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

I have known about bariatric surgery for many years. A long time ago I had a friend that was trying to gain a little more weight so she would qualify for the surgery. I never really considered having it until my daughter and her partner both had it last year. All of a sudden it was in the forefront of my mind. I could watch close-up all the ups and downs of what they went through. The clencher was that my daughter was declared cured of a potentially devastating disease after her weight loss. It has always been my dream to have a cure for my type 2 diabetes and not to have to take all the meds I have lived on for so long.

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

I had absolutely no trouble getting insurance approval. Dr. Johnson's office took care of everything for me. I had so many co-morbidities that I guess the insurance company looked at this as a blessing!

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

When I met Dr. Johnson for the first time, I was very impressed by his gentle, caring attitude. To get the most out of this meeting I would suggest taking a list of all the questions you think of on a daily basis. I know if I don't write them down they will go right out of my head when I need them.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I was tired of living on an insulin pump and taking so many medications every day. I felt like a slave to a med bag!

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I did a lot of research on the internet. I was very familiar with open RNY because my daughter had the same surgery the year previously.

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 don't think at the time that I had any real fears. I hadn't personally seen any complications of others.

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?

Some were very happy that I made the decision to have the surgery. Others were very reserved and fearful of it but they were willing to let me make my own choices. In the end everyone was extremely supportive.

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

I told them the truth about the surgery. They were a little concerned about the time I was taking off but I gave them enough advance notice of the dates and made all the arrangements for my replacement that I possibly could. They were very supportive. I took two weeks off work but was really ready to go back after the first week. I looked at the second week as vacation time.

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

My stay in the hospital was good. I had my surgery on Monday and went home on Wednesday. The only thing I really needed from home were my own pillow and something very loose to wear like an unbelted robe and loose nightgowns.

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

i had no complications from the surgery other than my bladder always has a hard time waking up after anesthesia. I alerted the doctor and the nurses to this problem and after a certain period of time the doctor gave me something to hurry the process along.

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 so excited that the time had finally come. I stayed very busy trying to get everything at work ready for my time away. I don't really remember much anxiety.

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

My recovery was remarkable. I went shopping with my daughter the day after I got home from the hospital. I stayed very busy and active. I think it really helped because I never took the time to think about being sick or in pain, therefore, it never seemed to happen. I was ready to go back to work the next week.

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

i didn't have to travel out of the city.

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

I do not go to an official support group because I have moved to another state and haven't found one. I do have a support group of my own because my daughter, her partner, a cousin, and my sister-in-law have either had or are having the surgery in the near future. I also have several friends and online support groups that I keep in contact with.

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

My scar goes up and down and is very faint. My surgeon does not use stitches or staples and that makes for a very fine scar. i knew what the scar would look like before I had my surgery. It fades more as time goes by.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I have been on a plateau now for a couple of months. I would like to buckle down and lose the last 30 pounds I need to lose to reach my goal. I am not sure how to do this but I suspect that I need to go back to the "pouch rules"!

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes, most definitely. I do think that the different treatment comes from the difference in me and how I perceive other's opinions of me. i have much more self confidence now.