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

A long time ago I read articles. Then one day Oprah had a patient on her show, what he described was a nightmare. He couldn't stop losing, he was in and out of the hospital all the time he looked caved in and sickly. I was disappointed, I was hoping for a miracle.

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

Check with the insurance company yourself and see what they need from you to get approved sometimes the surgeons office just assumes everyone needs the same things.

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

My first visit was exciting. I was ready to do this. I had researched the procedure for years. I recommend you have your questions written out.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

Last resort, I had tried everything I could on my own I needed help.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I thought about me. What help did I want/need. I wanted the fastest weight loss tool that I qualified for. One that not only limited my intake but limited calorie absorption.

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, dying was a possibility but not a fear. This wasn't about dying for me this was about living. I didn't want to have to live like this for the rest of my life, that was my fear.

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?

Kids knew, oldest showed a little concern. Friends were supportive. A few mentioned they felt I wasn't that big and I could do it on my own. I was careful who I mentioned it to from that point on to avoid the negativity or discouraging words.

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

My supervisor had already done it 2 years early so she was very supportive. My job accommodated me, I was out from 4/27 to 6/8 approx 5 weeks.

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

The staff was great. I got released the 8th day after my surgery instead of the 4th.

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

I did have a post-op issue and had to remain an additional 4 days. It wasn't life threatening I had swelling in my throat so I couldn't keep anything down. I was being fed through an IV. My doctor was superb he came everyday held my hand and reassured me he would do what was needed to be done as it was needed to be done but my overall recovery came first although he knew I was feeling immediate discomfort.

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 anxious because I was concerned something would go wrong and it would be canceled or delayed. I keep on top of everything each step of the way. Made sure appointments for pre-surgical test and surgical release exams where set up and everyone was on the same page and how the information would get shared.

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

I got active as quickly as I could. I moved around a lot. Eating was strange since I was on only liquids and I had no appetite. I had to remind myself to consume fluids. Being home did get boring after a while and usually I would eat or smoke to get past the boredom not I could do neither. I spent a lot of time on line looking up post-op gastric bypass information.

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

I live about 25 miles from where I had my surgery but it's less than a mile from where I work, that's why I picked it. I can go to my aftercare appoints during my lunch break.

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.

I had difficulty with water. It felt as if I was swallowing whole peanuts, then they got stuck. Actually it wasn't until a week ago that this had passed. Eggs are hit and miss sometimes they stay down sometimes they don't. I still have not been able to get tuna to stay down. I can hold more at a time then the 2 oz I started out with. I have to watch carefully to take small bites and to chew very well whatever it is I'm eating. I found when real food does not se4em to suit me snacks work, but that's considered a no no. I live off ices much of the time it's a safe choice when all else seems to fail. I just get full so quickly on so little and it's hard to stop since I still have a hard time excepting that is all I can eat.

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

I was rather active I moved around a lot and was driving the next day after my release. I was home a lot I used my elliptical machine but without swinging the arms. I moved slowly but the more I moved the faster I seemed to recover.

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

I take multi vitamins. I'm having a hard time with them, either I forget to take them or they make me nausea when I do.

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 vomited for 6 of the days I was in the hospital, that's why they kept me. That was miserable. One time since I kept vomiting but my stomach was empty so nothing came out and that was horrible. Actually I don't mind the vomiting it often feels better then the pain of it not coming up.

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

First it was getting it done. Then it was getting stuck in the hospital vomiting. Now it's being patient waiting for the day I reached my goal or at least I've lost a dramatic amount of weight and having to eat tiny little bites and chew everything to death.

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

I use a lot of online resources, mostly obesityhelp.com. The hospital offers pre and post support groups but I've only used it once so far. I also use people who have had procedures as well. This helps when I'm not sure if things are going as they should.

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

I had open RNY, sometimes I wish I had opted for laposcoptic, but Dr Cooperstone did not do it and I really wanted to work with him. The scar is raised but I'm going to see a dermatologist to see if it can be flattened and lightened she helped me with my acne scars, they're all gone.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I had a 19 day plateau, I freaked. My doctor didn't see it the a same way he looked at the fact that I had lost 12 lbs since he saw me last. I was averaging 20lbs a month to him that was great.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

My friends and co workers are always complementing me on how good I look.