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

I heard about someone who had it and almost died from complications. I thought "I would never do that to my body".

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

Easy...Federal Employee Insurance covered 80% of the costs. I submitted the letters and files and got a positive response a few weeks later.

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

It was fast. I would recommend having a written list of questions. Everything from physical to emotional questions. Keep the doc there until you are done...don't let them leave the room until you are!

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

Having my personal care physician tell me to lose weight ot lose my life.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Just knew which would work for me. RNY...

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 complete faith in God and my doc and left the fears at the door. If I hadn't had the surgery, I was on track to die anyway.

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?

Most were concerned and not quite on board with my decision at first. Once they learned more about it, they came around. After surgery, they were and are, nothing but supportive.

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

I was not employed at the time.

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. I was at a hospital who knew how to care for bypass patients. They were caring and kind and very supportive. My greatest cheerleaders were the nurses!!!! Bring socks...your feet freeze in a hospital!

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

YES!!! I vomited for the first four months after surgery. I have severe food intolerances (even to this day, 3 years later). You just take it one-day-at-a-time. Know that you will be ok, and have faith in yourself.

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 ready for it! I couldn't wait until the surgery date!

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

It was a rollercoaster ride! Both physically and emotionally. With being so sick all of the time and only able to keep a teaspoon of liquids down at a time, it was hard being there for just me, and for my family. Like I said before...take everything one-day-at-a-time.

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

Only a couple of miles! I was lucky!

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.

Like I said before...I was on a clear fluid diet then pureed foods for the first four months. After that it has been very slow to add new foods. Big no-no's now are beef, pork, carbs of any kind, fresh fruits and veggies. I primarily eat fish...

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

It was slow...but now I use an elliptical machine everyday!!!

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

Mulit-vitamin, B12, B complex, iron, folic acid, calcium, vitamin c, d, e.

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?

Vomiting - four months constant, every few days since then Hair loss - tons three months out...now only when I malabsorb. Dumping - pray it doesn't happen to you!

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

Complications...hard to live without most foods.

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

Bariatric Success Circle with Midwest Bariatrics. Couldn't have gotten through without it! I still go every month and I am 3 years out! The need for that kind of support never goes away. Being there for others and having them there for me, is essential for your success. Especially in the long term when going back to the bad habits is harder to stay away from.

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

I had laproscopic...small little lines...no big deal

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Because of how sick I was and how little I could eat, I never plateaued. I lost too much weight in the first year...almost 175 pounds!

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes...I get help much easier in stores, people are friendly right away...it is hard not to fall into the trap that they like you for who you are and not what you look like. I feel on the defense when I first meet someone now...do they like me for who I am on the inside? Or for what I look like on the outside?