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

I found out about it from my boyfriend who had family that went through it. At the time I thought he was crazy and did not think that this was something that I would ever do.

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

I had no problems at all with insurance covering the procedure, thank God!

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

My first visit was amazing, my surgeon is great! I advise that you ask as many questions that you can think of and don't be afraid to leave anything out including their mortality rate, you want to be sure that you are in the best hands possible when undergoing this procedure.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

My Mom passed away December of 2000. Doctors would not look deep enough to find what the problem was with her because she was having difficulty breathing. They would just say it was because she was too fat. The process started on a Friday and she died the following Wednesday. A day I will never forget and a day that happened too early because of my Mom being overweight. I refused to have the same thing happen to me, so that following year I started my journey to having surgery.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

It is what my insurance covered and what my surgeon did, there were no questions about it.

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 was very confident in my surgeons abilities so fear was minimal for me. I had more to fear by not having it done.

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?

For the most part they all thought it was a good idea. My Dad was a little hesitant about it, but I think it was him being afraid to loose me too after my Mom passing away. Now that it is all said and done, he is happy I did it and enjoys seeing the new me. He even tells me know that I need to talk to my brother about having it done. My family is a great support.

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

My employer was good about everything. Many people at work had already gone through the procedure so they were familiar with it and gave me no problems. I told them I was going to be out for gastric bypass surgery and I was out for about one month.

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

My hospital stay was too long and boring. I hate being alone and you do get a lot of alone time. Bring something to entertain yourself whatever that may be. I was only there for 2 1/2 days, but it was the longest 2 1/2 days of my life.

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

No complications at all thank God!

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 felt great, I could not wait to start my new life. I didn't feel anxiety until the morning of the surgery sitting there waiting for them to call me in. I just sat back and took deep breaths.

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

It wasn't bad at all, I was very mobile when I left the hospital so I had no problems with this.

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

I traveled about 40 miles.

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.

In the weeks after surgery I was on liquids only which wasn't hard but sometimes it was hard to eat because I would not get hungry. Month by month I could eat more solid foods, but sugar was always out of the question, it makes you feel very bad. Now I have no problems eating anything, certain days chicken is rough on the stomach, but for the most part I am good all the way around.

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

My activity level was good, I was out shopping the day after i came home from the hospital.

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

I take calcium, B-12, B complex, Biotin and a multi-vitamin.

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 got really nauseated when I returned to work this went on for a couple of months. I had to take time off from work because I could not talk to customers and keep gagging.

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

Staying in the hospital!

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

Because of my work schedule I have not been able to go to support group meetings, but do find support here on obesityhelp.com which is very helpful when you are going through something and can talk to people that can relate to your problems.

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

I had mine done lapriscopically so scars are minimal.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I have plateaued recently my weight is staying the same and I hate it, I have to step up on the excercise to make my weight come down again.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes, no more heckling when I walk by and dirty looks like I have a plague. Professionally people treat you better and in the social world people treat you better because you look and feel better which carrys out to them.