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

I saw at Al Rocher had it, then two cousins had it done. I was amazed at the transformation! My first impression was, you get your life back. I began researching it immediately.

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

Call your insurance company ahead of time. Most, if not all, doctors offices will give you the codes you need to ask about. It's an easy way to find out what to expect. Any customer service agent with your insurance company should be able to look up these codes (they're universal in the US) and give you a yes or no answer. They should also know the procedure required to qualify for the surgery and the deductible, if any, that applies.

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

The first interaction I had with my surgeon was 5 years earlier when he removed my gallbladder for me. I was very impressed with him at that time. When I began to seek him out again for WLS, I first attended a seminar that he held. In this seminar, he talked about the surgery, the risks and benefits, the cost and the process for getting approved. I was very impressed once again with the program he had put together for those embarking on this amazing journey.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I wanted to be healthy and be able to be a good mother when the time came for me to have children. My husband wanted the same thing for himself. We felt very strongly about stopping the "cycle of obesity" in our families.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I based that decision on the amount of weight I needed to lose, and the long term outcome of the surgery. I chose RNY instead of lap-band because I needed to lose about 200 lbs. From my research I learned about the restrictions RNY enforced on you. The limits of food, having to always control fat, carbs and sugar. This appealed to me because I wanted a life long "fix" to my obesity. I felt like if I took this path, it would keep me on track the rest of my life.

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 told my friends and family that if I died, I would die trying to be more healthy. I accepted the risk, because life at my size was nearly unbearable to me at the time. I was having a hard time loving myself or even seeing a reason to keep going. The surgery gave me hope that I hadn't had in a very long time. For me, it was the only decision I could make to keep myself going. I stayed in intense counseling throughout the approval process, and began to see that this was a way of actually loving myself enough to change my life. WLS savedmy life, without a doubt.

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 friends and family were 100% supportive. Only one person (whom I wasn't very close to anyway) told me I had taken the "easy way out". Would I respond to her differently today? No. I told her, "If you think going without food for a solid month, going through major abdominal surgery, and risking your life is the easy way, then I have no more to say to you." After about a month, she called and asked me who my surgeon was and if he was still taking new patients. I was elated for her, and we reconnected and became closer because of it. She has told me if I hadn't stood up to her and gone through with it, she may have never have been able to face it herself. The rest of my friends and family were, as I already stated, very supportive. They shared their fears with me and many of them researched the surgery to learn more about how they could help me on this journey.

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

I work for myself, but my clients were really awesome about the whole thing. I wasn't shy about sharing what I was having done. I refused to be ashamed of it. I didn't work for about 2 weeks, but that was only because my doctor encouraged me not too. I did so well after surgery, I could really have been back in a week.

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

The only thing you need to bring to the hospital are clothes to wear home and some chapstick. Your mouth and lips get so dry, it's very uncomfortable. You won't really have time to read, the pain pump is your focus while you're there. And I encourage any patient to use that pump religiously! It's there to be used and it helps. I was in the hospital 3 days. My stay was great. I was treated like a guest, not a patient. The nurses I had were specially trained in treating bariatric patients. Each and every one of them knew exactly what I needed and anticipated those needs with great care. The hospital I chose was a center of excellence, and it showed.

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

I was so blessed, I had no complications. My surgery was over in less than an hour, and I was up walking that afternoon. The nursing staff even joked with me that I must not have really had anything done, I was so active. My secret? The book Prepare for Surgery, Heal Faster. (www.healfaster.com) The preparation was amazing. The surgical staff was already aware of this book as well, and used the techniques to soothe and comfort me, even while I was under anesthesia. I simply cannot say enough good things about this book and it's use.

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

Excited! I was so ready to have my surgery and get on the road to weight loss. I had some anxiety a couple of days before. I went to see my counselor and we talked about it. I was suddenly afraid I would have the surgery and it wouldn't work! It seems so silly now, but at the time, the fear was real and I'm glad I dealt with it.

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

Well, my experience hasn't really been typical. I had a friend sit with me for two days after I got home, then I was up and back to doing almost everything I was before. The hardest part for me was staying on the post-op diet. Two more weeks of liquids, the pureed stage was a nightmare for me, and then the soft foods was like a huge treat. However, I can tell you from experience, don't push it too fast with the food. If you eat too soon, it feels like you've swallowed a handful of gravel.

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

The drive to the hospital took less than 30 minutes. I'm lucky to live in a large city. One suggestion for the trip home. Roads are bumpy, so keep a pillow in the car. Hold it to you on your way home and it will lessen the jarring of the road.

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.

Wow.. food is such a joy and a curse now. It's so strange. I never really feel hungry anymore, so I have to constantly remind myself to eat or drink to stay healthy and hydrated. I was a big french fry fan, so giving those up has been a challenge. Soda is the other thing I miss a lot. But these foods are not worth the trade off. Being obese is far worse to me now than satisfying that craving. Plus, I chose my surgery for it's restrictions. Even though it's hard, I'm glad I did it.

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

I'm all back to normal. Two weeks after surgery I was released to do pretty much anything I wanted to. I'm back in the pool, back on the road and enjoying life. Actually, I've looked into some behavioral replacement therapy to deal with all my excess energy. I rarely get tired now, and my mood is exciting. I'm learning ways to siphon off the excess energy into creative and fun ways of living. It's wonderful not to need to sit down all the time!

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

I take Celebrate Vitamins. (www.celebratevitamins.com) They taste good, go down easy and are made specifically for bariatric patients. I got the meet the president of the company and he was generous with samples. He practices what he preaches, too, taking the vitamins himself daily. I take a multivitamin with ADEK and B Complex. I take a calcium supplement, and an iron supplement. All of these are prescribed by my surgeon. Leave the kids chewable vitamins alone, your body can't absorb them. Likewise with the "chocolate chewable calcium". It's usually calcium carbonate, which your body cannot absorb effectively.

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 still have some nausea and vomiting, but it hasn't been too bad. I have had dumping syndrome only twice and that was enough for me. Talk about lifeless! I cope with these things the only way I know how. I take it easy for a few hours, drink some water and try to stay calm. I've learned to treat my body very gently, and that seems to be working very well.

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

Waiting. It's so hard to wait for something you want so badly. Something you need so badly. I have had a few surgeries, so I wasn't really concerned about that or the recovery process. Once my surgeon said he'd take me as a patient, I'd have gone to surgery that day! That's how much I hated waiting. I wanted to change my life as soon as possible. All I can say now is, the wait is worth it.

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

My support system is wonderful. My friends are family cheer me on. My husband has also had the surgery, so he's a really great source of support. We also attend 2 support groups each month sponsored by our hospital and our surgeons office. The topics they have are wonderful. We just finished a seminar on transfer addiction and we really learned a lot. The support groups are vital to me. I can learn I'm not alone with any problem that I have, and you make connections with people that really foster a sense of community.

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

I had 6 holes in my belly and yes, it's exactly what I expected with laproscopic surgery. I don't even care about my scars though, I'm just glad to have had the surgery.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

The only difference I see is when I'm eating with a group of people. People are amazed at how little I need to be full. It's funny in a way, because now I know thin people who feel like they're eating too much because they see how little I eat. All the people I'm around, though, are really cool about everything. Once they understand the reasons for things, they feel like they're helping you on your journey by being supportive. And they are.