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

On TV along time ago. I went to a few seminars but got frightened off from some of the things they said

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

I had a good insurance and had no problems so I'm no help.

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

I switched Dr.s. The first one I wasn't empressed with. They said he was real tired that day and he didn't even seem to want to be there and even got sarcastic so I changed to another who was young and had alot of energy. I ask alot of questions, probably more than most and had done alot of research so I drilled him till I got all my questions answered

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

My health and quality of life was leaving fast and felt it's time I did something for myself.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Read alot and also my age. I didn't have time to have the band since it takes longer to lose and I'm 61, I needed to get on with my life now. Plus I wouldn't want to go back and forth for the fills but that's just 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 did have fears right before surgery. I was nervous about leakage and of course death but that seems normal from talking to others who have had it. I just decided I'm going into this with a possitive outlook and here I am doing real good, what can I say. It all is in how much you want to be healthy and how your quality of life is, mine was not good so I took the chance and won, (so far anyway) it looks good

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 kids and mother were real excited for me and supportive and my friends but my husband was really against it and gave me a terrible time. I told him say all you want I'm going to do it. He is fine now that its all over and encourges me to the point of bugging me, so it all worked out.

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

NA

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

My stay was good. The nurses were nice and I was comfortable. I did have a room mate that had to have her TV going 24 hours a day if she was awake or not and that bothered me but I just closed the drapes and got ear plugs. The most important thing to bring was my sleepers and my robe.

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

No , except for I had bleeding from one of the stitch sites, alot of bleeding in the hospital. The nurse took care of it 2 times. The Dr. wasn't concerned and didn't come in, that bothered me some. I wish he would've stopped by to reasure me everything was ok and to let me know where all the blood was coming from.

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 frightened . It helped me to go to support groups and meet others who had the surgery and listen to how happy they were they did it and going on line to the obesityhelp site as been so helpfull also. I'm really glad I found the support of all the nice people on line.

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

Weakness. Mornings were the hardest for the first week. I'd get out of breath doing little things but moved forward. I did my walking and had my husband drive me places where I'd do some walking in the grocery store ect. The second week I was on my own . I took it slow and sometimes felt weak and out of breath but was inproving everyday. I had and still have (2 weeks out) getting all my protein and fluids in , thats my biggest task now.

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

just about 15 miles in my town

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'm only 2 weeks and 4 days out so can't give to much information. I stuck strickly to my Dr.s diet plan and had no problems with anything. I haven't gone off so don't know if I will have any problems with food yet. I sure can't hack the protein drinks though. The clear ones are better than the powder or thick prepared ones but I just can't handle the powder ones now or then.

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

First week stayed around the house and did a little walking outside but mostly up and down my hall. I did go out with my husband to the store or to visit my mother and felt tired. The second week was driving and shopping and getting to feel pretty normal again. Started getting into house cleaning around the 2 weeks. I straightened up before a real little but not changing sheets or dishes and deep cleaning till 2 weeks out. I let my husband help me, didn't turn it down.

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

Flintstones chewable 2 and vitamin B12 sublingal one time a week, 2000mcg

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?

The only problems I've had is diarrhea which I take imodium , had it almost every night. I think its from the whey in the protein drinks and the other is had to sleep, just real restless. Both going on still 2 weeks 4 days except the diarrhea seems better since cutting back on the protein drinks

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

Really nothing, I'm doing very well

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

My Dr.s office has a support group that meets every month and I go to another one with other people once a month and also belong to obesityhelp.com . They are all important for me for the support.

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

I turned black and blue across my stomach. I didn't expect that . The scares are small from the incision.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I plateaued after one weeks that freaked me out, for one whole week and then started losing again the next.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

No but probably will after I've lost bunch.