried about was waking up in pain and the recovery process. I figured, if something happened to me on the table, I wouldn't know it and at least I tried my best to better my life.

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?

At first, everyone was concerned that it was too drastic of a step. But, I explained that it was the best thing for me to avoid more serious problems when I was older. They were all supportive after they realized my mind was made up and they have been wonderful ever since.

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

My supervisor was happy for me and said I was making the right decision. I didn't tell any more people than I had to, so no one has said anyhing. I was out for 2 1/2 weeks. Could have used a few more days, though.

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

My stay was short and fairly uneventful. I checked in at 6 a.m. on Thursday and was walking out to the car at noon on Saturday. The nurses were very nice, but don't expect to get any sleep. Someone is always waking up to put something in your IV or take a reading. I was so ready to leave. I brought SO much stuff with me and didn't need any of it except my slippers. They provided everything I needed. You stay in your gown the whole time, so just bring a change of clothes to go home in. I brought a baseball cap to cover my hair and was SO glad that I did.

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

None.

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

Only been home a couple days, but so far, so good.

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

I felt pretty good, all things considered. I was in a little pain, but it went away over the first week. I felt MUCH better after the staples came out. I wasn't nauseous, fortunately. But it was hard to tell my head that I wasn't hungry. That has been the hardest part.

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

We drove 175 miles one way to the other side of Pittsburgh. It was SO worth it. Even though I lived so far away, he discharged me 2 days after the surgery because I was doing so well. He said if anything happened, to call or go to the emergency room here at home. Luckily, nothing happened.

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.

So far, the only thing I've eaten that really didn't agree with me was sunflower seeds. Thankfully, I'm not lactose intolerant, so milk products are fine. Everything I have tried so far hasn't bothered me. I just need to learn to eat slower.

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

My energy is pretty low right now, but it has only been 2 weeks. Hopefully, starting protein tomorrow will help.

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

Adult chewable mulit-vitamin from Vitamin World. My doctor recommends Flintstones, but I don't think that will be enough for me. For now, Tums for calcium, but I may go to liquid supplements soon.

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

There is a support group once a month at my local hospital that I attend. It's great to talk to others and get advice/tips from them. It's helpful to talk to people who know what I'm going through.

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

I have 5 small scars that are less than an inch long. They are already starting to fade. The hole that my drainage tube was in has been very slow to heal, but I'm not going to run around in a bikini, so I don't really care what the scars look like.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I hit a plateau a couple of weeks ago. It was only 6 weeks post op and I thought it was a little soon. I lost 2 pounds a couple weeks later and in the past 2 weeks, I've lost another 3 1/2 inches. So, the scale may not always move, but the inches are going away.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Not yet