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

I was in nursing school and found out about the RNY. I was 2 weeks away from having it done and I backed out. Something didn't sit right with me about it and I was thinking about the malnutrition part and thinking seriously this might be a bad thing long term. So I waited and gained more wieght. I went back to the same surgeon in the beginning of '07 and he said the "sleeve" would be a better option for me then the RNY because of my weight, and I'd recently been DX with CHF. So a friend of mine told me about this website and I came here and started asking questions and reading!

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

I have no advise with this. I was on GA Wellcare/medicaid and they turned me down 2 times. I had to pay cash to go to Aceves in MX

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

Come to this site and already know the terminology, know what you want, come here and ask questions to ppl that have had the surgery you want. Make you a list, add to this list as you find you need these answered before someone cuts on you. Think twice, cut once, was my motto!!!!!

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I was DX with CHF, I couldn't lose only gain, no matter what I did!!!!!!!!!!!

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I wanted the least invasive procedure, better recovery and complications rates. Least amount of follow up appts. I didn't want the malnutrition because with my familiar history with RA and such I knew I'd have to have NSAIDS somewhere down the road!

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?

Ain't nothing to it! These docs have gotten so good about doing this and doing it by lap, it's just inbelievable!!!!!!! No fears! The worst part for me was the drain, but I'd rather have a drain to drain out the nasty mess then leave it inside and let it cause infection and fever! If you have a leak you'll see it in the drain first off, instead of being in the "blind". I wouldn't have had this surgery without having a drain, that's what I'd tell others!

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?

They were super supportive pre-op! i've never lied about anything to my family I'm a pretty open person to them so I just told them what I was gonna do and they knew to either jump on the train or get left behind! Post-op they weren't that supportive when I stopped going out to eat with them, I didn't cook suppers for a few weeks post-op, until I could get a handle on the head hunger thing! They were always trying to feed me, and feed me stuff they knew I couldn't eat anymore!!!!!! That plum irritated me!!!!!! I said something about it about 2 weeks post-op and they're getting better now...

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

I'm unemployed

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

Very nice, hospital staff was very helpful, Hospital was cleaner than in the states. 3 days, DC'd on the 4th. My heating pad!

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

My drain caused alot of pain!!!!!!!! And I had a HUGE air bubble under my left rib about where the drain was! I was hurting BAD!!! Once they removed the drain, I laid on my heating pad on that side and fell asleep like that. When I woke up I was passing gas and feeling sooooooo much better! No pain meds, narcotics, during this time

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

O GOD I was sooooo nervous, anxious!!!!!!! When it got overwelming I'd go take a LONG walk! I had to, I had to do something or jump out'a my skin!

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

It was soooooooo hard for me! I thought I was ready for post-op but I wasn't ready for that! And it's kind'a hard to explain so plz bear with me...it's like your tummy can only hold just a tiny bit, but your mouth says, "mmmm good, gemme more!" Your heads saying, "man that was purty good and yeah I would like to have more of that but where would I put it. This crazy woman has done went and had a perfectly functioning part of her anatomy removed and now we can only have 2 bites?? Is she crazy??? What was she thinking??" Smelling supper cooking, knowing I can't have it. Watching my kids eat good food, I can't have it. Going to the grocery store to buy groceries, having to leave because the smells are driving me MAD! And this lasted till about 1 month out!

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

6000 miles round trip! My PCP said she could do the after care blood work, besides that I guess I'm on my own. The ONLY support I have is this web site!

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.

My post-op diet was 10 days of clears, 10 days of fulls, 10 days of mushies, then onto real food. I done 7 days of clears, moved on to fulls, stayed there for about a week, moved on to mushies and so on. I didn't do the full post-op diet. i have been able to tolerate ANY foods, no foods are off limits other than bad carbs, white flour, pastas, etc.

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

I started back walking asap after returning home, I've been progressing ever since but still only walking.

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

Flintstones chewables 1/day, calcuim with D & Mag. 1/day, Nexium 20 mgs 1/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've had no side effects as of yet! GOD is GOOD!!!

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

Not being able to use food as a crutch anymore =(

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

OH is the ONLY support group I have. They are a great bunch of ppl that will answer anything you need to know. If they can't get you an answer they'll tell you to call your doc! This has been more important to me over everything else, this site!

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

Yes, they are normal exept 1 by my belly button. It has a knot under it and I'm worried about it becoming a hernia but haven't went to the doc about it yet. I will though.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

The first week I lost 20#, the 2nd week I GAINED 2#, #rd week I lost that 2#, so I'm moving, just in all directions!

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Nicer! I've lost a total of 58# in 3 months. And yes, they look and act differently towards me! I don't like ti because I'm still me and always have been!