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

I came to a point where I demanded my Dr take me off the diabetic meds and put me on a diet and excercise program. She refused and referred me to another Doctor who was suppose to be a leading Diabetic Dr. in the US. He told me that I was going to get worse and had to learn to live with this or I could do a more dramatic handling. He said the only thing that would reverse the Diabetes and weight gain cycle was Gastric Bypass Surgery. Which shocked me, as I did not know it would reverse diabetes in Type II cases. My sister has been trying to get qualified to have this surgery for two years and she never mentioned it would reverse diabetes. So I was ready to find a surgeon and get on with it. My Diabetes Dr. did refer me to a surgeon but he as not in my health care network - so I had to find one through my insurance company. I was so impressed with the confience that my surgeron had in reversing diabetes 100%.

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

My Doctors office was very instrumental in making sure I had all the paper work, tests and documentation that my Insurance company would need to have to approve the surgery. From the time the request was submitted with all paperwork, test reselts etc... it took about 10 days to get approval. My advise is to know exactly what your insurance company requires, and provide 100% of the documentation the first time.

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

The first visit was a bit intimidating. Only because I did not know what he would expect. I had all my homework done, being - all my required tests (cardiac, pshycholigial, blood work, etc.) all done with results in my hands. I had a huge list of questions to ask. He basically looked at all the results and said I was qualified for the surgery, I asked my questions. He answered everything and told me that I would do really well, and that I did a phenominal job getting all my prerequisites done.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

Knowing that I had a 90% or more chance of resolving diabetes and loosing excess weight.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Gastric Bypass was my choice as it is a quicker way to resolve diabetes verses lab band, and that is what I wanted. I had done much research on the differences which for diabetics - we need to bypass the 1st part of the lower intestinal track to have the effect on the pancreas that is needed to put your system back to normal function. This has to do with how the incretin cells act with the pancreatic function.

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 confident in my surgeron as his track record was solid. Also, I felt I was healthy enough for this surgery. I figured if it were my time to dye, then it was time to go. But I never had that as a real fear at all. To me the upside long term would far outweigh any complications I would mostlikely have to deal with if they indeed happned. And of course - no complications happended.

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?

My husband was a bit suprised at first, but he knew how miserable I have been with the diabetes and strugles for years of ups and downs. He was very happy I made the choice to do something about it. My older sister of course going through the process herself, was and is very supportive before and after surgery. My co-workers don't get it at all, but I don't care about their opinion anyway.

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

My superviser was actually shocked as he had no idea I had been strugling with this issue and how severly it had been affecting me. I was out of work for 5 weeks, should have been 8 weeks, but my short term disabiltiy program was not very cooperative at all.

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

I must say I hate hospitals to begin with. I did not sleep for 4 days. Too noisey, getting poked for blood, tests, IV machine beeping, etc. The staff were great, very understanding and helpful, but I was exhausted and I just wanted to sleep. Most important thing to bring are your own pajamas that are a seperate top and bottom so you can easly walk without things flapping in the breeze.

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?

Once I got my surgery date, I just wanted to have the surgery right now... waiting and thinking about it was the worst. Not that I had any fear or worry. I just knew the 4 days in the Hospital would not be fun and the 1st 2 weeks after surgery while at home, would be difficult. I just wanted it over with. To cope with that time period, I just had to keep busy and make very day go by as fast as possible.

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

This is a difficult time as you are just exhausted, and have to be drinking protine very 15 minutes and that can be somewhat uncomfortable. Best advise is to keep a written log of all your protine intake, and get up and walk every 15 to 20 minutes for at least 10 minutes. This really speeds up your healing, getting circulation going etc.

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

I only had to go about 15 miles to my surgery.

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.

First 4 weeks really liquid protine and semi soft protine. Then a few weeks of a little more semi soft/solids like eggs and cottage cheese. 6 weeks brings in a few soft meats, still pretty much 100% intake of protines. 9-weeks you can ad some 25% carbs like soft veggies, cooked or soft fruits. Take new foods in very slowly and chew, chew to liquified state before you think you shoudl swallow -chew it all up again. Off Limits foods are: Potato's, any bread that is not "Whole Grain", rice, pasta, candy, sugar, any kind of soda pop with or without sugar, fatty meats.

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

I spent at least 10 minutes of walking every 30 minutes of resting. You don't have to walk fast, or far. I walked every room in my house, up and down the stairs around the house, or 5 minutes up the sidewalk and 5 minutes back.

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

I now take a liquid vitamine as it makes me feel the best. I also take 1000 IU of Vit. D3, 1000mg of Biotin (for hairloss), 1200 mg. of liquid Calicum Citrate, 3000mg of Omeg 3,6,9 complex (liquid Flaxoil complex.)

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 worst side effect for me is the hairloss. I had a lot of hair and now after 6 months, I have less than 1/2 the hair I had. I hear it will all come back even thicker than before, at about 1 year out from surgery.

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

The 4 day hospital stay was exhausting, could not sleep, and I just wanted to be in my own bed.

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

My surgeon has many suport groups. It is helpfu.

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

Small and a badge of honor!

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I am in a platue now... slower weight loss only 2 pounds in 4 weeks.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Not really any different.