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

A friend of mine had the gastric bypass. And I so wanted it. I was jealous.

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

I did not have insurance that would pay. I was self pay.

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

He made me feel very at ease. He stayed in my room and answered all my question no matter how long it took.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I went to a funeral of a friend who never lost their weight. I did not want to be that person.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I went in for the lap band. At the time I was 268 pounds and my surgeon said that it would be at best for me to loose all the weight I needed to loose with it. So I told him I did not want the bypass. I asked him which one would get me where I wanted to be. That is when he was telling me about the sleeve. I went home and talked to my husband and we agreed on it.

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 did not have fears of dying or of complications. I had fears of the not knowing of what was going on suring surgery. I like to have controll over myself and when I am out I can not. The only thing I can say that I did was talk to my husband and people who hae gone thru it. I also prayed very hard about it.

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 only told a very select few. I told the ones I knew would support me. And they have supported me all the way.

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

I don't work.

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

I was in the hospital for 2 days. I had the best nurses you could have. They were so knowledgeable on the surgery I had and they were very compassionate to me. I was not aloud to bring much to the hospital. I just brought some pjs that were very comfortable and that did not rub on my tummy.

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

I did have complications. I ended up with a slight kink in my new tummy and got dehydrated. I ended up back in the hospital. The kink healed itself and they gave me iv solution for 2 days to get hydrated again.

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 was so happy. I did not get nervous til about a week before my surgery. I ate what ever I wanted til my liquid diet stage before my surgery. I had been on a diet of some kind or another for 12 years. So I enjoyed eating things I had not in that time. How I coped, well I went on a website that everyone on there had been where I was at that moment.

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

I did not hurt very bad. I only hurt for the first day and 1/2 due to the first day home I had to drive 80 miles homes and then I was having to get used to laying down flat. That was the killer.

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

I had to travel 80 miles. I have friends take me to my doctors appointment due to me not driving in Dallas, Texas.

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.

I was on a liquid diet for a week prior my surgery. I was told anything that would go thru a straw I could have. For 2 weeks after my surgery I was on clear liquids, then for weeks 3-5 I was on soft food, after that I could eat what ever. The only thing I could not have and will never be able to have is sodas. Which that does not bother me due to not being a big soda drinker. I still have to be careful with new foods, die to the first time I eat them after my sugery will always make me a little sick at my tummy.

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

I walked as much as I could. You can not due much and you get tired really easy. But you walk all the time.

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

I take 2 children multi-vitamins, biotin, protonix, b-12 sub-lingual, iron, calcium.

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 think there is more than one of those that gave me trouble. I have very bad nausea that is why I got dehyrdrated. It went on for over a month 1/2. The other is the hair loss. I had long thick hair. I have now cut it off short for me. So I did not have to brush as hard. But I take Biotin for it and it has seemed to help.

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

I guess the worse part for me was that my insurance would not pay and I had to be salf pay. The sugery itself was really easy.

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

I have www.obesityhelp.com, that is where I get my support.

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

I have 5 different ones. 3 had 2 staples, 1 had 3 and 1 had 4, I am very pleased with them. I did not have a drain or anything like that.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I have only had 1 stall (plateau) since my surgery and at this moment I am 3 months out. I only lasted for a week.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

no