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

First time I heard about the surgery was on a TV show that was interviewing Carnie Wilson. And from that day I truely bacame obsessed with researching and finding out if it was something that would work for me.

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

Mine was pretty different see I am legally blind and so I had State Medicaid when I first tried and got denied but then 9 months or so later I had been disable for 2 years so my Medicaid switched over to Medicare part a&b. And with this there is no approval process so just go for it and pray that they will agree in the end with the doctors decision to proform the surgery. And in most cases from what the billing lady at my doctors office almost all are covered.

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

My first visit was great I had already researched all the types of surgeries and was set on which one I thought would work for me and had my diet history already to present him and a list of all my questions so I would not forget anything. So my advise is make sure you are prepared!

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

After I had researched every type of surgery and decided which one I thought would work for me then that is when I decided this is what I was going to do. I sat down and wrote all the things that I can and can not do as an obese person and found that there were only a few things on the can do side and decided that I was not living! Something had to be done. I had to much to live for to just do nothing.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I had an open RNY on 1/2/02

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 told myself that this was going to be the tool to help me regain my life and for once in my life I was going to stick to this and be committed to the success. There was some concern and worry but it was mostly for my family I could tell they were scared for me and really didn't want me to do it. So I guess that made me stronger so they would not worry as much.

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 family was against it they had the same mandality has most that if I were to just excersice it would get better. And they thought I was taking to big of a risk having a 5 year old to think of. Most all my friends were concerned but supportive. As the day came closer my family had no choice really but to be supportive. After surgery they still have some food concerns but mostly they have came around and are as happy about getting the surgery as I am.

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

I am a house wife. But since I am disable. I did have someone come in 4 hours a day for the first two months to help me with house work and other daily chores with my 5 year old son.

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

My stay at OHSU for the most part was uneventful. Had a pretty good recovery. I was in the hospital for 3 days. I would say the most important thing to bring is comfortable, loose clothing to wear home, and slip on shoes.

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

No Complications

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 crazy with excitement. I told everyone I saw. I did not get the anxiety until we were parking the car in the parking garage of the hospital. We walked to the elevators and back to the car three different times for me to get something out of the car I forgot or wanted to put back. Good thing we were early.

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

Find a comfortable place to sit and ly down. Make sure if family leaves you alone that things like water jug and stuff you are going to eat like jello and that stuff is on top shelf of frig so you don't have to bind over to get it. Make sure you get up every hour or so and walk around for 10 minutes or as long as tolerable. Drink drink drink drink and drink some more. I had a lady come in once a day during week cause I was home alone. She picked up the house for me and put a load of laundry in and folded the one from day before and did the dishes.

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

I had surgery at OHSU in Portland. It is 76 miles, and it really didn't affect the aftercare. It actually gave me more confidence about the surgery to travel to a quality hospital.

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

That I had to wait so long and fight so hard to get the surgery. After I had the surgery my life has changed in everyway for the better.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes they are much nicer to me as a thin person than they ever were as an obese one.