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

Found out through my friend's dad who had lap-band surgery in Mexico.

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

My insurance company was very helpful and cooperative. Read your policy and call them.

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

Very informative. Dr. Spivak was very patient and attentive.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

Lots of research and seeing the success of my friend's dad. It also helped that upon my initial examinations that they discovered that I had gallstones and needed that removed too. I never told anyone at work about my lap-band surgery and used the gallbladder as my cover!

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I knew I didn't want the gastric bypass surgery as it was too invasive. Lap-band surgery had less risk.

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?

To me the benefits outweighed the risks.

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?

Lots of people still don't know I had the surgery. I also had my gallbladder out at the same time, so I just told people it was gallbladder surgery...and since my weight loss was gradual...no one really asked, although some people thought I was bulemic. I didn't tell my parents until a few weeks before surgery, and both were very supportive as were my friends after I explained all of the research I'd done.

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

No one at my office knows about the surgery. They all thought it was just gallbladder surger. I was out of work for one week.

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

Stay was fine. I stayed two nights and then flew back to Dallas from Houston. Most important "thing" to bring was my mom!

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

No complications.

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 but excited. No real anxiety. It took awhile to learn about my body and the limits of the band and what I could eat and couldn't eat...and the time it takes to eat.

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

I was scared to eat because I was scared to throw up. I stuck to soft foods for awhile.

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

Traveled to Houston (and then drove 20 minutes to Baytown) from Dallas. My mom was with me and this helped tremendously.

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 don't eat bread or salads

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

Slow moving. I'd get tired easily.

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

Chewable multi-vitamins and then tried pre-natal vitamins for awhile for extra nutrients.

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 got lots of cavities from not chewing food...that's my opinion.

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

Keeping it a secret...and not wanting people to know about it. To this day, no one from work knows and many of my family members don't know. But I'm happy with my decision not to tell.

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

None. I would get counsel from my friends. I think this would have been very helpful, but I didn't take much time to look into it.

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

I had laproscopic surgery so I have 4 small scars. I've tried using maderma to erase them, but didn't really work. The scars aren't bad at all.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I probably lost 10 the first month and then a few pounds a week because I was eating junk and learned how much I loved mushy foods like ice cream and mashed potatoes with gravy etc. While the band is a miracle, you still need discipline because you can always find a way to eat bad things. I kept 50 pounds off since about June 2004 (Surgery was March 2002) but then I was prescribed Bontril and have lost another 30+ pounds as of March 2005.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes. Absolutely. But I think it not only has to do with the weight loss, but also with my confidence level.