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

First heard about Roseanne and the Fobi pouch. I thought she was crazy. Then later on when Carnie Wilson had it done I thought...gee... and then seeing her after a year I knew that was what I wanted too!

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 with getting approval. My insurance company was very good about it.

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

Good first meeting. I learned he is a world renowned laprascopic surgeon who just recently started doing the Roux-N-Y procedure. He is very experienced and I think he did a good job with me too. :) I think patients can get the most out of meeting with him (as with any physician) by writing up a complete list of questions beforehand.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

Seeing the results that Carnie Wilson and so many people on THIS website have achieved. I figured if they could do it why can't I?

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I wanted to have the Roux-n-Y because from all I've read the results are so good. Then when I found Dr. Ferzli and found that it was that procedure he was doing that sealed the deal 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?

My fears were chiefly anesthesia related. But that is with ANY surgery I've had. I just prayed a lot and said to myself that if I was to die during this surgery then that is how it was meant to be. But I prayed - A LOT!!

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 is very supportive of my decision. He knows how much it means to me. My daughter was somewhat ambivalent about it. She just wants me happy and healthy. My son on the other hand was afraid I was going to "change". He told me how much he loved his Mommy like she is now, and why do I have to change things. He's just 11 so he doesn't really understand.

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

I work for one of the larger internet communities. They are supportive. I didn't really say I was having a gastric bypass, but instead said I was having hiatal hernia repair, which I did in a way ;) Since I work online, it's really not a problem for me being away. I was "away" from work just the 3 days. The day I came home I was back online but not doing full duty and they're very cool about that.

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

I was in the Hospital for 3 days. It was like any other hospital stay. The bed was uncomfortable. I was in the ICU those days so the bed was high off the floor so it was difficult for me to maneuver from the bed to the potty chair, which I did on the 2nd day. I was up and around that second day. Don't bring much. Robe, slippers, chapstick, hand lotion. Just the bare minimum.

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

No complications. 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'm nervous about the anesthesia. Plus I've never been in this hospital before. I'm going to Victory Memorial Hospital in Brooklyn. I've not heard good or bad things about it. So I'm going in with an open mind. It's truly in God's hands at this point. I think I'm also nervous about getting home and being able to function with my new way of eating while still having to care for a feed a family. I wonder how that will be?

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

Incisional pain. Trouble gauging the size of the stomach. I myself am afraid to eat too much so I think I'm not eating enough and I get hungry quicker. But a little jello usually fills me up.

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

Not far at all. I'm in Staten Island and I traveled to Brooklyn. A 20 minute drive for those of you that don't know New York :)

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.

Well right now I'm just 5 days post op. I'm eating clear soups, egg drop soup, sugar free jello, sugar free pudding, cottage cheese, sugar free ice pops. That's about it for now. By Tuesday I'll start with some tuna fish and see how that goes. I have yet to have a food make me nauseous or vomit.

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

I'm 5 days post op and I'm up and around. I was up and walking by day 2 but it wasn't easy. I had lots of incisional pain. But now I'm a little sore in the midsection but other than that I can get around just fine.

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

I have been taking the sublingual B12, a chewable multivitamin and also the chewable Maalox for the calcium.

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?

So far I haven't experienced true nausea. When I say that I mean I've felt queasy sometimes but it passes quickly. No vomiting at all. No hair loss - yet. No dumping - yet. Sleep disturbance ONLY because of the incisional pain and I can't seem to sleep on my sides yet.

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

Waiting to have it done ;)

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

My doctor doesn't have a support group yet. I'm hoping with the ties I've established here online I can influence him to start a group of some kind.

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

I have six tiny little incisions from the laprascopic procedure. Yes, just what I expected. :)

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Too early for that

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Too early to tell :)