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

I initially found out about it during the early '90's through TV commericials but I became more aware/knowledgeable about it through the singer, Carnie Wilson's experience and results. I think weight loss surgery has come a LONG way in the last few years and I am not scared to have it now...in fact I can't wait for my life to begin...after surgery.

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

I was very fortunate with my insurance experience. After the horror stories that I had heard I was pretty nervous, but I was approved after my Dr.'s first request and it took a little less than 3 weeks. My only advice would be to follow-up with the insurance co. a couple times after your Dr.'s office has submitted the request. Call after a week and then after 2 wks. That's what I did and that's how I found out that I had been approved.

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

The meeting with my surgeon went very well. I met with him and his nurse/assistant Maria. My Dr. was very nice and I felt very comfortable with him right away. I got the most out of this meeting by making a list of all my questions during the weeks before, as they came to me. We went through my questions/concerns one by one and I left having all my questions answered.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

When I learned of the procedure that I'm going to have NEXT week, the Duodenal Switch, I knew it was the right one for me and that I was ready to do it. Reading about Carnie Wilson's experience also alleviated a lot of my fears.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

By doing a lot of research!!! I really feel that out of all the procedures, the Duodenal Switch is the best...for me anyways. I did'nt like the idea of having staples or a band.

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 have not had any of those worries since I started this process 6 months ago. My first worries are starting to come to the surface now (1 week pre-op). I don't really have a fear of dying during surgery but I am getting a little worried about going under the anasthesia, and about my incision and how it will feel, but for the most part I am trying to stay focused on the great life I will have after the surgery and the new me!

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 mother, husband and friends have been extremely supportive...I've been very lucky. I think my Mom is pretty worried about me/the surgery, but she's doing a good job of hiding it.

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

I actually quit my job 2 months ago and decided not to get another job until after surgery. But when I was at my last job I had decided not to tell my boss what kind of surgery I was going to have. I was too embarassed to get this personal with him and I really did not feel comfortable talking about the surgery at work. I was going to say I was having some other kind of surgery...not sure what...I hadn't gotten that far.

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 5 nights..out on the 6th day. For the most part my stay in the hospital was as good as it could have been. There were a couple of times when the nurses did not respond fast enough and my mother had to go and track them down. For the most part it was a total blur because of all the medications I was on.

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

I was very lucky not to have any complications at all. I did become very depressed when I got out of the hospital, so I went to see the psychiatrist who did my pre-op evalutation and he gave me a prescription for anti-depressants and within a couple of weeks I was feeling a lot better.

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 don't think I had much anxiety because my support system was so great!!! My mother and my husband. The first couple of weeks for me was basically just sitting or lying around and trying to walk as much as I could every day...a couple times for about 20 minutes. I also tried to get out every day and go to the store or run errands with my mother and I think this really helped me.

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

First of all, do not even THINK about going back to work!! You need to rest as much as you possibly can...I was very lucky to be able to stay off work for 2 months and I really feel that I was 100% when I went back. I would suggest this amount of time to everyone if they are able to take it...but if not I thik the absolute minimum to take would be 4 or 5 weeks...and even then, take it easy. I think this time is crucial to how you feel in the future and how your recovery goes.

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

My surgery is in the same metropolitan area that I live in...Los Angeles.

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.

The first 2 months were mostly soup, yogurt, pretty much anything soft and easy to go down. Meat and soda were definitely off limits for me. During the next few months I started adding more and more things back to my diet, like meat (mostly chicken), pasta...still no pizza or burgers or much bread at all. Now I am 6 months post-op and I can pretty much eat anything, just in much smaller portions of course. I still pretty much stay away from all sodas...I do take a sip or two once in a while, but that's about it.

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

I guess it got gradually better each week, but I would'nt say that I felt normal again for about 2 months. I got tired very easily, and if I tried to do too much I just got exhausted to the point of collapsing into bed.

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

I was taking the calcium pills (which were much too big, so I hardly ever took them like I was supposed to), Allergy A&D and Pre-natal vitamins. I have recently starting taking Viactiv instead of the calcium pills....it has really saved my life - since I wasn't really taking the calcium pills because of their size. I get a big container of the Viactiv chews (delicious little pieces of chocolate) at Costco. I eat 2 and it is the same of one of the horrible pills I was taking...or not taking.

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?

Well, I am 6 months post-op now and the worst side effect I have had is the hair loss...and it's not even that bad. It started about a month or two ago and it's probalby the worst it's been right now. It just comes out and doesn't stop, but I have a lot of hair, so I don't think I will ever be able to tell. I did have a little bit of vomitting the first few months if I would eat too much, or eat and drink at the same time, but it has been a long time since I've had that problem.

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

The week in the hospital and the first month post-op. You just have to get through that...which we all can if we put our minds to it...and you are home free!!!!!!!

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

There is a monthly support group meeting at my hospital (USC) that I've gone to a couple of times, but I wouldn't really consider that my suppport group...I basically just go there to show off! :-) My support group are my family and friends, my friend Renee imparticular...we met in the hospital. Her surgary was 2 days after mine and she was 2 doors down from me, we were both 26 and we've been best buds ever since. I really suggest getting to be friends with someone who is going through the same thing you are at around the same time if that's possible.

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

My scar has really gotten MUCH better. I have no complaints about the texture, color or width, the only thing is the length...which is basically the length of my whole stomach. It is well worth it though.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I haven't really recorded any of my weight loss, but I have defintely had some plateaus in the past couple of months. I think I probably had one where I didn't lose any weight for a month and then all of a sudden dropped 10 lbs. in a week...quite strange...but I am definitely not complaining. I've lost almost 100 lbs. in only 6 months, I really could'nt be happier!!

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

I have definitely noticed people treating me differently, it's unbelieveable!!! I am getting doors opened for me all over the place...I love it!!!