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

I saw the story of Dr. Fobi on one of the news magazine shows and that got me started. I had no idea of the advances made in weight loss surgery, but I was determined to not only get as much information as possible, but to finally be able to do something to correct my weight. I'm not really a big eater and I always felt that there was more than that to my weight problem. After doing all my investigating, I'm learning that there is more than just what you eat.

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

I'm just getting started and my medical plan was great - so far. I'll need to update this section as I go along. Aetna approved me after the first letter from Dr. Vanguri. It took approximately two weeks.

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

I loved Dr. Vanguri immediately. After the weigh-in and a short talk with him, he had us wait until he had done the same with a total of five prospective patients. He then took all of us in a room together with anyone we brought along, and spent lots of time explaining all types of surgies, what he prefers to perform, why, etc. and we all stayed until every question anyone had was fully answered. He was wonderful, informative, and totally approachable.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

Sites like this one and the amazing people I've met or talked to that helped me understand my alternatives and life changes and how this "tool" can be used to save my life.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I read everything I could find, talked to everyone who was willing, and then discussed everything with my primary physician and Dr. Vanguri.

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'd be foolish to say I have no fears, but I have more fears of trying to continue as I am. I've been meeting with a group of mostly post-ops for the past 6 months, and have learned so much from them. My advise to anyone pursuing this surgery is to meet with other people who have been there. Learn from them and then make your decision. It's a tough road, but I haven't met or talked to anyone who wouldn't do it again in a hearbeat.

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 has been great, especially my husband. All my friends have been really supportive also, except for one couple who we meet with for dinner once a month. I haven't quite figured out yet why they are really against the surgery, but they don't live in this body.

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

My supervisors took it pretty good. I told them that I would be having gastric bypass surgery. They have suffered with me over the past four years with a chronic back problem, and I told them that this would hopefully help the back as well as a number of other issues related to my weight. They were very supportive. I told them that I planned on being out six to eight weeks.

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

My stay was okay. I wasn't very drugged, but I certainly did sleep quite a bit. The nurses were very familiar with my surgeon and his preferences, so all in all, everything went well. The best thing was that the hospital allowed my husband to come and go as he pleased and the nursing staff for the area where I was, were very willing to give him free reign over the "kitchen" area so he could get Italian Ice for me whenever I wanted it or broth, juice, etc. That made things a lot easier as I didn't always want something when the tray arrived.

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

My only "problem" was that every time I tried to get up to go to the bathroom, which was often with the IV's draining, I got a muscle spasm just below my breasts. My surgeon said that it's rare, but not uncommon or dangerous, just very painful. Fortunately, it only last for a few hours. By that evening, the medication he gave me for the spasm had worked, and they were gone.

In the weeks after you got your surgery date, how did you feel? How did you cope with any anxiety you might have felt?

Anxious, doubtful, but incredibly excited. Fortunately, I had a wonderful support group who was there for me. And a very supportive husband who kept taking me out and telling me how proud he was of me for pursuing this.

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

Tired! Make sure you have a comfortable chair. Beds or sofas are hard to get in and out of, but a good lounge chair is perfect. Especially if it can be located where it's not too far from the bathroom. It's also wonderful if you can have someone to help you the first week or so in getting in and out of the chair or bed, etc. After two weeks, I really felt that I didn't need anyone around, and it was actually better to be on my own. But for the first two weeks, I gladly accepted the assistance.

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

My surgery was about 35 miles from home - approximately a 45 minute drive.

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.

Initially, I was on liquids for the first two weeks, then soft/blended foods for the next two weeks. My instructions after that were, be sensible, but if I really want something, try it. I have found that even today - 11 months post-op - I don't tolerate ground beef in sauces - speghetti sauce with beef, etc. However, I can eat a hamburger and meatloaf with out any problems, and I can eat meatless speghetti sauce. Just not together. Prior to surgery, I ate chicken almost every day. Now, two bites and I'm full. Turkey seems to be about the same. They can be tolerated more if they have gravy on them, but they aren't as satifying. But a steak works best. No problems with consumption or digestion. Prior to surgery, I wasn't a big seafood or rice eater. I would eat shrimp on occasion, crab once in a while, but no other types of seafood. Now I still don't eat seafood much, but I do find shrimp very satisfying, especially over rice. And lately, I can't seem to get enough tuna salad. So I guess I may soon be trying other types of seafood. And prior to surgery, there wasn't a french fry that I didn't meet personally. Now I can definitely do without them. BUT - My biggest problem is that I've had no dumping and seem to be able to eat anything. My sweet tooth is fully intact! I love potato chips, and they actually seem to settle my stomach at times. And cheese - wow, put cheese on the menu, and I'm set.

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

Prior to surgery, the most active thing I did was get in the car to go to dinner or to the kitchen for a snack. Now, we're back to biking, I can out walk my husband with no trouble, and, even though I hate to admit this, all my closets are clean!

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

I take a daily multiple vitamin, a 1 1/2 times iron tablet, an A&D vitamin and 2 calcium tables at bedtime. I've been taken off B12 for now, because my B12 count was off the chart for the past six months. I also haven't been doing anything for additional protein as my doctor feels my levels are okay.

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 never suffered nausia, but the two times I tried speghetti with meat sauce, I had to get it out. Other than that, no vomiting/dumping. I've had no sleep problems. I did have a fair bit of hair loss at about six months, but fortunately no really large clumps. By nine months it had stopped. My hair was shoulder length when it started to drop out, so I got it cut. Shorter hairs on my shoulders and in the brush seemed less traumatic.

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

There were no "worst" parts. I would do everything again in a heartbeat. Worse is watching life pass you by.

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

My surgeon has a monthly support group, but it's not really convenient, so I'm afraid that I don't make it very often. However, when I have made it, it's wonderful. I am part of a Yahoo e-Group local to the Maryland-Virginia-DC area and we meet monthly for lunch. The first meeting was just after my husband and I started to research WLS and there were six of us at the lunch (3 post-ops, 3 pre-ops and 1 spouse). The last lunch meeting had about 18 folks. Without this type of support, I don't know if I would have had the courage to go forward with the surgery. I do know for certain that I would have been less confident and informed on what to expect and how to handle each situation.

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

My scar is exactly as I expected as far as the length. The lower have, however, is nice and smooth, and the upper half is fatter and still itches. I would be happier if it was all smooth. But both my surgeon and PCP have informed me that you can never predict how a scar will heal, and this is how mine has healed. Since I never plan on wearing a bikini again, I really don't care how it looks. If fact, I'll show it to anyone who wants to see it. Want to see?

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Thanks to my support group and wonderful sites like this one, I have not been surprised or depressed by my plateaus. At about five months I hit the first one for about six weeks. I'm one of those folks that do what the doctors tell you not to do, and I get on my digital scale every day. And every day for about six weeks, I was exactly the same weight. Then the scale moved about four pounds in a week. Then for the next six weeks, no movement. Etc, etc, etc. I've come to expect them, not get excited with them, and just wait for the next drop. Now if it started creeping upwards, I may not feel the same. But, fortunately, I'm still in the losing mode. And I know that I'm looking and feeling great.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Oh my, yes. But my attitude is also quite different. And if someone comments on how I look, I blurt right out that I've had WLS. And then I ask them if they want to see my scar! I may have been ashamed of how I looked before, but I'm anything but ashamed of how I look now. And very proud to be a WLS success story.