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

I FIRST FOUND ABOUT THE SURGERY THROUGH A PERSON I WORK WITH THAT HAD IT DONE. MY FIRST THOUGHTS OF THE SURGERY WAS THAT IT WAS NOT WORTH THE RISKS. THEN I STARTED HAVING HEALTH PROBLEMS AND I THOUGHT LONG AND HARD ABOUT IT. THE RISKS OF THE SURGERY WAS SMALLER THAN THE RISKS OF BEING OVERWEIGHT.

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

I thought that getting approved would not be a problem. I had heard other people's stories and it never was a fight. So I went to my first appt. with the surgeon and the battle began. My insurance company came up with every excuse to deny me. The battle began and took 1 year to get it approved. I had to get my boss involved with getting it approved. I want to tell people out there having a problem with their insurance don't give up. It will be approved just give it time. I know that it seems like to hard of a fight because I had given up. But I had wonderful support and they MADE me fight to get it approve. hang in there.

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

I was so nervous on my first meeting with the surgeon. I wasn't sure if I wanted the surgery yet and I really wasn't ready to deal with the fact that I was fat and needed surgery to make me better. The surgeon was wonderful, she talked to me and made me look at myself. It was then and only then did i realize that i needed to make myself better. She did not pressure me into the surgery at all. I don't want it to sound that way, I just needed to realize that diets would not do the trick anymore. (I knew it inside but just needed some reassurance)

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I decided to do the surgery because I am so young and so tired. I couldn't do anything anymore and I have a child I have to be there for.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

What made me decide what surgery to have is setting down and seeing all the food I ate for a week. I included what type of food and the amount and when I ate it. I then decide on the rny open. I knew it was the surgery for 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?

I haven't had the surgery yet but the fears are there. I have faith that everything will go as the are intented to go. I know everything will not be peaches and cream but I can handle it. I am a strong person. It takes a strong person to deside to have such a surgery.

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?

My mother was so excited for me when I told her I wanted to have it done. My father on the other hand was VERY nervous. He didn't know a lot about the surgery so I took him to an appt with my surgeon and I took him to a support group meeting. After that he is okay. he is still scared for me but who wouldn't be. I think i handled it in the best way. I have taken some friends with me and will take more to meets with me. that is the only way for them to see.

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

My boss is the most wonderful person. She has supported me through the whole thing. She is one of the reasons that my surgery got approved. She pushed me to go forward with it when i didn't have it in me to fight. She can't wait for me to have it done because she knows it will be a hole new life for me. 01/07/03 -- UPDATE I was so fooled by this. She is helpful and she will listen to me but as for support that is another question.

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

MY STAY AT THE HOSPITAL WAS OKAY, IT WASN'T BAD BUT IT WASN'T WONDERFUL EITHER. I HAD ONE NURSE THAT MADE EVERYTHING OKAY. I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL FOR 6 DAYS. THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS I BROUGHT TO THE HOSPITAL WAS: TONGS, BABYWIPES, SHAMPOO, SOAP, HAIR BRUSH, TOOTHPASTE,TOOTHBRUSH, PICTURES OF LOVED ONES(TO REMIND YOURSELF WHY YOU DID THIS TO YOURSELF), ROBE AND SLIPPERS.

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

I HAD TO HAVE TWO CYSTS TAKEN OFF MY SPLEAN THAT I DIDN'T KNOW WAS THERE ON TOP OF HAVING THE SURGERY SO I WASN'T FEELING UP TO PAR TO SAY. BUT I GOT OVER IT AND I AM FEELING GREAT NOW.

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 EXCITED AFTER I FINALLY WAS APPROVED FOR THE SURGERY. I GOT EVERYTHING IN ORDER( LIVING WELL, HOSPITAL BAG, PACKING MY DAUGHTER UP). BUT THE NIGHT BEFORE MY SURGERY I WAS SCARED LIKE I HAD NEVER BEEN BEFORE. I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO DIE. I WAS CALLING EVERYONE TELLING THEM I LOVED THEM AND I WAS SORRY TO LEAVE THEM. BUT I AM SO GLAD THAT I WENT THROUGHT THE SURGERY AND CHANGED MY LIFE SO MUCH FOR THE BETTER NOW.

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

THE FIRST FEW DAYS(WEEKS) HOME FROM THE HOSPITAL WAS HARD. I PUSHED MYSELF TO DO THINGS SO I DIDN'T SET AROUND AND DO NOTHING. I WAS IN PAIN BUT I STOPPED MY PAIN MEDS 4 DAYS AFTER I WAS HOME.

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

I DIDN'T TRAVEL FAR IT IS RIGHT HERE IN RKE.

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 EATING JELL-O (SUGAR-FREE) OF COURSE SOUP SUGAR FREE PUDDING SUGAR FREE POPCICLES CHEESE EGGBEATERS V-8 JUICE JUICY JUICE YOGERT THEN I ADDED TUNA CRACKERS FISH THEN I CAN PRETTY MUCH EAT NORMAL STUFF JUST IN CONTROL BUT I CAN'T EAT ANYTHING WITH SUGAR IN IT

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

AFTER THE SURGERY, I DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF ENERGY BUT IT SLOWLY GOT BETTER AND NOW I FEEL GREAT

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

I TAKE B12, MULTI VITAMIN, IRON AND TUMS FOR 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?

THE WORST THING THAT HAS HAPPENED SO FAR HAS BEEN THE "SPECIAL" FORM OF DUMPING THAT I HAD. I WENT THROUGH A STAGE THAT EVERYTIME I ATE ANYTHING MY HEART RATE WOULD GO UP. BUT I AM OVER THAT NOW. I HAVE HAS HAIR LOSS TWICE NOW BUT IT HASN'T BEEN TO BAD. THE VOMITING IS THE WORST.

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

THE WORST PART ABOUT THE ENTIRE BARIATRIC SURGERY PROCESS IS THE HOSP STAY. EVERYTHING ELSE EITHER GOES AWAY OR CHANGE BE CHANGED

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

MY AFTERCARE IS MY DOCTOR IS ALWAYS THERE WHEN I NEED HER AND I ALSO GO TO A SUPPORT GROUP MEETING ONCE A MONTH. I HAVE A GREAT SUPPORT SYSTEM WITH MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

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

MY SCAR IS REALLY LONG AND SOME IS PURPLE AND SOME IS PINK SOME IS LARGER THAN THE OTHER PART. BUT ALL IN ALL IT SEEMS TO BE OKAY. I MEAN WHAT WOULD YOU RATHER HAD A SCAR OR 200 EXTRA POUNDS????

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I HAVE ONLY HAD ONE PLATEAU AND THAT WAS BECAUSE I WASN'T EATING AT ALL. YOU HAVE TO EAT AND I HAVE COME TO GRIPS WITH THAT.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

SOME PEOPLE HAVE TREATED ME DIFFERNTLY NOW. THEY ARE NICER TO ME. BUT SOME PEOPLE THOUGHT THAT THIS SURGERY WOULD CHANGE EVERYTHING ABOUT ME. IT HAS CHANGED SOMETHING BUT NOT EVERYTHING