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

I family friend of ours had it a a few years ago and i became interested in is since i knew someone had positive results. I began to read and read all about it and i learded soooooo much. At first i knew right away i wanted to do it, but it took me several months to come up with the guts to tell my parents. But i knew right away!

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

Well this stage was not a fun one. I was denied 3 times for this surgury. The first time was bewcause not enough documentations of being over weight 5 years or longer. The second appeal was they thought b/c of my PTSD i may not be able to handle the emotional parts that come along with Gastric Bypass. the 3rd appeal we hired a lawyer Named Walter lindstrom and he worked wonders. his firm is truly a life saver. (sugar free that is) LOL Within 6 weeks i was approved and had my date for march 17 2004. One word of advise is NEVER GIVE UP IN THIS BATTLE.......OBESITY IS A DISEASE AND YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO FIGHT TO LIVE!

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

My 1st visit was very good. I learned alot and felt very comfortable right away. I asked alot of questions and he was very patient with me. he did not rush out of the room and talked with my family and i for a long time. Even if you are not 100% sure this is the right thing for you i still advise going to a general meeting to learn more on Gastric Bypass.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

This Web site and all the friends i made and keep in touch with who had the surgury.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

By talking to my surgon and researching each and everyone.

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?

My biggest fear was death. I was soooooo scared ot die. I was also scared of having a leak. I had heard horrible stories about people having leaks. I think it is only normal to have fears while going through an intense opperation. The truth of the matter was my chances of dying were greater not having had the surgury. This surgury just added many years to my new life.

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 and friends were amazing throughout the entire process. I could not have asked for more support then what i still get to this day. I would say all my family and friends are a huge part of why i made it through with wonderful results.........support is a wonderful thing everyone needs.

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

I was self employed

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

Well i was pretty drugged to remember much on my own, but my mom and dad say i was pretty funny!I was there 2 nights and 3 days. I brought alot of stuff with me and touched nothing but my chap stick. While on the morphine pump i acted kinda wacky. I was crying all the time and had the truth serum. My parenst had to tell my family and friends not to come visit b/c they did not know what was going to come out of my mouth. When i first saw my doctor I was very drugged and opened my eyes and said "I SHOULD HAVE JUST DONE WEIGHT WATCHERS" he assured me that feeling would go anway and sure enough IT DID!

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

No comps!

In the weeks after you got your surgery date, how did you feel? How did you cope with any anxiety you might have felt?

The first week i was in a lot of pain getting up or down. It was more just discomfort. I continued to take my anxiey medication so that was not an issue. I had a hard time getting in all my calories, and let me tell you i never want to eat chicken broth ever again in my ENTIRE life. I lived off of that with protein powder.

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

Well like i said i started feeling much better after a week. I sloly began to do more and more each day. I walked all the time and made sure i was moving so i did not get blood clots. The one thing that is impostant to remember is that you did NOT gain all your weight in a few weeks, so give your bosy time and the weight will come off......Be patient!

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

I only had to travel about 20 min downtown cleveland ohio to St Vincents Cherity Hospital. But the bumps on the was home in the car were not pleasent! LOL

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.

NO sugar, or i should say very low sugari can handle. In the begining i could not tolerate chicken, but turkey was fine.Each day i would try new things and if something did not work one day i would give it a few days and try again. I now can tolerate pretty much anthing except heavy carbs (bread) and high sugars. Now being 6 months post op i can eat alot mopre the when i was 2 months out. Its kind of a scary thing, but compared to what i used to eat......ITS nothing!

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

Well being only 24 my energy lever was way up there! Now being 6 months out my energy level is amazing! I feel wonderful. I work out all the time and love going for walked. I purposly park far in parking lots so i have to move to get where i want to be. As before i would circle around and around till i found the closest space.

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

Lets see here.......Calcium,Pepcid,One A Day,B12,Iron,up till now i used to take urusal for gull blatter

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?

Well my hair loss is not horrible but it definitly freaks me out. I also hate the dumping syndrome or the feeling you get when something is stuck or you ate to fast!

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

The waiting to get approved was definitly the hardest part!

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

Each Wednesday evening i go to a support group near my home. It is such a motivator for me. i look forward to attending each week. I met so many nice people. I try to never miss a week.

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

Well i had LAP RYN so i have 6 small incisions. 3 which are almost not visible and 3 that look like a small healed cut. I am very happy with my healing! I expected it would be alot worse then what it is.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Well i think i just hit my 1st one sice my surgury. I am 6 months out and have been stuck for about 2 weeks. I know to give it time and the loss will pick up again!

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Very much so, expecially the oppisite sex. In one way its nice but in the other it hurts my feelings that just because i was overweight they did not want to give me the time of day! I do see some people who i think may be jealous and not being very nice about it. For the most part it has been for the best!