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

My friend had the surgery. She did a lot of reasearch about it after Carney Wilson had hers. I didn't really think it was something that was a good idea. I thought it was just people using surgery to lose weight cuz they were lazy and didn't want to do it on their own. (Boy was I WRONG)!!!!!!!!

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

Well, that actually ended up being pretty quick for me. My friend had waited for a long time and I was told that it would take 4-6 weeks before I would get approved. It only took I think 2 weeks, but I think the key is to keep checking on it. Make sure that they need everything to get your approval. If they don't have it, make sure you get them what they need.

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

Well, I was first put into a room where there were pictures of before's and after's. That was even more encourging. Then the DR came in and he was talking to me about everything. He had givin me all the spacifics and all the complications to include death. I really feel that you make sure you ask a lot of questions and be sure your DR is very informed about the surgery and that he knows what he is doing. I felt very comfortable with my DR and he knew it all.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

Well, my friend who had had it and also all the research that I had done. This site was a big facter also. It was so informative and the people themselves are very inspirational.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Well, there was really only one for me to have. I was so overweight that I didn't thing the LapBand would really work for me. As for weather it was open or Lap, that was the DR's decision. He wasn't 100% sure if he could do it Lap and had told me there was a possibility that he might have to do it open. But I did end up having the LAP 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?

Well, I did have those fears at first. I was very nervous and I new there was the possibility of never seeing my family again, but I knew deep inside this is what I needed to do to even be albe to be with my family for a very long time and to be albe to see my nieces grow up. I did have complications and yes I was near death, what I would tell other people is to talk to people, do a lot of research and you will feel more at ease. The fears will never go away until it is all over with, but if you are stong enough, you will succeed and your wanting this will overcome any fear. If it doesn't it might not be your time to have it done.

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?

To be honest, I didn't really tell any of my friends except the one that had the surgery done. I felt that my friends would look down on me and think I was trying to take the easy way out. They were not informed all they knew was that I was going in to have my herna fixed. I later told them and now they are very supportive and understand why I did what I did. My family has always been supportive. They have always been worried about me being so overweight. They were happy I was doing something to better my life and my health.

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

Well, to this day they still do not know that I had that done. I mean I'm sure they might think something, but they don't know for sure. All they knew was the I had a Hianal Hernia and it needed to be fixed and that was what I was going in for. I was out of work including the time in the hospital, 3 weeks and boy was I ready to get back too.

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

Well, my stay in the hospital was very interesting. I went from a regular room to an ICU room in a matter of a day, then back to a regular room 3 or 4 days later. I don't remember much of my first regular room however my stay in ICU was very nice. The two nurses who took care of me were the best ever. MARK and SHELLY!!!! They made me very comfortable they helped me whever I needed it and they were always there the second I needed them. They made me feel like I was the only patient they had. When I went back into the regular room from ICU, well you don't get the attention you do when your in ICU, but they were still very nice. I went into the hospital Wed morning at 5:30 am and was out Tues evening around 6pm or so,. Most important to bring is either a pair of jammies that cover your booty or a robe so you can get up and walk when you need too.

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

Yes, I had a vein that had ruptured and had to have 10 units of blood transfused into my body. This was a very scary thing and very hard to see that being put into your body with all the diseases out there. I did everything that I had to do to keep myself alive and wanting to live. DR King told me that he and I both did everything necessary to get out of the hospital and keep my life.

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 very excited and scared and nervous. But I was looking forward to the exciting new life that was to come. I did a lot of talking to family and with their support it helped me a lot!

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

Well, with me having the complications that I had I think it was alot different from what others would experince. I was very tired. I was very enimic from the blood that I had lost. I was unalbe to even take a shower or walk to the mail box without being extremely out of breath. I think moving around is going to be the best thing for anyone and to follow your diet the way you are supposed to. I think people should not expect to be able to do everything they were able to do before the surgery and in time it will happen that you will be able to move around like before, even better then before.

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

Well, I luckly didn't have to far to go. I had about an hour and a half drive. I have been able to go to all my apts with out any problems. So my after care has been very convienent for me.

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.

Well, being 5 months post-op, I'm still not able to eat beef and pork. In my first couple weeks it was liquid only. Just juice, water, broth, and jello. Then I went to full liquid, mashed potatos, pudding, etc. Then I went to light foods. Cheese, cottage cheese, beans, peas, saltines, etc. Then it went to seafood dry cerals and very toasted bread. Then added chicken and turkey and pasta. Then it went to fruits and untoasted bread. Anything with a lot of surger have been off limits and grapes and coconut and raisens. My tolerance has changed a lot. There are still things that I can't eat, cuz it make me sick. Like salmon. Can't eat that. But there are a lot of things that I used to eat that I just don't like anymore. Like spaghetti. I loved that, but now I just don't really care for it. You tastes change and you start to not crave the same stuff that you used to.

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

Well, since I had complications, I was not able to do much. I wasn't able to walk very far with out being out of breath. But as the weeks went on, it got better. I'm now able to do just about anything I want, including jogging!!

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

Well, I take calcium 2 a day and 2 flinstones vitamins a day and previced twice a day. I'm off iron and magnisum.

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, vomiting was a big one. If my stomach did not agree with what I was eating, I was getting very sick. I think that was the hardest for me to deal with. My hair did fall out, it got very thin there for a while, but when I upped my protien and got a protein pak for my hair, it helped a lot. I was worried about that and still would be if it was still falling out. I didn't have any sleep disturbance and I have dumped and that is hard to deal with, but you just need to relax and try not to do a lot of moving when that happens. I've noticed that if I"m in one position, it helps it a lot more.

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

I think right now I would have to say the worst part was not knowing what was going on with me in the hospital and the few weeks after going home. That was hard to not be albe to eat anything and just have liquids. It was very hard. I guess that would be the worst. As of right now, I'm doing great and I feel that i would do it again if I had to.

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

Well, I actually dont' have one. I wish I did, but OH is a big help in itself. I think you should have one. I think it would be good to be able to talk to people who are going thru the same things that you are. I will actually be going to my first meeting since my surgery and it's been 6 months.

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

I have 7 small scars. One just under my bood, then 2 more just under that, more to the side though, and then 3 more under those those, kind like a paramid, then I have one just under those three. No, I didn't expect so many scars, but they seem to be healing well and I look forward to when they are fully healed and after my plastic surgery I look forward to having some of them gone.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Well I"m on one now. I haven't been able to move for about 2 months or so. I have increase my water and my exersice and nothing seems to help. It's hard when you are stuck and you can't seem to lose any weight, but I'm just trying to keep my hopes in perspective and know that it will come, I just have to be patient. i didn't put the weight on over night, it won't come off overnight.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes, I do. But I think that might be part of me though too. I feel more confident about myself and I think that people can see that and they feel they can approach me now. I have people at work who didn't really talk to me before and now we are having total converstions. It is a big change.