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

my best friend had it

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

I was very lucky! the surgeon submitted to the INS and I got approved on the first letter - I paid only a few hundred dollars for EVERYTHING involved in my surgery process!

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

take a list of questions to ask... my surgeon was very informative even though I had already done alot of research and been there while my best friend had surgery...

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

my best friend did it and I saw that it wasn't how I thought it was... it wasn't some drastic thing but a real wonderful helpful tool! after seeing her turn her life around in the first few months, I finally get fed up with being fat and started the process for myself!

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I trusted my best friend's judgement on what she did, and then did a little of my own research and decided RNY was the best for me too!

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?

oh my god!! in the last week or so leading up to surgery I was terrified of having something go wrong in surgery or dying on the table etc etc etc... I even was worried I did the wrong thing in the first two weeks when I didn't feel good while I was healing, but as time passed after surgery, I felt better and better about my decision!

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?

I was really worried my mom wouldn't be supportive, but when I told her I was serious about having the surgery, she was there for me... I had some criticism, but the amount of support I had far outweighed it...

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

I used my 2 weeks of vacation I had saved up for my surgery - my employers were very supportive and had my health first in their minds... I could have probably gone back to work after a week or a week and a half but I enjoyed the extra time off to adjust to my new tummy :)

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

I only stayed 2 nights in the hospital - Monday was my birthday and i was at work that day .. surgery was Tues morning and I went home Thursday afternoon - I was up and getting out of my apartment by that next morning!

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 nervous and anxious to hurry up and get it done! I did worry that I was making a bad decision sometimes but I knew if I didn't do it, I would still want to later and regret not taking advantage of the INS coverage and time off from work I had arranged!

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

the first week was hell - but it's been worth it... I think most of it was being stuck at home and trying to come out of the worst hangover every - probably for the morphine! and not being able to eat anything but soup... and being sore and scared of hurting myself... but a week after my surgery I wasn't taking any paid meds and I was up and driving and moving around and it's only gotten better since then! I was frustrated that I didn't feel like myself for a while, but I've gotten back to being me, but only better!

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

I only live like 2 blocks away from the hospital I had my surgery at - I literally could have walked to check in for my surgery - I felt like I didn't even hardly go outside when I went home from the hospital because it was such a short drive home!

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 was able to eat more solids that I thought I would and what I was supposed to... I was already eating smushed up tamales in the second week after my surgery but I was scared of messing up... I got sick of the liquids though... and the protein shakes were gross and made me gag... but I managed to sip on them for a while...

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

I tried to get up off the couch and move around at least every half hour in the first week... then I started adding more walking... and now I'm trying to add more physical activity and some weight lifting to build my muscle tone and strength

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

I take a calcium pill twice a day, a multivitamin in the morn, and an iron pill in the morn... for the first two weeks after surgery, I took chewable vitamins that were like a generic brand of the flintstones ones... I get all my supplements from my surgeons office...

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've had alot of hair loss...but I 'shed' alot before surgery anyway... and I went thru a spell of throwing up but I think alot of it was the cheese I was eating and sinus drainage... I haven't thrown up in a while...

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

I would say that I felt like hell when I first came out of the anesthesia and then the pain meds they gave me kicked in and I pretty much slept thru alot of the first week but I felt so lethargic for that first week... after that things started getting better until I went thru the throwing up phase and that sucked because I threw up so often and felt sick or very uncomfortable after I ate... but I've adjusted and haven't felt that yucky in a while - if I feel icky now I know it's because I either ate too much or too fast or something I shouldn't have - like sugar!

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

I have my best friend who also had the surgery - my monthly visits to my surgeon's office... obesityhelp.com! and I know of some local support groups, but I have only been to one meeting, but I know they are there if I need them!

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

just a few small scars... I know they are there, but the stretch marks I have bother me more!!

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I've plateaued a few times.... and my weight will usually fluctuate within 3-5 lbs for like a week and then I'll manage to get a new low # on the scale... plateus happen... it's just your body adjusting and trying to catch up... just hang in there and don't give up and if you are working out, remember muscle weighs more than fat... maybe you should measure inches instead of standing on the scale and cussing it for staying still!

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

maybe a little... people comment on how much smaller I am and how great I look, but I think most of it comes from how much more confident I am - I work hard not to be conceited but I know I've done something wonderful for myself and I've accomplished alot... I feel so much better and have more energy and I think people respond to that!