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

i found an ad in a sunday paper for bariatric weight loss center. i am at my witts end, and can think of nothing else that will work.

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

thankfully, i ran into no problems with my insurance company. i do feel that if i was not over the qualification weight x's two, i might have had some difficulty.

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

i had done alot of research on this type of surgery before i met with my surgeon, so there were only a few bits of information that i wasn't already aware of. i would strongly suggest getting ahold of all information possible and educating yourself as much as possible.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

nothing else worked. i cannot go on living the way that i am.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

this is the only procedure offered at this center. i am desperate enough to go through anything at this point.

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?

the only thing that i am worried about, is how i am going to recover after i come home from the hospital. my husband and i do not have anybody that we can count on to help us, and we know that we are on our own.

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 family does not want me to go through this surgery. they say that it is too risky. like being 200 pounds overweight isn't.

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

i am a stay at home mom, so that isn't going to be a problem. thankfully.

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 3 days. the only thing i needed to bring was clothes for discharge. they gave you a goody bag with just about everything else.

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?

i was pretty sore for a few weeks after surgery, but i didn't get up and walk around as much as i should have. overall, i am surprised things went so well.

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

not being able to sleep laying down for a few weeks. help going to the toilet and getting dressed. wear your binder, it helps tremendously!!

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

i had a three hour trip home. it was very difficult getting out of the car every hour to walk to prevent blood clots. it really hurt trying to climb in and out of that small car!!

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 only food that i have ever had a problem with is rice. it just does not want to go down. it just sits in my throat forever. i don't really like milk anymore, which i used to drink like crazy, but i don't have any symptoms of dumping, even if i eat sweets. i just don't have a craving for sweets or snacks anymore.

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

it has taken me about 4 months to start getting any energy boost to speak of. then again, 100 pounds off of your body makes it much easier to move.

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

daily multivitamin, b-12, and potassium supplement.

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?

after about 3 months, i started getting hair loss. it seems to really have thinned out quite a bit, but i would rather be bald than to be fat.

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

the three hour trip home from the hospital.

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

i just received information about a local support group in my own town. i cannot wait until the meeting start!!

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

it is quite long, but it has faded alot since my surgery 4 months ago. i am more worried about how terrible my stretch marks look. my skin is just covered. there isn't a smooth part of skin on my stomach.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

the longest platue i reached was between 3 1/2 and 4 1/2 months. not a single pound lost. once i got going off of it though, i lost 25 pounds in one week.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

i don't even notice very many people looking at me anymore. i used to get laughed at right to my face before. it was so embarassing. i didn't want to go anywhere. not even to the grocery store. people would look at everything that you put into your cart. how disgraceful.