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

I'm not sure how I first heard about the bypass. I just always knew that wasn't for me. I had known too many people with complicationss. My husband is an adidict of late night infomercials and we just happen to catch the lapband infomercial. I think I cried I was so excited - I knew it was for me.

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

I had no problems at all getting approved. I'm one of the lucky ones I guess. I went to my initial meeting in January and was having surgery 5 months later.

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

He was very "matter of fact" with a little bit of a smile in there somewhere. I knew he cared, but was not into making light of a situation. ASK QUESTIONS...ASK QUESTIONS ASK QUESTIONS.....There are so many people that I see on these forums who don't know things they shoudl know PRIOR to having surgery. I'm guilty of it also.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

The people at Park Nicollet cared about me and I knew I could count on them as if they were family to get me through.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

For me there was never a question between the two. I knew bypass wasn't for me so the only decision I had to make was is the lapband? And it was/is

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?

Know matter what you believe, if it's your time you're going to go. Complications can happen walking out of your front door every morning. I think I cried for about 2 days before surgery because I was so scared that I was going to go through all of this, die and not be able to enjoy the skinny me.....lol. Sounds ridiculous I know. But just make sure your knowledgable...thats the most important

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 for the lapband hands down. I think that other family members were wondering why I would choose this approach instead of the bypass. They never asked, but I know they wondered. I honestly think they probably though "here's another weight loss thing she's going to fail"

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

Everyone I work with was way excited. I had jsut started a new job and they had no problems with me taking off a week or anything!

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

My stay couldn't have been any better if I was at home in my own bed. Everyone at Park Nicollet was so nice. I was only there overnight. Make sure to bring CPAP if needed and reading material. You won't rea for long in between naps, but it gives you something

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

No complications 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?

I did get depressed about a week after surgery. I thought for sure this wouldn't work me. I was going to fail. All those people that were happy for me were going to start talkign behind my back - look at the fat girl. My depression jsut kidn of turned into anger and I was going to succeed even if it was just to tell "those people" I wasn't the fat kid anymore

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

Lots and lots of gas pain. And then some more.

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

only about 20 minutes from my house. Just a short trip

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.

First 2 weeks was clear liquids, then 2 weeks of full liquids, 2 weeks of mushies, and 2 weeks of soft. You will never be able to eat what you did before. The first 2 weeks I had no hunger. I just kind of forced myself to drink my broth at the same time everyday. I can eat about a cup of food at each meal. Always protein first. The biggest way my diet has changed is I eat a lot of soy. Really my major meat source is chicken & seafood...and soy.

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

a week after surgery I was back to walking my 2 miles a day. I've since upped it to about 4-5 a day. But I had no problems ever with walking. The stretching...like push ups...pull ups it was probably about a month and half before i could do those without any pain.

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

Just a multi vitamin - chewable. They don't taste that great, but I've never been that good at swallowing pills so I just stuck with them even after I was told I could move onto "non" chewable ones.

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?

sleeping was the hardest part for about the first 3 days. The gas pain just always felt better if I was sitting in my chair with a heating pad.

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

That they waited so long to approve the lapband here in the US

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

I had joing www.obesityhelp.com prior to surgery, but this has been a tremenoud support system for me. I know that Park Nicollet also has a lapband group the first wednesdy of every month and I think I'll be checking that out next month.

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

It's actually better that I expected. They are there...and they'll be a reminder that I'll never be that person I was before.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I'm hit a couple of plateaus. I don't know how to explain how I got over them. Key is to make sure you get all your water in I think.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

I'm actually getting annoyed at one person at work constantly talking about it.