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

I first researched it about 7 years ago had the seminar and was ready for the initial consult when a tragedy occured in my life...so I had to postpone having it done.. I was a little scared to have it done but looked at it as a last hope for me ever to be healthy again and to possible someday have another child.

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 almost immediate.. they approved the surgery after going thru the prerequisites.... Advice make sure your insurance will cover the surgery and follow-thru with all meetings and prior appts needed to get approved

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

Very informational and to the point. All questions were answered and I felt confident that I had chosen the correct surgeon for this surgery. Ask questions, get as much information to assure you feel comfortable with your doctor and most of all trust him/her.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

Tired of being overweight, didn't feel healthy wanted to see the me that was hiding under all that weight.. knew that GB surgery was the answer for me.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

My surgeon and I discussed which procedure would be the correct one for me based on my medical history and problems.

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 don't recall having any fears... I felt very at ease knowing why and what the outcome would eventually be.

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 family is pretty open to anyones decisions.. at least they don't openly tell you not to do it

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

no problems with employer I told them the truth was out of work a few weeks then again for a few weeks after the complications I had

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

My stay at St. Cloud Hospital was wonderful..the nursing staff were the best! I was Hospitalized about 1 week.. simple basic necessities and your own comfy robe and slippers..

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

yes, I had complications.... I had a gastric bleed after an endoscopy to stretch the new pouch opening. Also, I had a reoccuring abcess at my incision site which resulted in a baseball size abcess and required surgery to reduce it..I ended up going to a different surgeon as my relationship with my GB surgeon depleted and I no longer trusted him to treat me.

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 elated to finally have my date.. I was anxious to have it done and could have not been more educated and prepared for what I was about to encounter... I did most this by reading and talking to people who had been there already.

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

I was sore at first and still didn't want to look at food...sometimes just tasting things till I adjusted to my new eating regime... As with any surgery there is pain till you heal..and if you can get past that with medication things go pretty smooth as you watch the weight come off..

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

Approximately 1hour drive....

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.

Could not eat: Beef, sugar,breads, pastas, rice Started out with broth...advanced to a pretty normal meal(downsized of course) sticking to all the foods on his list that I cannot have

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

Slow to start... activity as tolerated within a few weeks... and back to work in about 4-5 weeks

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

Prenatal vitamins, B-12 complex, oyster shell calcium, Iron

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?

hair loss was the worst... It has taken a long time to grow out my hair..for awhile there it was thinning alot...

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

My postop complications with the gastric bleed and the deep baseball size abcess

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

I chose not to attend aftercare support because there was none located close to my area

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

I was told that my scar was the smallest a nurse had ever seen for a gastric bypass patient... I thought it would be bigger but thats ok

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Have been in a plateau with no gains or losses for a few months now...it is now 2007 5 years post op and I have gained 40 lbs back to this date.. have been at this weight for about a year now.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

yes, they don't stare...they are more friendly