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

PCP suggested it. Intrigued and hopeful

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

First insurance company denied and then ignored surgeon's attempts to get appeal. Second insurance company OK'd within 2 weeks. Advice - keep at it, throw facts at them, get surgeon on board

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

It was great - staff and facilities. I spent 2 nights and the dedicated staff and floor for WLS patients was very supportive. Compassionate and concerned nursing staff are the heart and guts of the facility - they answered questions, gently pushed to get me walking, etc, etc.

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

Not at first. I believe I now have an ulcer - I go see surgeon for 3-month checkup next week

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

My date was quickly decided after insurance was OKd, so I didn't have much time to "feel" anything! I don't remember that much anxiety of the surgery itself, I was more concerned that I'd forget to do something after the surgery.

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

Time is your master; a clock rules your day. No one tells you that it takes 8 hours a day the first week to get nutrition or liquids down. After that, you still have to really pay attention; get your protein down, get your water/liquid down; make sure you leave enough time after protein before drinking

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

6 miles

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.

Soft foods got tiring very quickly - either no taste or altered taste. Bananas and yogurt, a mainstay of daily breakfast, didn't taste the same so I quit eating them. Chicken and fish are mainstays of early diet, but I have trouble with texture so chicken and I haven't been talking to each other lately. And I can't cook fish properly, so I've found that watermelon/cantaloupe and shrimp are my mainstays

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

Cautiously resumed walking - to 2nd mailbox on the street, to 3rd mailbox on the street; gradually extended to 3/4 of a mile. Held off any strength training until at least a month and then began with 3# weights only.

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

Sublingual B-12 twice a week; Flintstones twice a day (changed to Kroger's brand Zippy Zoo)

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?

So far, I haven't encountered any of these side effects except when a piece of fish was stuck - that lasted about an hour. Currently, from my descriptions, my dietician thinks I may have an ulcer and to see surgeon about it. This has persisted about 2 weeks. Cope? Very depressed - doing everything i'm told to do and following the rules and I'm a bit distressed that nothing like this was mentioned.

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

While there are numerous good books about what to expect in the run up to surgery (insurance, pre-op testing, etc) there appears to be precious little about what to expect following surgery other than emotional and how your friends relate to you and you to others and what do you do now that food isn't your best friend, etc. What about that full feeling after a bite of beans? That could signal an ulcer I found. What else is one likely to run into? When do you question that "feeling" you have - is it normal? Should I question the surgeon?

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

Surgeon's First Wednesday program - somewhat helpful now that they have opened the format so that pre- and post-ops can dialogue. Local support group just got started and the more personal atmosphere is ver helpful. I can ask "stupid" questions and not feel stupid. Have just discovered online support like OH and Wings Around Atlanta

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

I have 6 tiny scars marching across my belly. Three healed almost invisibly and on the other three, I used an OTC scar-reduction cream for several weeks

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

At 3 months, haven't had any plateaus

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

My co-workers are really noticing a difference after 65 pounds lost - they are encouraging, helpful, inquisitive.