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

I was at a friends house and I was looking at the pictures on their mantel. And I asked who is this in a wedding dress next to your husband? It was her! She looked amazing and I never would have guessed the transformation that she had been through.

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

Keep good records and be persistent. My insurance approval really wasn't that bad when I look back at what other people had to go through.

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

She was really friendly and reassuring. She did state though that I was the "smallest person" she had consulted on for this surgery. I wasn't really sure exactly what was ment by this. I didn't feel small at all.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I felt that this was my only option for a semi normal life.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

This was the only one that I new about ... guess I didn't research too well.

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 fears. I knew that GOD would keep me safe. I had so many people praying for me and cheering me on that I really didn't even think about "what if"

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?

They were all supportive. My mother had undergone two stomach stapling procedures years back and lost over 100 lbs.

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

They were supportive as well. Most of my co workers would sit around and talk about how I would look afterwards. It was actually pretty flattering. I think I was only out for 4 weeks but I'm not positive.

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

My stay was great! I would recommend Scripps Mercy Hospital to anyone. The staff was wonderful the surgeon was awesome. I have absolutely no complaints. All I brought was comfortable clothes and toiletries.

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

Yes, my incision opened up about 3 weeks out. I really "busted a gut" I was laughing so hard that a stich broke and I unraveled. I had to be re sutured and put back together.

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 felt horrible. I think for the first 2 weeks of recovery I actually became depressed. I thought I had made a really bad mistake. I hated it. I never thought I would be able to adjust to this new life.

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

It was hard. I am a single mom and my family lives 1,200 miles away. So recovery was lonely and it was so hard to get up and cook for my daughter and smell and see the food when all I could have was clear liquid for two weeks. I wasn't really hungry but my mind said I was and that I was missing out.

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

It was local only about 20 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.

First two weeks clear liquids. Then they allowed soft protein (i.e cottage cheese, egg whites). At 4 weeks it was shell fish (shrimp). I HATED EATING! In my head I was hungry but my stomach wouldn't allow me to eat. It was soooo hard to adjust. But I got onto obesityhelp.com and looked at before and after pictures constantly. This helped and inspired me. At 6 weeks it was dark meat chicken and cooked vegetables. 8 weeks was white meat chicken. And by 12 weeks it was fresh fruits and vegetables. "I wanted a salad so bad by that time!" No red meat no pork for a year and a daily protein shake for at least the first year. I followed it all to a "t". I was so pleased with the results. However after the year mark I started to slide. I was hungry again and my stomack allowed me to eat. I was very disappointed and sometimes I still am. I wish now that I was still "full" all the time. It would force me to make better decisions and not be tempted as much. I do experience dumping syndrome on occasion but it doesn't stop me. I need to overcome my habits to really become successful. It's not a lie when your doctor tells you it's a tool not a fix.

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

i started on the recombant bike two weeks after surgery and slowly worked up. My doctor required a gym membership prior to surgery and when I signed up I received personal training visits as part of the package. I started training about 6 months out and I was exercising from 3 to 6 days a week. However, the last year I haven't been to the gym at all :(

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

Daily - multivitamin and calcium magnesium and zinc Weekly - B12 I was faithful for three years, never missed one. I can't say that this year. Maybe a week or two I will do well then a month I will forget.

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 hair loss was horrible. I felt that I looked like I had male patterned hair loss. My hair was fairly thin before surgery and then three months later it was falling out by the handfuls. I never had nausea or vomiting, no sleep disturbances or anything else. The dumping I have, but that is my fault when I choose to eat the wrong things.

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

The reaction from people. Your "big" friends are not your friends afterwards. They say you "cheated". Your new "smaller" friends have no clue where you have been. Dating was horrible before plastic surgery. They saw a skinny person when they met you but when the clothes came off they didn't know what you were. I didn't see myself in the mirror. I still saw my old self and I still do. I don't think I will every agree that I am "skinny" or that I am "beautiful" that is something I have to work on and accept. I still talk fat and act fat and when I say something a little off color that would have been accepted when i was larger I then have to explain to them that I used to be a "big" girl at almost 300 lbs. I also didn't like that everyone watched and still watches what I eat.

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

I did not attend any aftercare support groups till I was almost 2 years out. One of my students had this surgery and she was the leader of her support group so I joined. I only attended 2 face to face meetings and I enjoyed them. However, most of support group is online and I read the daily postings and it keeps me going.

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

I had an open surgery. My incision was from sternum to belly button. I did have a tummy tuck 2 years out and now my incision goes all the way from my breast bone to my pelvic bone. It's really not bad it has faded and I had previous abdominal surgeries anyways so it was never a beatiful stomach to begin with - no bikinis for me :)

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

My lowest weight was 175 lbs right before plastic surgery. But my friends said I looked anorexic. I was happy though. I would love to regain control over my life, eating and exercise habits and get back there. I did regain 40 pounds up to 214.5 and it scared me. I saw some pictures and realized I was starting to look like the "old" me before surgery. I also realized that at 214.5 I was only 50 pounds away from my pre surgery weight. I cried and started to impliment changes. I am now down around the 200 lbs mark. Sometimes at 198 sometimes at 202. But I WILL get under and stay under that 200 lbs mark again.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes, always. I guess it just comes with it. Sometimes I feel like I am always having to justifying my choice. Some people just don't understand that it is a CONSTANT battle.