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

I first found out about bariatric surgery on TV. Brian Wilson from the Beach Boys daughter was on oprah. At that point I never dreamed of having the surgery. I of course had no idea what was involved in it. I thought they just made your stomach smaller and you lost weight and was thin forever. ha ha

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 blessed to have insurance that approved me within 6 months and since I am on disability my medicare picked up everything that my ins didn't except 100.00!

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

My first meeting was with a group of people interested in the surgery. Then when I met with my surgeon, I was reassured that this was safe and a very common surgery these days.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

My sugar was right at the border line of being diabetic. My dr wanted to put me on cholesterol meds. My father had his first heart attack at 49 and I was 47 and all or most of my weight was in the worst place, my stomach.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I had actually planned on getting the gastric band, but as I learned more about the band I realized it would be too easy to cheat if the threat of dumping was not there. If I had self control I wouldn't need any surgery. This may seem to be a miracle cure, however since I was 47 I didn't want to loose real slow and I wanted to loose more than what the band typically allowed. I have a friend who had the band and she weighs as much or more now than she did when they put the band on. Now I'm not saying that's the norm, but I know myself and if I can drink a milkshake, but just slow then I will. lol

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 a small fear of dying on the table and leaving my kids, mostly because of other peoples doubts. I would tell everyone to not only listen to your surgeon, but to talk to anyone and everyone you meet that has had the surgery. It is not a cure all. You must change you way of thinking about food. I was slightly naive about the risks I must admit. I thought if I made it through the surgery and the first year I was good to go. But there are long term risks. Hernias that can cause bowel blockage if not treated. malnutrition, but there are many many risks of not loosing weight as well. I wish I could have done it without surgery, but as Dr Phil says the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior.

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 husband was very supportive. My family was split. My kids hated that I was doing this. My family thinks every time I have any health issue its from my surgery, lol. I'm amazed at the people that get angry when you loose weight. Yes through counseling (an absolute must) I have changed somewhat. You peal an onion its got lots of layers. Well some of my layers that had been buried under fat for years came out. This is not a bad thing. People were used to walking all over me and I just don't allow it anymore. However it was as much my counseling as my weight loss that brought my confidence out. When people say to me you're so tiny, I just can imagine you ever being that big, I can tell you I still don't see tiny. I see me. I wish I could have seen me years ago. I'm a really great person inside and out!

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

Im on disability so that was not an issue

What was it like attending your first information seminar on weight loss surgery? Were you glad you attended? if so, why?

Yes I was very glad I attended. You got there basically to find out about ins. The classes were more informative, but you need to talk to people outside of the group that have had surgery. My counselor had been through it so that helped a lot.

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

I think I was in the hospital for a few days at the most. Since its been 4&1/2 years I dont remember a lot of the stuff I thought was important to take to the hospital.

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

No complications from the surgery 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?

lol I cried over Halloween candy. The only anxiety I had was all my teenagers bringing in fast food and eating it in front of me. So I would just go to my room. The thing you must realize is that how you have to eat in the beginning is not going to last forever. I can have a piece of candy, just not the whole bag. The only thing I wont eat or cant eat without getting very sick is cereal with milk. Its just not worth the consequences. But after 4.5 years I don't even miss it anymore.

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

Excitement, anticipation, fear of not loosing the weight.

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

Not far. I live in a suburb of Columbus Ohio and I had my surgery at OSU Medical Center.

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.

It takes a lot of trial and error to find out what you can and cant eat. And one day you may be able to eat one thing then the next day you cant. Ice cream is hard or a no no for me. You must be careful even if its sugar free. Its dairy and its liquid and it has sugar because it is dairy. Cereal with milk acts the same with me as ice cream. I tried over and over again but its not worth it. I don't crave it anymore. It gets easier, but be careful because after the first year since it gets easier it is easy to gain your weight back.

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

As soon as I was recuperated from my surgery I just wanted to do everything I hated or couldn't do before. i have a very supportive spouse and he was fine with my not cooking for a year lol. I had kids that were teens and perfectly capable of fixing themselves something to eat. i deserved to take the time to take care of me.

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

I take a 500 mg B-12 sub lingual under my tongue everyday. I take 2 adult gummy vit each am and each pm along with my gummy calcium, 2 in the am and 2 in the pm. Please please please take your vitamins seriously, even 10 years down the road. You have no idea how many things can go wrong if you do not take vitamins the correct way and the correct dosage.

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?

Hair loss was bad, but if I had been more diligent about protein that may not have been the case. Its falls out faster than it comes back in. years later mine is finally coming back in. In the beginning I was just about loosing the weight. I didn't realize how careful you need to be about getting what you need. You just get wrapped up in loosing loosing loosing. I bought a wig and I still wear it. No one can ever tell its a wig and I don't try to hide that fact. Everyone tells me if I had not told them they would not have ever known. So if it happens go buy a good wig that looks natural. It comes in handy even now.

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

wondering about after effects