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

I heard ads on the radio and on tv. At first I figured it was just another fad diet thing. The internet really was helpful in my research. I was very interested!

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

My insurance initially said I had to have a supervised diet and then they refused to pay for the weight check visits. (HOW STUPID IS THAT?) Finally I got denied becasue altho it would be "beneficial" it wasn't necessary. Until I had a specific co-morbidity, in my case sleep apeana, then they were able to approve me! It took 8 months!

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

write down all your questions in advance. take someone else with you to listen. my surgeon was EXTREMELY helpful and answered my questions and was in NO hurry to leave the room!

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I really felt like I had no other options. I didn't want to miss out on anything else with my children.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I wanted a hospital that only did GBS so that limited my choices to only what they did there at the time!

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 2 children then they were 7 and 3. I was terrified to die and leave them. I wrote them letters for each birthday, graduation day and their wedding day as well as the day of their first child's birth. These letters I hoped would let them see how much I loved them and how I wanted to better my life and ultimately their lives by doing this to save my life. I told my husband about the letters the day of my surgery, he was very upset that I wasn't 100% positive and that wasn't my intention. I just didn't want to leave my children with nothing in case of complications.

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 sister had surgery 8 months before I did so they were very supportive of my decision. I would have done it without their support but it would have been much harder! My mom and my sister basically took care of my children for 2 weeks until I was able to move fairly easily. My husband slept on the couch while I slept in a borrowed recliner in the living room. Everyone was so willing to do anything i needed I am very blessed to have such a wondrful supportive family!

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

I teach at an elementary school. The staff knew what I was having surgery for and respected my decision not to tell my 5th graders until after my surgery. they were supportive, sent flowers called, brought over meals for my family. I was in awe of them! I was out of work for 6 weeks! If my school was only a single story building I would have went back sooner but since we are 3 floors and no elelvator I was wise to wait!

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

The hopsital was terrific. I was in for 4 days. I really only used chapstick. otherwise everything else was just crap to haul out when we left. ALL I did was eat ice chips and sleep.

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

no

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 got my surgery date mid February and i had to plan for my substitute teacher so I kept very busy writing lesson plans and honestly had very little anxiety about the surgery. I had done the research, was determined in my choice and confident in my surgeon.

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

what bothered me the most was the depression I felt and the head hunger. GOD iwanted to eat those first few weeks and that was MUCH MUCH MUCH harder than I thought it would be.

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

15 minute drive. This was WONDERFUL.I wish everyone could have this arrangement.

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 was on clear liquids for a week, full liquids for 2 weeks, pureed foods for 2 weeks then on to soft foods for a week then to regular food. I had a very hard time with pasta, rice, bread of any kind until about 1 year post op. I can now eat 1 piece of bread if it is toasted . I usually choose not to eat bread but on occasion. I have a TERRIBLE time with pork and have ever since surgery. My taste has changed, if whatever I am eating doesn't have a strong flavor I don't want to eat it at all!

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

the first 4 weeks were VERY hard Iwas fighting depression and anxiety the most and THAT affected my energy/activity level.

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

2 multivitamins calcium b-12 biotin iron magnesium

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?

The hair loss was the worst. I lost a lot right at the crown of my head and you could easily see my scalp. It was more of a self esteem issue for me. It lasted about 4 months from about the 4rfd month post op til about the 8th month post op.

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

Dealing with my food demons and the resons behind WHY I was obese.

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

it is raised and quite red.I didn't expect it to be like this. It is pretty ugly still and people are surprised when they hear I am 15 month post op if they see my scar.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I have been on a plateau sinc about 11 months post op. I am changing in body shape sometimes in inches and sometimes not. But the weight is stable.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

yes, men are much more interested in me at 160 pound then they were at 300. People tend to listen more as well