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

My friend's daughter had it done. Then I discovered that one of my fellow nurses was having it done in 5/03. My daughter-in-law was scheduled to have it done in 6/03. It made me hopeful that this would work for me.

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

The staff was kind but made sure that you did what you had to do. [get out of bed within hours of the surgery, use the bathroom and not the bedpan, encouraged me to walk, etc.] I went in on Thursday and came home on Sunday. Bring toilet items, slippers, robe....not to much more.

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

No, praise God, I had not 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?

Well, the pain level wasn't to bad. The doctor sent me home with a RX for Percocet but I don't tolerate that med well. I tried liquid Tylenol but it upset my stomach. Naturally, the incision was tender. I was surprised that it was tender for as long as it was. I think the tenderness lasted a good 4 months. And it was very itchy! I became depressed when I had lost only 10 lbs total for the 2nd and 3rd months combined. Had a meeting with the doctor's dietician and found out that I wasn't eating enough and that the ratio of protein to carbs wasn't right also. I knew that the weight was going to come off and if I was going to lose it very slow that was ok with me because I knew that when the weight did come off it would be permanently off! For 6 weeks or so I didn't lose anything and then since I corrected the eating problems in the last 2 months I lost 33 lbs [for a total of 72 lbs so far]!!

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

A nurse at work who had the operation about 3 months prior to mine. Also, my friend's daughter and my daughter in law helped me also.Also there is an online group that I belong to. How helpful? I think very. It is important to know that others are going through the same things and we can exchange ideas and encourage each other.

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

I had had prior abdominal surgery so I knew what to expect. My body makes wide incisions. I was hoping that it wouldn't be that way this time but it was....

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

In months 2 & 3 post op, I had lost only a total of 10 lbs. Then I stopped losing completely! I had a meeting with the dietician at the doctor's office and was told that I wasn't eating often enough and that my ratio of protein to carbs was not good. Once I corrected my eating problems, it took another 4 weeks or so to start losing again. Since then in the last 7 weeks or so I have lost 33 lbs. Hurray!!!! I have now lost a total of 74 lbs. I would like to lose another 69 lbs but would be very happy with losing 49 or so.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes, They are very complimentary and that helps to encourage me.