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

I had been researching this surgery for the last 3 years. I was so scared in the past of it thinking that people had to be more overweight than I was and that I could control this on my own. WRONG!! All that did was waste 3 years of my life.

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

Insurance was actually really good. I keep reading about people who have to jump through hoops for 6 months to a few years to get an approval, but I started this journey the end of October and everything was sent to insurance on November 10th and 2 1/2 weeks later I had my approval. You do need to keep in constant contact with them. Give them 1 week, then call or e-mail them every other day if not everyday.

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

My first visit with my surgeon was AWESOME. He was so caring and informative. He was running late for surgery, but we lucked out, that same night he was holding a seminar on the same surgery I wanted so we got to sit through that and then a support group meeting afterward. All my questions were answered by that night.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

After my best friend had the surgery, I knew I could do it too.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

After talking with the surgeon about the different proceedures, we both decided that Laproscopic RNY was the best decision 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 just figure if it is my time, it doesn't matter if I am in surgery or sitting at home fat and dying of a heart attack!

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 all were extremely supportive

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

2 weeks

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

My stay in the hospital was a good one. I had a wonderful nurse during the days named Cathi. She was so tenative and caring, she was awesome as well as the others during the nights.

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

I didn't have any complications, I only have one complaint and that was I hated morphine and the effects of it so I refused it starting the day after my surgery. I was told that that was the only pain meds I could have which meant I went the whole time with out any.

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 excited to start my new healthy life. I really didn't have any anxiety. I research so much that I knew exactly what I was getting into.

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

The first 2 days was hard, I over did it because it was Christmas, then the day after Christmas was good because I could rest all day and not be bothered. But then after that I felt so good that it was so boring and didn't know what to do with myself.

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

I traveled 340 miles. They gave me a good liquid pain med and I slept the whole way except when when we stopped half way home for gas. Otherwise since I haven't had any complications, aftercare has been just fine.

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 could only have full liquids for the first 2 weeks and that was hard. I don't have a huge imagination so I got really tired of soup.

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

I was pretty active, did a lot around the house. Since we live in the hills, I didn't chance driving to town.

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

Complete multi-vitamin

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?

Have not experienced any of these yet.

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

Just the confusion on what to eat.

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

We don't have any support groups in our area, so I go to obesityhelp.com all the time for support and my best friend had the surgery in April so she has been a God send.

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

I only have 6 little ones that are hardley noticable.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

none yet.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Nope, just asking a lot of questions. Curious about what it was like and how I am feeling. Expecially the people who want to have the surgery themselves.