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

A friend had the surgery, although I was sceptical, when she lost 200 pounds, I re-thought the surgery.

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

I was determined, if I had to go to every big-shot in my insurance department I was going to. If I was going to have to take them to court I was prepared to do so. After all I was fighting for my life, everyone has a right to do so.

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

Scary and exciting at the same time, like getting on a ferris wheel for the first time, I knew I needed to take the ride, so I did.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

My friend, Carol had the surgery 1 1/2 years before me, she had lost so much weight and looked so great, not to mention the encouragement she gave me.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

My insurance only pays for the RNY

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?

No fears now, however, three weeks after the surgery I got a blockage, it was then that I thought I was dying. Nope, didn't die, but I sure did learn how to chew, chew, chew, chew.

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?

Encouragement, love and support. I lost my dear mother 4 weeks post-op and I sure would have liked for her to see me now. She also fought her battle with obesity all her life. She lost the battle to diabetes and passed away April 10, 2004.

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

Encouraging and supportive

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

Scary.....I had not been in the hospital since the birth of my children, but when I saw my Doctor (Dr. James Atkinson - Las Vegas) and he grabbed my hand just before I went in to surgery and told me everything would be o.k. he was right. I woke up and was in my room, no pain, couldn't believe I had done it, had to ask if he did it because I didn't feel anything different. The nurse's and staff at Lake Mead Hospital were great, special floor just for bariatric surgery.

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

2 blockages - my fault, chew,chew,chew. This surgery is a tool, you have to learn how to eat all over again, not just gulp stuff down, because if you do....oh my. That was the first month and a half. The dumping is also part of learning to eat again, you learn what you can tolerate and what you can not.

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

Anxiety, panic, oh my God what have I done to myself. Then one day, about three months pre-op I woke up one morning and I have felt great ever since.

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

Scared, scared to eat, afraid you are going to vomit, and you do. But, again this will pass and when you start seeing the difference in your appearance you realize what a good thing you have done. No, let me re-phrase this....When people start noticing you and asking what is different about you, you feel fantastic and confident, something I had not felt in a very long time.

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

Right here in Las Vegas, I would not have left the state, I was too scared not to mention the added finance.

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 would in the first six-weeks only eat pureed foods, I can now pretty much tolerate anything with the exception of sugar. I don't miss suger though, that is how I became heavy in the first place was my love of desserts. I get the sensation of being full I stop, I do not ever want to stretch my stomach pouch, I never want to be heavy again.

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

Slept, slept, slept. You will need it so that your body can recover properly, take advantage of it. I really didn't get a full energy boost until about 6 months after surgery.

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

Biotin- for my hair (many people tend to loose hair, I am one of them) Multi-SUper Vitamins - GNC B-12 sublingual tablets

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?

with all the side effects, I found that if I went and laid down and went to sleep, when I woke up they had usually subsided except for the nausea and vomiting, for some reason, my hospital room-mate (we have become close friends) when she vomited that would be it, she would vomit and go on about her business, me....I vomited for hours. that was the worst for me was vomiting and constipation.

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

That I didn't do it sooner.

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

No scar- laproscopic punctures

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I am at a plateau now, I am like stuck at 200. I stick to my diet though, because this is the second plateau I have experienced and that was 40 pounds ago.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes..... joy from family some enviousness from 1 particular co-worker...hum wonder what her problem is... she has always been thin, no need to envy me....just her personality I guess.