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

When I had the vertical band in 1986, I thought it was the fix-all. I later realized it was not. With gastric bypass in 2003, I am amazed how much the medical community has learned and perfected.

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

I had no problems getting the insurance company to pay for either surgery.

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

My first visit with Dr. Merriman was an eye opener. He was very straight forward about where I was physically. No holds barred.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

It was either have it or die. I chose to live.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I had no choice since I was a revision. Gastric bypass was the only way to go for me.

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 only a bright future.

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 actually helped me make the decision to just go to the doctor.

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

My employer was very supportive. But they were ready for me to come back to work after 5 weeks.

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

My hospital stay was wonderful. They nurses were so nice even though I don't remember much about the first couple of days. I was in there 5 days.

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

none

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 so excited. I was ready to start living again.

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

I didn't bounce back like I did the first time and that bothered me. But I was 18 years older so I guess that made a difference.

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

I live in Texarkana, TX and had surgery in Shreveport, LA. It was about 75 miles one-way.

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.

It's really funny, I had surgery to lose weight but I eat all of the time. The only thing I do not eat is sugar at all. Other then that, I have fine tuned my diet and don't venture out of the norm.

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

I started walking two weeks after surgery at the mall. I would walk two days at the mall and the rest of the week, I would walk my driveway.

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

I eat Fred Flinstone twice a day, one Vitamin C table every 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?

none

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

The worst part was being cut open again. Other than that, not a thing.

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

Liv-Lite and Obesityhelp.com have been wonderful.

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

Scar looks good.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

none yet but I'm waiting.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

People treat you so different when your outer shell looks different. Since losing weight, I have gotten a promotion at work and asked to be on a committee from our corporate office where I am the only person not a corporate.