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

I don't remember signing up to the OH website but I did it in '06. I remember the first time I found out about WLS was when I lived in Oregon in the 90s and working for Blue Cross. Since we lived very close to the CA border we did a lot of the CA State employee's benefits and their coverage included WLS and ours didn't! And we worked for BC! At the time, the only surgery I'd ever heard about was Bypass and as medically oriented as I am, that surgery freaked me out. The idea of not having a stomach and no digestion just seemed too final to me, even though it would have obviously been a choice if there had been no other.

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

I work for the State of OK now and I'm told because insurance companies that we are choosing from know that we can change programs every year, they are not willing to foot the bill on a WLS. So I was a cash pay. I am still planning to appeal the decision for the other office procedures that should be covered.

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

My first "meeting" was a formal gathering of other WLS patients-to-be that is required by the Hospital I went to. The thing people have to understand is that these guys know what they're talking about; it's a specialized procedure and it's ALL they do! There are always going to be people who push the envelope and see how they can tweak a program or tool to their own benefit, but seriously people, isn't being out of control the reason we're all seeking that weight loss tool??? Pay attention, trust in what they say, start changing your head about your life in a positive manner. If you can't conform to the program, WLS isn't going to work very well for you if you don't change your head and your attitude and your eating style. PERIOD.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

Originally I thought it would never happen for me because I was going to be a cash pay. Before the seminar, just checking things out online, I thought I was going to go with the band. But after the seminar, I realized that the Vertical Sleeve was the best choice for me. I would have had this surgery 10 years ago or more had I had the money. There was NEVER any fear, I was just waiting for the money.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

See above.

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 had NO fears. I am a very optimistic person, probably to a fault. I kept telling myself that all my other elective surgeries had gone very well and I could see no reason for this one to be any different. I am not afraid of anesthesia or anything; in fact I would have loved to see my own procedure videotaped!! I would tell people that NOT doing this is scarier than having it!

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 completely and totally supportive! I know that a lot of people schedule a procedure like this around a vacation so they don't have to tell the world (i.e. work, family, even husbands!) but me, I'm the poster child for this! I had my surgery on a Wednesday, took the rest of the week off and was back to my job on Monday, no worse for the wear! GO FOR IT!

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

See above.

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

Excellent, other than being abdominally sore, it was a breeze. I was there about 26-28 hours. If you have a laptop, bring it. Ipod, book, toothbrush and hair brush. You are going to want to sleep and rest but honestly the beds are horrid. And you have to walk as much as possible and keep drinking. I didn't know I'd be able to shower so I didn't prepare for that before I left. I wore the gown the whole time as it would have been just as comfortable as the clothes I brought and since I was busy putting on and taking off the pressure leggings each time I was up and down, it might have been easier just to wear the gown.

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?

GREAT! NO anxiety whatsoever.

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

Expect that that horrid water weight you gain in the hospital will be gone in a couple days and then some more too and if that doesn't stoke you, then nothing will!! You might be a bit tired, which is to be expected. I realize that everyone isn't the same; I might be tough or just lucky or whatever, but I didn't have any pain killers in the hospital and didn't take any at home either. The only 'pain' was simple abdominal discomfort from the instruments inserted into the incisions. No more pain than if you'd been sick with the flu. It will be hard to drink all the required water but just do it. Trust me, you CAN get through this period of not eating because you probably just won't be hungry. I am 4 weeks out today and have yet to feel hungry. True stomach hunger is not going to occur again because of that hormone being removed with the bigger portion of my stomach. It's head hunger only.

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

7 miles.

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.

Week 1-2: liquids only. Sugar free popsicles, water, sugar free jello, strained soup broth. No dietary tolerance noted at this time (4 wks out).

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

HIGH ENERGY!

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

Daily calcium, multivitamin and b12 a couple times a week.

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 did vomit once after eating too fast. No biggie though, you know what's going to happen right away and have time to get to the bathroom. It's not anything like having the flu and that kind of vomiting. I have not yet had any sleep problems or hair loss and don't expect to experience dumping since I do have a stomach.

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

THE WAIT!

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

There is a weekly support group that I have attended a couple times but I seem to be no different now than I was before surgery. I am still very optimistic, very confident, and since I have been fortunate to have been thin in my life, and see that lots of these bariatric patients have never been, so I'm perhaps not in the same emotional place they are. I am sure it is very helpful to everyone that attends. I find the website very handy and in busy times it's the only contact I have with other WLS patients.

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

I have 6 small incisions that are all horizontal above the belly button and they won't be anything at all. There were no sutures; they used surgical glue. It's no problem.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I am currently in a plateau! I was losing about 2-3 lbs every couple days for the first 3 weeks and now the last 10 days or so I've not lost one. I understand this is typical. I expect plateaus from time to time and you just have to deal with them. Keep drinking water and getting the protein in.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Only my mom who keeps calling me a skinny bitch!LOL I've lost 35lbs since starting the program (14 prior to surgery and the rest after)so there's not a huge difference right now, but there will be!