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

Coworkers had it done and I initially said that I would never do that. I can lose it on my own.

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

Horrible. A year long process of exercise, weight loss, nutrition meetings, psychologist meeting then only to be denied and had to appeal to get approval.

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

It was wondeful. He was so caring and understood all that I seemed to he goin through. Just know what questions you want to ask, write them down and don't be afraid to speak up.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I felt that nothing else had worked, I was getting older and I wanted to enjoy my children before they grow up.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

My insurance would only pay for the 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 was scared but my fears of dying from heart disease, diabetes, or obesity was just as real.

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?

Very supportive. I have known several people since that have also had the procedure because of my success.

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

I was honest with them. They were supportive and I was back to work in two weeks.

What was it like attending your first information seminar on weight loss surgery? Were you glad you attended? if so, why?

I was glad I attended it. It got me excited about the possibility that I would finally get the weight off.

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

The stay was just fine. I was ready to go home by day 2, but they kept me for three just cause they did not want me to go home on the weekend.

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

GAS!!! thought I was dying in about week 3 postop. But after taking some gasx within 15 minutes I was much better.

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 got my surgery day 1 week after my 1st appointment with my surgeon. So not much time to sit around and be nervous.

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

A little bit of pain. Mostly tired and weak from the little intake.

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

25 miles.

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.

1st 3 weeks were full liquids. Then soft foods. I did not like the taste of meat for about the first year which gave me problems with getting protien in. Even 5 years out I really don't care for red meat, fast food burgers. I can't eat coleslaw because the raw cabbage gives me gas and so does cucumbers. Other than that I am limited to about 12 grams of sugar before dumping occurs and I don't like to eat things with a lot of fat.

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

Low, not a lot of energy. But as the months pass it got better and well supersedes pre surgery.

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

Vitamin b12, multivitamin, calcium, hair/skin/nail vitamins daily.

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?

Dumping is the worst. It still occurs if I eat to much sugar or fat. Then if I have dumping about an hour later my blood sugar falls. I have been diagnosed with hypoglycemia. If I eat to fast or something to dry it seems to stick and makes me nauseated. Hair loss was also an issue for the first year. vitamins help with that.

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

Not being able to eat everything I want but then again that is what had me over weight in the first place.

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

I don't but I do think they are very important especially if you seem to be struggling.

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

Looks like someone scratched me with their fingernail. Can barely see them.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Several throughout the first year.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Not really acting different but not staring either.