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

I always worried about the malabsorbtion problems

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

MVP just make sure all i's are dotted and t's are crossed so to speak

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

I had done my research and even watched the surgery in its entirety on the web, there were no surprises, he went through all the risks and complications, Dr Fitzer was very thorugh in his run down of the what could happen and the success of the surgery depends on you kind of thing.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I have had so many surgeries due to the diabetes and being obese, that I would have tried anything after the coronary bypass 2 1/2 years ago and the subsequent surgery 5 months later due to sternum not healing because of the diabetes, I told myself I will never go through that again, I researched gastric bypass procedures for 2 years before having it done.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I didn't want a open procedure, that would have been one straight line down the middle of me, my chest scar starts at the my lower neck and goes just below the sternum (breast bone) my children were born via C section, which would have left the straight line down for the open procedure, I didn't want that, to many scars already!!! I might have a little vanity left in me!

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, the only surgery I have had in the past 4 years I didn't have a worry about, I was excited and looking forward to the weightloss that would be the result and having an active life again.

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?

None of my family wanted me to have the surgery at first, they were afraid something would happen to me. But I can be very persuasive when I have to be!

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

Nonapplicable

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

I spent 2 days in the hosp, tried to get out less than 24 hours after surgery, I needed the rest! There wasn't anything I couldn't do at home they did for me at the Hospital, I can get my own bath linens at home and ice water just as well! And its quieter at home.

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

No complications at all

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 had to be proactive in getting my surgery date with the help of my primary care phys.

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

Well I am on my 5th day at home at this point. Drink your fluids sip sip sip and follow the Doctor's instructions

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

1.5 hours

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.

At first the liquids were alright then that did get a bit boring, the soft mushy stage was fine then that was boring, was very happy to eat real food eventually, nothing has bothered me, I have never dumped or became sick, I don't eat fried foods or starches, very rarely do I have any breads or pastas or potatoes. I did follow my sugeons and my nutrtionists advice to a T though, that may have made a difference.

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

3 days at home - Hmm I have made a few meals, taken care of my animals and taken care of my Grandkids, no help with showering or changing clothes, getting my drinks etc. Subsequent months energy level is tremendous!!!

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

My calcium and multi vit with iron, biotin, B complex and B12 and zinc

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 started loosing my hair at 4 months post op, its slowed down now and appears to be growing back , but it has gotten very thin, I think the biotin and the zinc has helped.

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

The waiting, the insurance approval maybe, none of it has extremely terrible.

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

I have been to support groups pre surgical, I havn't been to one post surg yet

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

I have 6 small incisions, bruised in glorious dark blue colors Now at 6 months post surg. all has healed, barely noticable scars

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

None yet. Now at 6 months I have hit a slowed down period, I have reached the goal weight the surgeons office has made for me but not my personal goal I am 17 pounds from that.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

not yet toooooo soon. At 6 month post surg, and a lot thinner I still havn't noticed any differences in peoples reactions or treatments towards me, people who have seen me during this keep saying to me you're getting so tiny, I still don't see what other people see yet...