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

I heard about it from my cousin who had RNY. I then started researching all the different types of WLS, trying to find the one that fit me best.

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

I had 2 insurances, one thorugh the Navy and one through work. Both covered WLS, but they both involved meeting with a nutritionist for 6 months and seeing a psychologist. It seemed like it took forever to get though all this stuff. When I finally finished with that, the Navy insurance denied the surgery because I was 5 lbs under criteria. The insurance at my work required all sorts of documentation and I spent hours copying my medical records to satisfy their criteria. I ended up getting approval for the surgery just 2 days before the surgery date!

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

I met Dr. Roberts at an informational seminar with about 12 other people. He was very personable and I liked him immediately. When you go to this meeting be prepared with all the questions you have - write them down!

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I hated the way I looked and my knees and hips were killing me from the weight. I needed to get healthy.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I decided on the Lapband. I didn't want the RNY due to the rerouting of the intestines. There are just too many complications. I had previous stomach surgery for the reflux, and had told Dr. Roberts about this. There was a high probability that he might not be able to do the lapband, so we decided that if he got in there and felt that the lapband wasn't feasable, then he would do the gastric sleeve. He did end up doing the gastric sleeve and I absolutely love it!! Life is so much easy with this than the lapband.

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 have any fear of dying, but was concerned about complications from the sleeve, due to the chance of a leak. But I was careful and followed the diet they gave me and had no complications at all. If you have confidence in your surgeon, then your fears should be minimal.

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 husband and kids were very supportive, as was my manager.

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

My manage was very supportive. I only told a few close friends at work because I didn't want to be judged for "taking the easy way out".

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

My hospital stay was 3 days and the staff were very good. I guess most important to me was that they cared about me as a person.

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

No complications

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

After the surgery, I got tired very easily, but that got better as time went by. By the second week, I felt really good. I din't have any anxiety at all.

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

The first two weeks I got tird very easily and had alot of naps. Tryng to drink liquids all the time was hard for me. But by week 3 I was on track and had lost about 20 lbs.

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

My surgeon & the hospital are about 50 miles away and an hour drive. I saw him at 10 days, then 6 weeks, so it wasn't too bad. I don't have to go back again until I am 6 months out.

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.

The first two weeks was just liquids (Boost, Crystal Light, broth). The thid week I went to "mushy" foods (Mashed potatoes, yogurt, cottage cheese) and that felt like a real treat. I weighed out the 4 oz portions and felt great. I added fish and vegetable to the diet in week 4, chicken the week after and meat in week six. But I have found that I have kind of lost my taste for meat. So far, I haven't found any foods that give me trouble. Nothing is really off limits, but the diet is pretty much sugar-free and low carb.

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

My activity level was very low the first two weeks, but after that I walked as much as I could. I went back to work after 3 weeks and immediately started back at the gym and now work out 4-5 days a week.

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

I take Viactive and a chewable multivitamin.

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?

The only side affects I had at first were sleep related. I had a hard time falling asleep at night, but that wore off after a couple of weeks.

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

The worst part for me was the constant tension while fighting the insure for approval. The rest was a breeze.

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

i participate in a support group that meets one a month. they have been a great help with tips. Also, they help out because they have "been there, done that".

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

I have five little scars since the surgery was laproscopic. They are just additions to the numerous other little scars I have from previous surgeries.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I plateaued for 2 weeks and it was extremely frustrating! but I just kept up the diet and workouts at the gym and eventually the weight started coming off again. You just have to keep plugging away!

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

No