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

A coworker had the surgery. At first I thought of the surgery as the lazy person's way out of losing weight and that the surgery was very dangerous and unsafe to have.

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

It was HORRIBLE! It took me 9 months to get insurance approval and having to hire a lawyer to fight my insurance company to allow me to have it. The most important thing is DO NOT GIVE UP in getting your insurance to approve. It can be a real battle.

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

It was an orientation with a group of us, not one on one. Getting the information about the risks involved was very overwhelming and scarey! The biggest thing is to educate yourself BEFORE your first appointment.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I could no longer go to the mall (which I enjoyed) and walk and look around or even go into the grocery store to shop without extreme pain in my knees or feeling like I was going to pass out. We could no longer enjoy vacations because I was not able to walk well.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

My insurance would only cover the 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 mentally prepared ahead of my surgery that death could happen and I was scared. I made sure to get all my affairs in order before going in for surgery. But I also accepted the fact that if I did not have the surgery, I would certainly die from the weight because I knew it would never get better.

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 husband was against it, my daughter against it, my mother against it. I was determined and basically told my family either they support me on my decision or they don't. My mother turned against me for awhile, my daughter was disappointed in me and I think my husband was very frightened.

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

My coworkers were very supportive, however, my employer did not say anything and still hasn't to this day even after losing 146 lbs!

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

Absolutely terrible!!! I was in an old run down hospital which also happened to be a teaching hospital with students constantly in and out of the room. My room was extremely small and I had a roommate that was not sensitive to my privacy or the fact that I needed quiet to rest not to mention it was summer and hot and my roommate refused to keep our window unit air conditioner on to keep the room cool.

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

Yes: - Collapsed Lung - Hair falling out (ate more protein, used special shampoo) - Stricture (had to have opening of pouch dilated) - Hyperinsulinemia (my pancreas now produce way too much insulin and I am on diabetes medicine). I have to eat every 2 hours and monitor my blood sugars and keep glucose on hand. - Dumping - Constipation / Diarrhea - Too much weight loss (I am having to eat now to gain)

In the weeks after you got your surgery date, how did you feel? How did you cope with any anxiety you might have felt?

At first I was excited I was scheduled. Then it went to sheer fear and the fear just kept building up until they actually wheeled me into surgery that day. If it weren't for my husband, I would have got up off the gurney in the surgery waiting area and left because I was so scared.

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

Hard!!! I could not sleep because of nightmares, I had tremendous pains from the laparoscopic gas they used, I had trouble breathing, I was very depressed and cried a lot, I was so tired that even taking a shower took so much effort.

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

76 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.

The only thing I could eat was: - watermelon juice - pureed meat - jello

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

The only thing I could tolerate (and it took a lot out of me) the first 3 weeks was a little bit of walking in the house, taking a shower and that was it.

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

Daily multi-vitamin Daily B12

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?

Nightmares (for the first few weeks) Pain in lower stomach after eating (still having) Dumping (seem to happen more after a year post op) Hair Loss (have had 2 bad waves of it 3 months post op and 1 yr post op)

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

Gas from laparoscopic surgery Lack of energy and being so tired for the first few months Dealing with the emotional adjustments of not being able to use food to comfort myself.

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

None, the only support network I have is Obesityhelp.com

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

I had laparoscopic so I have 6 small scars

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I have gone through several plateaus since surgery, but other WLS patients told me they would pass and they did.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

ABSOLUTELY!!! Men look at me, I am treated with more respect now and not stared at like I am a freak or something.