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

I was impressed with the results that I heard but was scared to do it for myself. I thought it would be admitting failure. Now I know it is not failure but rather it is a change of life that is the best decision that I have ever made for me and my family.

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

I didn't have much problem getting approval. Make sure to write down all of the diet attempts that you have tried not just the doctor ordered (ie., pills) ones. Make sure to mention all of your problems associated with the weight problem.

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

My first visit with Dr. Rogers was okay. He came in and gave his speech on the surgery. I should have listened to my gut instinct and found a doctor that I felt comfortable speaking with and felt that they would listen to me. I experienced problems after the surgery and I was not being listened to by my surgeon.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

One day I decided I had enough of being morbidly obese. I kept having problems with my back - one day it went out and it took almost 45 minutes for me to get out of bed. I also wanted to be able to be a good mother to my 2 children, I didn't feel that it was fair to them to not be able to do the things they wanted me to with them.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Bariatric Treatment Center currently only does the Open 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 didn't really fear much before and immediately after the surgery. However, once things started going wrong just a couple of weeks after the surgery I wished that I had a better relationship with my surgeon. He didn't even remember who I was just 1 week after I left the hospital. Make sure to have a good relationship with your surgeon, if not at least have a good one with your Primary Care Physician. That is what I had and I will always be grateful to her.

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 friends and family supported me in my decision. They knew that I had studied up on the surgery and that I had tried other things.

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 of my decision. I told them first through email explaining my reasons and after that I was able to talk to them more openly about it. I was off of work for 6 weeks but only worked for 4 days and had to be off again due to my gallbladder going bad.

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

I live about 2 hours from where I had my surgery. I felt this affected my aftercare negatively since when I had complications I would have to drive for 2 hours while in pain and then wait for someone to see me. Most of the time I went to my PCP or to the emergency room and they were in contact with my surgeon's office.

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 do not eat beef because it sits very heavily in my stomach. I tend to stick to chicken and good cuts of pork. I still have a hard time with rice so I avoid it completely. I also recently realized that I can't eat salad that well because it makes me very gassy.

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

I didn't start get more activity in until about 5 months postop due to all of the complications and extra surgeries that I required.

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

I take one iron supplement daily and one Centrum One-A-Day for Women.

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

My support comes from here on AMOS and another group that I belong to on Yahoo. There is a support group that meets once a month but the last couple of meetings have been cancelled. Hopefully they get started again because I find them very beneficial.

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

At 8 months post op my scar is faded at the bottom but at the top it is still really pink and kind of ropey. It has been fading little by little.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I have had only a couple of plateaus and that has only been the last few months. I realize that this will happen and just keep going at what I am doing knowing that my body will just have to get used to wanting to let go of that extra weight. : )

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

I don't think that it is really that people are treating me different rather that I have more confidence in myself and see myself as more capable.