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

One of my doctors made mention of it during an office visit and after that, I started pursuing the possibilities. It took two years to get approval to finally have the surgery and it was worth the wait.

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

The insurance approval was a nightmare, mainly because the person at the doctor's office was giving me incorrect information. Due to the misinformation, I changed insurance plans, and then found out that approval was more likely with my previous plan, so I had to wait until the enrollment period came around again to change back. I had to do the 6 month diet history, which was something else my primary care physician didn't cooperate really well with.

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

My first visit with the surgeon who actually did my surgery was for the pre-op consultation 4 days before my surgery. I was very impressed with him and his staff. The 5 hour group meeting was very informative. The only thing I would suggest is to bring a snack and drink because it was a long day.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

My general practitioner told me during one of my visits that if I didn't lose some weight, my health would continue to deteriorate rapidly. This was an eye-opener for me because I want to be around to watch my 8 year old daughter grow up and I knew if I didn't do something drastic, that would happen.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

This decision was easy, it was definitely Ruen-Y all the way. Didn't even consider the lap band at all.

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 believe everything happens in due time and for a reason and I believe God had finally answered my prayers and I trusted Him to guide me through the whole process. He hasn't let me down yet and I'm sure He never will! Faith is a strong virtue and a vital part of any life-changing event/surgery.

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?

During the first 2 years of trying to get approval, I only told very few people (less than 5) and 3 of those were family members. I still haven't told many more about the surgery, I just enjoy seing the look of amazement on their faces and answer their questions as necessary. My husband, daughter, and parents were extremely supportive throughout the entire process and continue to be supportive and proud of my accomplishments.

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

I did not tell any of my coworkers until I had a surgery date scheduled! I work with 4 women and all of them were very supportive of my decision and congratulated me. I was out of work for 6 weeks mainly due to the holidays. I had my surgery the Monday before Thanksgiving and went back to work on January 3rd.

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

I was only in the hospital 1 night. I had surgery early on Monday morning and went home Tuesday afternoon. Due to the surgeon's hectic schedule (and it being a holiday week), I had to wait a bit longer to be released on Tuesday. I expected to go home around 1 pm and it was 6 pm before I could leave.

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

When I was 2 weeks post-op, I had severe pain in my left side. When I called my surgeon, he recommended I go to the ER because the symptoms sounded like a blood clot in my lung. Well, after dozens of tests/scans, etc., it was determined that I had either a pulled muscle or separated rib, but fortunately no blood clot! I was in the hospital overnight in the PCU for observation.

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 received my surgery date call on 11/1 and my surgery was scheduled for 11/20. I made me a count-down calendar and checked off each day anxiously awaiting the final date! No reservations or doubts for me. To me, it was the date I would "begin the rest of my life"! I had full faith and trust in God and in my surgeron.

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

Move around as much as possible, but DON'T lift anything. Follow your "recovery" plan and everything will be fine. My Mom spent the first week at home with me and she was very helpful, especially when it came to taking a bath -- I couldn't bend over to bathe or dry off my lower legs and feet.

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

I had to travel about 80 miles from home for my surgery for to insurance coverage purposes. Of course, I'm glad I did because I was much more impressed with my surgeon and his staff than I was with the doctor I was previously seeing. Dr. Jawad is a top-notch surgeron in his field and now I know why!

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.

One thing that really surprised me was that my sense of taste and smell changed drastically. I couldn't stomach the smell of food cooking for any length of time (i.e., bacon, fried foods, etc.) without getting nauseated. I also couldn't even stand the smell of chocolate (yea, I know that's hard to believe since I was a recovering chocoholic!). Once I was on soft foods, I learned how to eat almost anything by putting it in the blender -- different consistency, but same taste! Try it. I'm 5 months post-op now and still have some sensitivity to some smells. Once I eat, I have to remove myself from the food area/room otherwise I get nauseated.

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

I would walk around the house as I felt able to. About 2 weeks post-op, I started doing more walking. With me, it was an endurance thing, not just a mobility thing. I gradually worked up my endurance level and am still working on it, but getting better and better every week.

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

I take 2 multi-vitamins, 1 iron supplement, 2 Tums (for calcium) every day as recommended by my surgeon. I also take a B-12 tablet once a week. For personal reasons, I also take vitamin C and glucosamine.

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 didn't realize that "dumping" could be more than just sugar related. About 2-3 months post-op, I would get nauseated every time I ate, no matter what I ate, how much, or how little, it would make me sick and I would have to lie down and rest for 20-30 minutes after eating. I finally called and made an appointment to see my surgeon and he said I had "active dumping syndrome" which has been controlled with a medication I take 30 minutes before each meal. WOW, what a tremendous difference. I don't have to take the pill every time I eat now, but I still do if I plan to eat something "heavier than usual" or something "different".

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

The worst part was having to drink that yukky stuff the day after surgery for an x-ray to check for leaks/sepage.

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

Even though my doctor/surgeon is 80 miles away, he has a satellite office in my area as well as a support group that meets once a month. There is a good turn-out and we always have great topics for discussion. It's good to be able to share with others who are experiencing similar things.

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

My worst scar is from my G-tube, but even it's not that bad. The scaring is minimal to me because the surgery was worth any scar I had to have. My surgery was done laproscopically, so I have 5 very small incisions in a clock-wise area of my stomach.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

There have been times when I would go a week or so without losing weight, but then I realized I wasn't getting the proper protein. Once I started drinking/eating more protein, the weight comes off.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

I've always been an upbeat type of person, so I try to make the best of any situation. If someone treats or looks at me differently because of my weight, I think it's their problem. I am beginning to have more positive looks/comments from others, which is good for my self-esteem.