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

I remember seeing the Carney Wilson commercial on TV and I checked into the wish center here in town but wasn't so sure I wanted to do the bypass surgery. It sounded expensive and scary. Then I had a friend that was going to have it and another that was going to have the lap band surgery.

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

I called BC/BS and asked if they had any requirements and the girl went over it on the phone and sent me the info in the mail. I was very lucky in that my husbands company has a bariatric rider on their insurance policy. Kudos to Cardinal Health. BC/BS wouldn't pay for any of the tests (bloodwork, upper GI or x-rays) before surgery or the $1500 fee for the pre-op visits with the surgeon, nutritionist, psychologist or exercise physiologist even though they require all that be done to determine if you are a candidate. But when I saw the $31,000 bill for the hospital stay and surgeon fees and that they had paid all but $750, I felt like I was pretty lucky. Plus I work for the hospital so part of that will be written off.

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

My hospital stay was great. There is a Bariatric Center there so they have the appropriate accomodations to handle people of size. Everyone was very nice and was very happy for me to be having the surgery. I was only there for 1 night so I didn't need much.

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

No, I didn't have any complications.

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 excited but of course nervous about the surgery since I hadn't had any for so many years! I kept in touch with the people at the bariatric center and they were great to answer any questions I had. I had 2 friends that had already had the surgery and had great success so I had them to remind me that everything was going to be worth all the nervousness I was experiencing!

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

I was sore from the surgery so I had to remeber to be careful not to lift too much (that incudes a vaccum ladies!). My energy level was low so I had to rest in the evenings quite a bit. Since I had the Lap Band, I was able to eat regular food within 2 weeks after the surgery if I pushed my dietary limits. Even though it wasn't going to do me any good when the first fill time came so I was hungry quite a bit and my stomach was noisy! Please don't beat yourself up if you are 4 weeks out from the lap band surgery and feel like you could eat a horse - it is normal! Try to stay on your 6 meal a day regime and within your 1/2 cup limit per meal but don't give up if you don't!

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

Less than 20 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.

Having the lap band doesn't restrict you like gastric bypass does I believe. Anything that I haven't eaten, has been by my choice. I have pretty much stayed off bread just because I know that could really cause a problem with getting through the opening and I don't want it to cause a problem. Of course I have given up soda ( I do miss my Diet Mt. Dew ). I have to remember to chew my food very good, the feeling is terrible if you don't. I see why they want you to take 20-30 mins to eat, big bites just don't work and will come back up!

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

The first 2 weeks I took it easy - they wanted me to have built up to 20 mins per day walking and then at my 2 week check up, I was released to get back to the recommended 30 min per day exercise. Now, I didn't say that I do 30 mins a day even though I know I should!

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

Centrum Chewables

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 had any! Keeping my fingers crossed!

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

The bowel cleansing for the pre-op - It was the nastiest tasting stuff I have EVER taken and it made me SO sick....

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

So far, I haven't gone to any of the support group meetings - I am going to the next one the last Thursday of this month (April).

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

They aren't bad at all - 3 very very small ones, 1 medium one and 1 larger one where the port is.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

None so far...

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Not yet but the loss I have had so far isn't enough for most people to notice...