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

From people who had had it. At first I thought it was a last ditch effort for people who had gorging problems and that wasn't me. Then I began to hear about people much like me who were benefitting from it.

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

No problems as I was already diagnosed with sleep apnea. I checked the Insurance company's policy on the surgery and copied it off the web in case there were any issues.

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

Visits were informative but I learned more from reading info on the web and talking to others.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

It began to seem like "the answer" rather than a drastic last chance solution. It began to appeal to me as a tool. Food had made me miserable for my whole life; why not make it less important?

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I had the only procedure my insurance would pay for.

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 had some fears but they were not very real. I have always been healthy and strong. If I had heart or breathing problems, I think I would have been more concerned. It helped me to think about all the serious health problems I would avoid by losing weight.

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?

Everyone has been really supportive. Sometimes I just wanted someone, any one, to say, "oh, you don't need to do something this drastic -- its too risky" but no one did.

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

There was concern expressed that it wouldn't work by one person, and a concern about what I would do with my excess skin by another, but for the most part, everyone was great. I wanted to go back after two weeks but ended up going back after three.

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

The hospital stay was okay. I was there only three days. They don't allow you to sleep so I was ready to go home. Bring something to read, a robe, chapped lip stuff, your toothbrush.

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

None at all.

In the weeks after you got your surgery date, how did you feel? How did you cope with any anxiety you might have felt?

There wasn't much anxiety; I was very excited. Envisioning the results and eating at restaurants kept me busy.

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

The first day home was a bit uncomfortable just getting in and out of bed etc. The liquid diet was painful but I looked forward to getting back into real food. Starting walking right away but spent at least five weeks being light headed and rubbery legged. That stopped at about six weeks when I began to be able to eat real food.

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

Live near hospital.

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.

Liquid for first two weeks but found the sugar free stuff tasted very bad to me. I had some mashed potatoes the second week and that was great!!!! By the third week I tried eggs but dumped them. Two months later I still can't eat them!!! In the weeks since I have found that I cannot eat meat unless it is pureed in the food processor, can't eat any bread without dumping, sugary milk products cause nausea, but other sweets go down fine (darn). Pasta, dumplings, etc. come back up. Cannot drink and eat atthe same time at all. This is frustrating!!! Thank god for peanut butter & bananas and for cheese. Very well cooked chili with beans and pureed ground turkey is also a godsend.

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

Walked a few blocks each day for the first week, 20-30 minutes a day after that. Light housework after week 2. In week 8 began yard work, extra walking on treadmill, heavy duty housework.

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

2 Flintstone vitamins per day, two Tums for calcium. My blood tests at 2 months were perfect.

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?

Throw up when eating things that "ball up" or don't dissolve easily -- thiss is quite painful, with pressure in the chest and back, but it resolves easily once you throw up. It is a purely trial and error thing. Makes it a little tough to get in all the protein and water needed. No sleep disturbance; lots of trouble getting up in the am. Some hair loss.

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

So far, the scar.

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

See the nutritionist and family doctor. Went to a support group but didn't really care for it.

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

Scar is red and sensitive. Bigger than I expected. Hope it fades soon.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Have had two plateaus about two weeks each in length where I just sat at the same weight. This is not unusual for me as I stay at the same weight for long periods. Upping the protein and exercise helped.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Not yet.