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

I was ready!

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

Do your own legwork. Call and find out who is responsible to approve your claim and get contact numbers. Find out what is needed to make it medically necessary. Go ahead and get all your medical records so you can fax them . Get letters from you PCP and for ladies your OB/GYN why they think it is necessay and let them know who and where to send it. Give the contact info to the ins person at the doctors office and follow up! You are your best advocate!

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

My meeting was good. Write down all your questions and concerns, and bring someone with you if you can. You will forget some things and by having a list written out and someone with you can be a huge help!

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I was ready to be 40 and healthy and smaller!

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I just wanted to go for it, if I was gonna do it I was gonna have gastric bypass. Did not want to dawdle with the lapband

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 di dnot hve fears because I was a peace with my decision. Since my daughter is a special needs !child I did take appropriate measures so everyone would know my wishes . You should always have a will and make more then 1 person aware of your wishes! A living will is also essencial

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?

I had a lot of mixed reactions, some came from just plain caring, some from fear, some from jealousy and really it did not matter to me. As long as my daughter was on board the rest would come later!

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

They did not like the fact I was taking offo work but since it was medically necessary they did not have a choice. I went back 14 days post op, drain and all!

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

Hillcrest Hospital was great and they knew what Dr. Bour wanted done. The hardest part was goin withour water or moisture of any kind for near 48 hours. It was the worst. Bring a pillow to hold to your tummy.

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 was at peace! The psych on staff startedme on Lexapro a month or more before surgery and I was on Wellbutrin already!

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

It was challanging on clear liquids , then liquids then pureed foods was tough, you do not loose your addiction to food, so it is hard to deal with but you just have too!

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

6 min. from my home!

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

Low the first few weeks and then picked up gradually form there!

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

I take optisource 4 times a day, Flax seed oil 1 time per day and hair, skin and nail vitamins 3 times 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 got sick a few times because I ate too fast and did not chew enough. I really have not dumped from anything and started loosing hair after 2 months. I coped by eating slower, chewing more and used nioxin shampoo, conditioner and treatment, take nair,skin and hair vitamins and try to increase my protein!

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

No water for near 48 hours, anything after that I was able to deal with!!!

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

I go to Dr. Bours office every Monday night for support group and then upstate pts meet after that meeting to talk amongst ourselves

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

I have 6 , most are small except the one where the tools went in and the drain site, it looks like the Chanel "C's" that cross back to back. Pretty much they was like I was told they would be. I know using press and seal saved the interrity of my skin insead of surgical tape for drain site.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I have only lost about 6 pounds since Christmas so I am in a frustraing plateau right now!

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

People make eye contact with me now out i public instead of averting their eyes and they speak to me more. I have better customer service when I go out