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

I heard about the surgery on the radio station that I listened to, in the mornings on my way to work. A fellow was being interviewed, and said he'd lost 501 pounds. FIVE HUNDRED POUNDS??? My ears perked up. I got into work, and did a search on google.com for "gastric bypass surgery" and was immediately overwhelmed with the number of "hits" my search had generated.... literally THOUSANDS of websites. Millions of before and after pictures. I was consumed by the desire to learn more - and then, to pursue finding out whether or not I could qualify for the surgery myself. I knew right away that it was something that I wanted to do. There was just a "resonance" about the entire process for me. A little light came on, when I learned about the surgery, and it got brighter, and brighter - as did my future.

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 4 days. I was on pain medication, so I was fairly comfortable, except for not being able to shower for a couple of days... boy, did my scalp itch! It was also pretty uncomfortable to have to ask a nurse to help me wipe myself, after having used the bathroom.... but the nurses were professional and pleasant. I have to tell you - the dietary stuff that my nutritionist told me about, before my surgery, came in very handy.... the hospital wanted to serve me regular (as opposed to sugar-free) popsicles, and the nurse wanted me to take a stool-softener in pill form. I demurred, telling her I couldn't take pills - that the exit from my stomach was now supposedly smaller than a pencil eraser. She wanted to argue w/ me about it, but I asserted my patient rights, and refused. Dr. Anez was very angry when he heard about the incident. He said that he'd worked very hard to make sure that the hospital personnel were all "up to speed" on what his surgical patients required. As for what to bring: leave MOST of your stuff at home. Bring a comfortable robe, and "slip on" slippers - you won't be able to bend over to get socks on. Leave books at home... bring a magazine. Bring lip balm, a hairbrush, and some shampoo.

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

Absolutely no complications whatsoever. I am now two years post op, and can eat meat, drink milk - whatever - with no ill-effects. This has truly been the best thing I have EVER done for myself, short of getting married, and having my children.

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 felt pretty rough, for the first couple of weeks. I was tired, I was VERY easily worn out - heck, just SHOWERING was kind of an ordeal, that first 10 days or so. My energy level was shot... I'd be quivering after trying to shower and dress. However - I went walking at Potomac Mills Mall 10 days after my surgery - and managed almost a mile. I tried to walk a little bit, every single day. Each day, I felt better, and more like my old self. At 16 days post-op, I performed in my local community choir's Christmas concert - I was seated, during the performance, but I still sang. Each day, there was progress.

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

I joined several email support groups at yahoogroups.com, and have found it very informative, and very comforting, to always have access to someone who has gone through this, before me, who can answer my questions. Truly, I was very well-informed before I undertook this process - and I give full credit to the wonderful resources that exist, online - both with the email groups, as well as the net itself. Dr. Anez has a support group that meets once a month, but the meeting time is not convenient for me - I work far away from home, and don't get back until after the meetings have started, so I've not utilized that resource, even though it exists.

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

It's a grand total of three inches in length... fairly narrow, and very pale, with small "buttons" of somewhat hardened flesh at the bottom and top of the incision line - my surgeon was experimenting with smaller incision lines, due to the number of requests he was receiving to do the operation lap style. I was thrilled that the scar was as small as it is.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I learned fairly early on that my body's way of losing was very individualistic. Right after the surgery - for probably the first month, I'd lose a pound a day, or therebouts. Then, maybe 3 months out, I started what was to be the "norm" for the rest of my journey - I'd drop a pound, and then have to wait for several days before I'd drop another. I stopped losing altogether by the time I hit 16 months out. I was a bit disappointed to not be losing more weight (I lost 90 pounds, and then gained 5 of that back... I now see-saw between 176 and 180....)

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Absolutely. I've always been fairly confident - I was a theatre major in college, so I was used to "being out there".... but the amount of positive attention increased <pardon the pun> dramatically, once I'd lost the weight. Last month, I took my very first trip out of the country - and I marveled at the ability to sit in the airline seats comfortably. Well... FAIRLY comfortably. I'm 5'8" tall, and have fairly long legs, so it's nigh onto impossible to be *totally* comfortable on a 10 hour plane flight, while seated in coach class, but at least I FIT in the seat... no seat-belt extender necessary. What a treat. What a joy. What a gift!