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

My PCP recommended I look into it. I was excited but my insurance company had an exclusion for WLS at that time.

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

Approval wasn't hard. I had to meet their qualifications which I did and then do everything they asked. It was time consuming but not hard.

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

I liked Dr. Juarez. He got to the point and explained everything in a way I understood. He also answered all the questions I had. His practice is very busy and my meeting was brief, but I walked away feeling very confident in my choice and his abilities.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

My insurance company got rid of their exclusion for WLS.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Dr. Juarez explained RNY and Lap-Band to me. We decided RNY was the best choice 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 really felt I was killing myself a little everyday with the life I was leading...I was willing to take the risk!

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 and friends are my biggest supporters! I've talked about my surgery with everyone that is interested. I feel it will help keep my honest with myself in the long run.

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

My supervisors were very supportive. However, what could they really say? I was approved and they had to deal with it. I was off 3 weeks and was ready to go back to work. My surgery was a textbook case and I was up and walking 3 hours after my surgery. There was no way I was going to let this fail and did everything I could to recover quickly!

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

My hospital stay was awesome. My nurses were attentive and very helpful. I was in the hospital two days. However, I had a roommate that was horrible. She had a hernia repair and whined the whole time I was there.

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 was really sore and had to sleep in a recliner for a few days. Everyday was easier only the first 3 or 4 were really hard. I wasn't worried as I had a lot of support from my family. They watched me like a hawk!

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

Walk and sip they are the most important things to do. It's hard to drink as much as you are supposed to but do the best you can.

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

I live 30 minutes away from the hospital. Aftercare is not affected.

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 have found now that I have to eat really, really, really slow when it comes to any kind of meat. Take a bite, chew to oblivion, go do something for a few minutes and come back. If I stay at the table I will eat too fast and get sick. My pouch still prefers soft foods but I make an effort to eat meat every day. I can eat something one day and it not agree with me the next. It's a pain but something I have learned to live with and it's really not that big of a deal.

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

In the beginning I walked around the neighborhood. Now I go to the gym every other day.

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

I take a multivitamin, calcium, B-12 and iron everyday.

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 haven't had any side effects that I thought were really bad.

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

Getting up and down or out of bed in the first week after surgery. Your ab's are really sore!

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

I found a support group close to my home. They meet twice a month. They are a great support and we have members that run the gamut from pre surgery to post op 6 years. They are awesome and easy to talk to.

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

5 little scars. They are nothing and healing nicely.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I hit a major one for two weeks when I had lost 60 pounds.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes. It's horrible how over weight people are treated.