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

My GP doctor. I was afraid. I am an RN and I had seen people who almost died in our ICU from Gastric Bypass. But I went to the surgeon and he recommended me for the Lap-Band.

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

VERY easy. Approved on the first try, had surgery 60 days after submittal.

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

He was all business, like most surgeons. But ask EVERY SINGLE QUESTION you have. Most doc now make you go to a informational meeting beforeeven meeting with them. 6 years ago, you just walked into their office and they talked to you.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I was having problems standing all night at work. And as a nurse, you HAVE to be able to stand for long periods of time.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

The doctor suggested the Lap Band because I'm not a sweet eater, I was an over-eater and I researched it and was very happy with the non-invasive nature of it.

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?

Band slipping, infection, regurg. I would tell people, it happens. But with any surgery, there are complications possibly.

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 very against it, but knew it would make me happy so he agreed. My family was totally for it. My husband was ok after surgery, but it eventually was acause for our divorce. He didn't like the new, improved self-confidence I had when I had lost weight.

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

I was off for 3 weeks and pretty much no one knew I was having surgery.

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

I was in the hospital for 23 hours. Activity was the most important thing. No matter how much it hurts, MOVE.

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

No. I have never had any. Thank God. The hardest part about WLS is the psychological control food has on you. 6 years after my surgery, I still have "mind hunger" where my body thinks it's hungry and I think I have to eat more when I'm not hungry. SO a huge part of dealing and conquering this disease is learning how to deal with those feelings of "need" for food.

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 hurt terribly for the first 10 days. I never left the couch. It hurt way more than I ever thought it would. I had for that to be discouraging, and I tend to think I'm pretty tough. But I also had my gallbladder out, so maybe that was a contributing factor.

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

Rest and pain. And you lose a ton of weight. Don't get fooled. It won't always fall off that quickly.

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

10 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.

I ate clear liquids for about 2 weeks. But I was never hungry. I progressed to soft foods for a week and then was back to normal by the 3rd week. I probably pushed it a bit early, but I was tired of the soft food. 6 years later I still have problems with any breads or rice or pasta. They stick. And they tell you not to drink when you eat after you've been banded. Well, do you know how hard that is??? I still cheat and drink when I eat.

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

LOW. Took me 2 weeks to climb the stairs. More though because it hurt too much.

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

I SHOULD be taking a MVI. But I don't. And that's wrong.

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?

Vomiting when food gets stuck. I still have problems remembering to chew my food completely.

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

The way it changes your life. The emotional attachment I had with food and breaking that.

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

I used online support groups for awhile, but mainly just my friends and family. But joining a group wouldbe way smarter. Friends just don't understand what it's like.

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

6 little scars that are almost gone.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I've plateaued several times. But it's because of me. I stop exercising. The band was a "tool" to help me lose weight, but I still have to work at it daily and watch what I eat. I've lost 140 lbs since surgery, but I still need to lose another 60-80. I treated it like a "cure" rather than a gift. And I guess that one of the hardest parts. I wasn't heavy just because of bad luck or my family genes. It's because I wasn't disciplined and I was lazy. And unfortunately, that part of me still comes out.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Definitely more attention from men. But i still have weight to lose and so I notice that even though I'm 140 lbs lighter, I still get stares once in awhile. Will it ever end???