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

I have 4 or 5 friends that have had it over the years. I finally decided I should join the club!

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

Approval as medically necessary was a breeze. However, I was under a period of pre-existing, and could have very easily gotten into a big mess. At least 3 times I called BCBS to verify my surgery was approved, and they told me yes. But that was not taking into consideration the pre-existing condition. This required me to ask more specifically, to eventually find out it was not approved as not pre-existing. So then the process of getting my previous medical records to them, so they could decide if it was pre-existing, took more than 2 weeks and I eventually had to reschedule my surgery as they couldn't seem to get the records from my previous doctor. A fiasco! But finally, it was determined to not be pre-existing. thank god I asked the right questions or I'd be sitting with a mighty big bill right now!

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I decided on Lap RNY because RNY has been demonstrated to result in the greatest percentage of excess weight lost. I chose Lap for obvious reasons - less chance of complications, less recovery time, less scarring.

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 tend to be pretty anxious about dying a lot of the time! So in a way, surgery was not more anxiety provoking than the fears I have of having a stroke or accidentally driving off a cliff or getting cancer. I know, I know. I do take meds! Anyhoo...I think my finace, who had the surgery 6 years ago put it best. Look around, how many obese 70-year-olds do you see? The morbidity rate is 1% for surgery. It's 100% for obesity.

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?

I think my sister was worried I wouldn't get enough nutrition after the surgery, that it would be bad for my health. My finace was very supportive and I think everyone was, and is, in general. They are so happy to see me healthy and looking good and happy.

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

I was gone from work the week of my surgery.

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

I was in my hospital room for almost exactly 48 hours. My stay was fine, the nurses were great, but didnt get much rest once I wasn't totally out of it. I brought lots of stuff to read and such, but the only thing I really needed was my pillow and my headphones with relaxing cds. That was essential. The beds were horrible, and I would bring a feather bed next time!

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

None, thank god.

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 had some anxiety after surgery that had to do, primarily, with taking pain meds after surgery. To cope with it? I stopped taking it. It was strange that, at first the meds didn't seem to work. That was ok, cuz I wasn't in much pain. But then about the 3rd dose after I got home they worked REALLY well. It was then that I realized they hadn't really been working before that and then that I stopped taking them. I was also worried about the effects of anesthesia. I had a kind of "twitch" and was worried it was a permanent effect. I also woke up FREEZING in the middle of the night for about a week.

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

I had a lot of anxiety the first few nights as I am a bit of a hypochondriac. Then some minor buyers remorse once I felt better.

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

20 minutes.

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.

2 weeks post-op, I have been able to eat everything I have tried, inlcuding chili, canned chicken, regular and frozen yogurt (low or no sugar), soups, protein drinks, milk, cream, decaf, sugar free low fat pudding, mashed potatoes, bbq beef, sugarfree cool whip, eggs, etc. I feel pretty much the same before and after I eat. 10 months post-op, I have been able to eat everything, though I think french fries may be a little problematic. I have never vomitted, have gotten slightly nauseous a handful of times, and I think I may have dumped for the first time just the other day. The weird feeling lasted about 5 minutes and it went away.

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

I was able to go for up to 3 10-15 minute walks per day.

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

Centrum and calcium. I try to do the calcium twice per day but I ususally only remember once. I also take Omega-3 and Folic Acid. I also take a B-12 shot monthly.

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?

I had horrible heat waves followed by extreme chills for about 4 nights. Probably from anesthesia and changing body temps. My teeth were chattering so hard the 2nd night in the hospital I thought I was going to break them! I also didn't sleep well the 2nd and 3rd nights at home, but this was due to anxiety more than anything.

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

The dry mouth prior to being able to drink, a really bad roommate in the hospital, and lots of not knowing what to expect.

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

I havn't connected to one.

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

The 4 are smaller than I expected, the 2 bigger ones are about what I expected, and they are higher than I expected. Also, they are asymetrical, which bugs me a bit! :-)

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

none yet at least a lb per day. 10 months out, I have had a couple of plateaus that have lasted a week or two, but I have consistently lost a minimum of 5 pounds (or more) per month, so I have been able to stay sane by looking at monthly figures.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Not sure. I think it's interesting how people don't say anything about my weight though. I did carry my weight pretty well, but every once in awhile I will run in to someone for the first time in awhile and they don't say anything and I think, do they really not notice I've lost 92 pounds or are they just being ??polite??