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

i found out about bariatric surgery through the health channel. my first impressions about it was that it was an easy thing to do and that it would change my life completely for the better.

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

insurance approval was very easy for me since i have Medi-cal they paid for all of it.

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

the first visit with my surgeon went smoothly i answered a lot of basic questions about my health went over what the next steps were going to be and how much weight he wanted me to lose before my surgery. people should have a list of questions to ask the doctor so that they are well informed about their decision.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

in september 2009 i was diagnosed with sleep apnea and i was feeling very tired energy was something that i didnt have anymore. it began to get very difficult for me to even get up off of the couch.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

i decided to go with the procedure that was most effective and that why i chose the gastric bypass 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?

I had no fears because i was reasured that the surgery had a low death rate. i would tell people to do their research about their doctors.

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?

at first people didnt want me to have the surgery but i kept my decision about having it done because ultimately i was the only one who knew what i was going through. i wouldnt have told anyone if i had the chance to take it back i would. everyone has been pretty supportive about me having this surgery now that they see that the weight is coming off and im happy as ever.

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

NA

What was it like attending your first information seminar on weight loss surgery? Were you glad you attended? if so, why?

I took my mother with me to the seminar so that she could learn about the surgery as well. I am glad i went because it was very informative and it was there that i decided to have the RNY over the rest of the surgeries.

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

my stay in the hospital was great as far as the service went. the pain was horrible, not at all what i was expecting. I went in on a thursday an went home the following saturday. You should take a pillow or a bear to hug on your tummy when you need to get up and walk and when you need to cough.

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

no 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 started to feel nervous about the pain that i would feel after surgery. i began to have doubts about having the surgery. i began to think oh my goodness i will never enjoy a hamburger anymore or eat the foods that i used to enjoy. i kept thinking to myself that i HAD to lose this weight so that i could be there for my kids. i didnt want to be known as the fat mom.

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

the first week home from the hospital was a little bit difficult to move around i couldnt lay flat because it was too painful i slept in a chair for two days. i needed help around the house with my kids i couldnt change a diaper for a week because it was painful to bend over. TMI it is hard to wipe after you use the bathroom.

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

i have to drive about 45 minutes to get to my doctors office. i dont mind driving this distance because i have a great doctor.

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.

during the first two weeks nothing but liquids, and jello. next 2 weeks same as the previous 2 weeks and pureed food anything that can go into the blender. all fried foods are off limits for me because we shouldnt be eating that and my body cannot handle it. the first week was very difficult because it like being taken off of an extremely addicting drug and then only being allowed water. i got used to it and became happy when i started seeing the pounds literally melting off.

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

im not as active as i should be

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

only 3 tums and 2 chewable childrens vitamins.

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 nausea was the worst for me, i still have nausea 2 weeks occasionally when i smell a certain food. i just stay away from the foods that make me nausous.

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

the pain after the surgery. and the first week getting used to being without food.

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

a monthly support group meeting is recommended for everyone after surgery. i think its somewhat important.

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

i have 7 small scars they are a lot smaller than i expected and hardly visible

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

after the first week there was 3 days that i didnt lose any weight and i was upset about that so i drank more water and began losing 2lbs a day again.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

i feel like people talk to me more now than they used to people are also alot more friendly towards me.