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

A friend of mine had the sugery and I saw her transform before my eyes. She went from being unhappy to happy. She could walk better and she became outgoing.

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

I am not sure what advice to give. I got approval pretty easily.

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

It was great. He answered all my questions. To be prepared to see your doc. Write all your questions down. Do lots of research so you know what questions you want to ask.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I was overweight most of my life. I tried everything and couldn't do it on my own. I did the surgery not only for myself but also for my kids and husband. Each year I added on more weight and I was on my way to having diabeties. I didn't want that to happen.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I decided that if I was going through surgery to lose weight, I was going to have it done premenitly. I didn't want to have ot worry about having surgery again. I also figured that this is my life I am wanting to change and I want to change it permenitly. I have had staph infection before in my life. I was afraid for it to happen again. So I chose to have the laposcopy approach. Less avasive. I

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 just feared the dying. But any kind of surgury has that complication.

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?

Everyone was upset at first. That is except my husband. They thought what I was doing was extreme. Then after I had it done and they saw the results they were very happy for me. My mother-in-law has now done the surgery too.

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

They were happy for me.

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 three days. It was not a pleasant experience for me since I was sick the whole time. My allergies decided to play the best on me while I was in. I also have problems with the anthsehia it makes me sick. Other than that it was great. They were very nice and very helpful. The most important things I brought with me, was my husband and my housecoat and slippers. Everything else didn't matter.

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

NO I really didn't. I was sick due to my sinues, but not from the surgery itself.

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 excited. I was just ready to get it done. I didn't get scared until they were wheeling back to the surgery room. Then again, my husband had the same surgery a month before and I saw how well he did, so I wasn't that nervous.

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

Well I found out men and women with this surgery I much different. My husband bounced back from the surgery with no problems. For me I was so tired, I felt like I couldn't get up on my own. I found out for women that part is harder. Get lots of rest. And eat what they tell you to eat even when you don't feel like it.

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

I drove for two hrs and a half. My family physican was going to take care of me for the most part. I only had to travel back and forth for checkups.

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.

At first I couldn't handle scrampled eggs. It just always felt like they were getting stuck. Also any breads at all would get stuck or chicken. NOw I can pretty much eat anything. If I do eat any breads at all it has to be with some sort of sauce or something to make it easier to get down. Say like pizza. Pizza also has to be thin crust. Chicken and steak has to be ate with some sort of sauce so that it is not too dry. I can now eat all the eggs I want. Infact to keep up on my protien I buy these real egg patties from wal-mart. I heat them up in the microwave add a slice of cheese and some burchetta on top. Yummy. It is a snack for me alot and it has protien and low in fat.

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

I was so tired right after surgery. My body thought it was starving so it took alot out of my energy. I so with walking built it back up

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

I always take Chewable childrens vitamins. (one source active kids plus Extra C) or Flinstones chewable vitamins and a Chewable vitamin C tablets. Two 500 MCG B12 vitamins, Two 1000 mg Tums for calcium. I also have to take 40mg of Nexium a day.

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 had trouble sleeping after I lost like 40lbs. Since my body was changing and bones had to get used to the weight change. I was fluffy before, so I had alot of cushion, when I lost weight I lost that cushion so it was hard to get used to sleeping. Had to get used to walking different. Got different shoes since I lost weight in my feet. Lost hair for the first 4 months, but dealt with it. I just changed my hairstyle.

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

Throwing up. I had to learn to eat alot slower. Also what to eat. Some things at first didn't go well. They would feel stuck and I would throw up. Also chew chew chew. I had to learn to stop and chew more.

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

My scar was very minimal.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I plateaued from about six months into the weight lose then slowly came out of it, losing weight bit by bit.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Oh yes. People see me. They don't see this fat shy person anymore. I am more outgoing and people see that. They like the new me. I also don't get looked by people with their nose up like I used to.