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

I saw a show on TV with Carnie Wilson, and it amazed me how much better she looked and how much happier she was. At first, I thought it was just for the super obese, like 400+ pounds, and for rich people who could pay to have anything regardless of the rules, like Hollywood types.

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

It was a breeze. I just had my PCP send a letter to BCBS and they approved me. My surgeon's office really handled all the logistics of it, and made it very easy for me. The only advice I would offer to others is, just go ahead and try, what do you have to lose?

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

It was wonderful. He was very informative and really impressed upon me ALL of the risks involved, and how important my compliance would me in the overall success of this surgery. He gave me time to ask questions and really listened to my concerns. He spoke in language I could understand and did not rush me at all. I would suggest you write down any questions you think of so that you don't forget to ask them when you are there.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I was desperate. I knew that I would be fat forever unless I did something drastic. And all of the success stories I saw on this board helped to convince me that I, too, could succeed at this.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

That was easy. The surgeon I chose only does one kind. Also, from researching, the RNY seemed to be the most effective and permanent of all the choices.

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 was terrified. I have a great husband and wonderful children, and I did not want to die and lose them. I prayed and cried a lot in the days leading up to surgery. In the end, I knew that, if I stayed fat, I would eventually die young anyway. I knew that, if I could survive the surgery itself, I would be fine, as I knew that I would follow my surgeon's instructions exactly, but I was scared that I would be one of the few who don't survive the surgery. I think that anyone going into this surgery would have to be insane not to have the same fears, or perhaps just not understand the seriousness of it. But you can't let fear stop you from taking a chance at a better life. And life is definitely better now.

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 was wonderful. My friends did not know. I don't intend to tell everyone. None of their business. Those who do know are very happy for me and were totally supportive of me every step of the way. I am happy that I have hand-picked the people in my life that I wanted to share this with.

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

I am self-employed, so this really does not apply. I was out of work for two weeks, and I really did heal rather slowly, but it was worth it.

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 great, except for the pain, of course. The nurses and staff were awesome, so nice and helpful. I was there for 3 days. Slippers, deodorant, lip balm.

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

None.

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 felt excited and scared to death, all at once. My emotions were all over the board. I kept looking at my kids and my husband and thinking, what if I don't make it? I can't lose them. Then I would look in the mirror and think, I just can't live like this for the rest of my life. Mostly, I coped by talking very openly about it all with my husband and praying a lot.

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

I was sore. I was tired. I was not hungry at all. I had to force water down. I was scared that maybe the surgery wouldn't work for me. I wondered when I would really start to lose. I wondered what the heck I had done to myself. I was excited to start seeing the weight come off. I was sore.

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

About an hour up the road.

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.

For the first two weeks, I only drank liquids. No food. Then I was allowed to have full liquids, which is like yogurt-type stuff. That was for two weeks. Then I was allowed to have soft foods, like cottage cheese. That was for two weeks. Then I was allowed to gradually introduce different foods into my diet. Slowly, my tolerance for different things has gotten better. I can now eat most foods, as long as they do not have sugar in them. I can't tolerate chinese food, as they use a lot of sugar in their cooking. I can't tolerate white bread or rice. I can't tolerate really dense meat, like steak. Other than that, I can eat most anything. I love Mexican food and Italian food, though I do have to be careful with the pasta, as too much of it makes me sick.

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

At first, I could only tolerate short walks. Slowly, it increased, but for a good month, I would get tired very easily and have to take frequent naps. Eventually, my energy returned to the point that I now have more energy than ever before in my life. I do water aerobics 3-4 times a week and find that I just feel really good.

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

A multivitamin everyday plus B-12 shots every 2 weeks, along with protein shakes.

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 nausea comes and goes, depending on what I eat and if I eat too fast, etc. Hair loss has been pretty bad, but I started out with such thick hair that it's only noticeable to me and my hairdresser. The nausea has slowly gotten better the farther out from surgery I get. The hair loss seems to finally be slowing down now at six months out. Hopefully it will stop soon. As far as coping, I just do my best to learn what not to do next time so as to avoid the nausea, and I cut my hair short so that it looks thick again.

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

The worst part for me was the fear I faced just before the surgery.

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

My surgeon's office has monthly support group meetings. These help me tremendously. They are very encouraging and plus I get to talk to so many others that are in my shoes.

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

It is red and runs from between my breasts to just above my belly button. It is pretty much what I expected.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I had one plateau just a few weeks out from surgery that lasted about 1 1/2 weeks, and another at about 4 months out that lasted for about 3 weeks. Other than that, the loss has been pretty steady. And, even during the plateaus, I continued to lose inches. It is important to measure yourself, as it really helps to keep you from getting discouraged when the scale stalls.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Definitely. Men flirt. Women treat me with more respect. Friends ask questions. Enemies hate me even more.