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

I first heard about it from different people. At first I thought that is very risky but I was willing to do it to have a new life.

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

I had no problem at all with getting approved for the surgery.

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

My first meeting with the surgeon was very quick. I would advise everyone to ask as many questions as possible. Even if you have questions after you leave you should call the Dr. office and do plenty of research on the internet.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I was either looking at some kind of knee surgery (which would have been my fourth) or lose some weight. It takes alot longer to recover from a knee surgery than it do from gastric bypass surgery.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Roux-En-Y is the only surgery my insurance carrier will pay for. They would not pay for the lap band.

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?

Pray, Pray, Pray, Pray, Pray. Prayer is the key. I always remember that God knows the plan he has for me. His plans are to prosper me not to harm me Jerimiah 29:11.

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 friends and family was very supportive. Although strangers that I would meet would think I looked fine, but of course that would come mainly from skinny women.

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

My in the hospital was very pleasant. I had very supportive nurses. I stayed in the hopital 2 days.

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

After surgery I was pretty drugged up but I do remember vomiting for hours and thinking when is this going to end. Finally I had a nurse who came on duty and she switched my nausea meds and that did the trick. It was a relief not to vomit blood anymore and just get some rest. I finally got rest about 3 am that morning.

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 very excited and nervous at the same time. I kept focus on my goal.

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

Get plenty of rest. Don't let the scale rule you because you can become obsessed with it. Learn your body all over. It takes time. Be patient.

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

I had to travel about 65 miles for my Dr. appt and surgery. The only bad thing about having to travel is finding someone to drive you to your followup appt. My husband is military and it is very hard for him to get off from work sometimes.

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.

No dairy, Nothing that lived in water(seafood), Nothing with real sugar. As time go on I could eat cereal but I still can not drink the milk and I am 9 months post op now. I still can tolerate chicken too well.

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

Very little. I took it very slow. I didn't to complicate things

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

I am now 9 months post op I am on 2500 mcg B-12, Viactiv multi vitamin soft chew and I drink Glucose control Boost only because the regular boost has too much sugar and boost has the protein I need.

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?

Hair loss was the worst for me. Nausea and vomiting come and go but my hair takes time to come back. So I cut my hair really short so my hair wouldn't look too thin. I have always had really long hair. But the surgery was worth it I would do it all over again.

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

Five days before my surgery I had to go on a liquid diet and that was very hard. I really never gave it any thought as to how hard it is to find only liquids to fill you up.

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

My family and friends. It is very important to keep positive people around you.

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

You wouldn't know I had any surgery just by looking at my belly. I have virtually no scars.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Plateau's are very difficult to deal with. When you hit one it makes you feel like you have done something wrong. You also begin to think is this all the weight I am going to lose? But remember when you are not losing pounds you are losing inches. And losing inches is good also.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes. People no longer treat me like I am a disease. They treat me like the "in crowd" now.