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

I FOUND IT ON THE DISCOVERY CHANNELL. I WENT TO MY DOCTOR AND ASK HIM TO REFER ME TO SOMEONE WHO DONE THE SURGERY AND I WANTED IT DONE. AFTER, I HAD THE SURGERY DONE, I WENT TO MY SURGEON AND FOUND THE OBESITY BOOK IN HIS OFFICE AND STARTED GETTING THE BOOK AND READING IT TO GET ALL THE INFORMATION I COULD GET TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE AFTER SURGERY. I ALSO FOUND THE WEB FOR OBESITYHELP.COM IN THE BOOK AND I HAVE BEEN WITH THEM EVERY SINCE.

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

STILLING IN THE HOSPITAL FOR ME WAS TERRIBLE. THE LIQUID PAIN KILLER, DIDN'T WORK WELL AND I GOT A PUMP THAT WASN'T WORKING CORRECTLY. THE NURSES TRIED TO FIX AND BUT NEVER HAD IT REPLACED. I WAS SO MISSERBLE WITH PAIN. I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL FOR 10 DAYS. THINGS YOU NEED TO BRING TO THE HOSPITAL ARE HOUSE SLIPPERS, COMB, TOOTH BRUSH, TOOTH PASTE AND I ROBE.

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

YES, I HAD MANY COMPLICATIONS FROM THE SURGERY. I HAD TO HAVE BOWEL SURGERY ALONG RNY SURGERY, TWICE THE PAIN. I COULDNT GET UP OR GO VERY FAR FROM BED EVEN WITH PAIN MEDICATIONS. I WAS HOSPITAL 4 MORE TIMES FOR HEART, PAIN, INFECTION, BLEEDING FROM BLADDER, PNEMONIA AND BLOOD CLOTS IN MY LEGS AND LUNGS.

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 FELT PRETTY SICK AND HAD NURSES ONCE A WEEK TO HELP AN IV FOR PROTEIN. THEY TOOK BLOOD AND HAD ALL THE SUPPLIES DELIVERED TO MY HOME. I HAVE A WONDERFUL HUSBAND,DAUGHTER AND GRANDDAUGHTER WHO HELP ME THRU THIS AWFUL TIME. MY HUSBAND CHANGED MY PROTEIN BAGS TWICE A DAY, HELP ME EVERYWAY POSSIBLE. HE EVEN TOOK OFF WORK TO TAKE ME TO THE DOCTOR'S BECAUSE I COULDN'T EVEN DRIVE MY SELF. I WAS VERY FRUSTICATED, HELPLESS, BUT I KEPT MY FOCUS ON MY FAMILY, GOD AND A BETTER FUTURE WHEN I WAS DONE.

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

MY FIRST WEEK I WAS HOME FOR ONE AND HALF WEEKS AND I CAME DOWN WITH TERRIBLE PAIN. I HAD TO CALL FOR AN AMBULANCE BECAUSE I COULDNT GET OUT OF BED, BECAUSE I HAD TERRIBLE PAIN IN MY BELLY BUTTON AREA. I WAS HOSPITAL 2ND TIME FOR STAFF INFECTION. BUT, NOT ALL PEOPLE GO THRU THIS.

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

I WAS ABOUT 8 MILES FROM THE HOSPITAL WHERE I HAD SURGERY AND ABOUT THE SAME TO GO TO THE DOCTOR'S AFTER SURGERY. THANK GOD IT WAS ANY FURTHER THAN THAT.

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.

FOR SOME ODD REASON, MY TASTE BUDS WAS AFFECTED AFTER SURGERY. NOTHING TASTED RIGHT. I COULDNT EAT BECAUSE I WAS SO SICK TO MY STOMACHE. I TRIED PROTEIN DRINK AND COULDNT DRINK ENOUGH TO HELP ME STILL HEALTHY. EVEN IN 6-9 MONTHS I COULD ONLY EAT 2 LITTLE BITS OF FOOD AND I WAS FULL. NOW I AM IN ANNIVERSARY DATE, I CAN FINALLY EAT a bowl of chicken soup or a full sandwich. BUT SOME DAYS I CANT EAT THAT. THE BEST SECRET IS EAT VERY MOIST FOOD. IT IS EASIER TO HOLD DOWN AND EAT.

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

I WAS SO SICK, MY ACTIVITY WAS NOT GOOD. I HAD TO SIT ON A STOOL TO WASH MY FACE, BODY, BRUSH MY TEETH AND COMB MY HAIR. I LIVED IN A HOUSE WITH STAIRS I WOULD TRY TO WALK UP AND DOWN THEM 2-3 TIME A DAY. BUT, PLEASE UNDERSTAND I HAD PNEMONIA AND BLOOD CLOTS ON MY LUNGS AND LEGS. IT MADE ME VERY WEAK TO GET ANYWHERE. I KEPT ON TRYING EVERYDAY TO GET MORE STRENGH. WHEN I COULD FINALLY GET A SHOWER, I SET ON A STOOL TO WAS MYSELF UP AND WASH MY HAIR.

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

I STARTED OUT WITH LIQUID VITAMINS TO FINN STONES. I NOW TAKE WOMAN'S ONE A DAY. MY SURGEON IS HAVING VITAMINS MADE FOR SURGERY PATIENTS LIKE ONE AND OTHERS. THEY SHOULD BE HERE JUNE OR JULY 2004.

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?

NAUSIA, LASTED FOR ALMOST A YEAR. I COULDNT STAND TO WATCH PEOPLE EAT OR SMELL FOOD. I WOULD HAVE TO GO TO MY BEDROOM AWAY FROM THE SMELL OR LEAVE THE RESTURANT IF I WENT OUT WITH THE FAMILY. IT IS A YEAR TODAY AND NOW IT JUST GETTING BETTER WITH THIS PROBLEM. I VOMIT 2-3 TIMES AS THE DOCTOR GAVE ME STOMACHE TO STOP THIS. MY HAIR ON THE TOP OF MY HEAD WAS ALMOST GONE. THIS WAS THE MOST DEPRESSING PROBLEM FOR ME. I GOT A WIG FOR A WHILE, BECAUSE I WAS SO DEPRESS OF LOOKING AT MYSELF IN THE MIRROR.

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

THE WORST FOR ME WAS THE PAIN, NAUSIA, BLOOD CLOTS IN LUNGS AND LEGS.

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

THERE WAS A SUPPORT AT THE HOSPITALS. I COULDNT GO, BECAUSE ALL MY PROBLEMS, SO I WOULD DISCUSS THINGS WITH PEOPLE AT THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE.

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

MY SCAR IS FROM BETWEEN MY BREATS TO MY HAIR LINE. NO, THIS IS NOT WHAT I EXPECTED, BUT MY DOCTOR FOUND A PROBLEM WITH MY BOWELS AND HAD TO DO A LONGER SCAR. BUT I WASNT UPSET. I AM GLAD HE FOUND IT AND CORRECT IT, SO I DIDNT HAVE TO HAVE ANOTHER SURGERY.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I HAD A PLATEAU AFTER LOSING 80 LBS, 100 LBS AND 120 LBS. NOW, I AM UP TO 130 LBS LOSS AND MOVING ALONG, BUT MORE SLOWLY.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

YES, THEY DONT LOOK AT ME AS FAT AND UGLY, THAT THE PEOPLE WHO KNEW ME.