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

A couple of my cousins had the surgery and were very pleased with the results. I thought that this was what was needed for me

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

I fought for 9 months for approval from my insurance company. I had all the conditions plus a couple of more things but there was just one excuse after another, finally after 9 months I was approved because a nurse from the insurance company took my case directly to the doctor in charge and I was approved immediately. Make sure that you have a Primary Care Doctor that is agreement with you that this surgery is necessary for you. I did not have a doctor that believed in this surgery so she refuse to fight for me

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

My first visit for me didn't go well. My surgeon was very knowledgeable but was very hard on me. He insisted that I had to lose 25 pounds and be on a excersie program. I reminded him that due to the huge hernia that I had this was impossible. He wouldn't listen to me but I got angry and withing 4 weeks I lost 22 pounds and was walking every day even with the terrible pain. Know as much as possible about the kind of surgery that you are going to have.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

My doctor only performs Open 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 had no fears, I put my trust in God and my doctor.

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 did not want me to have the surgery. They felt that the surgery was too risky and they loved me the way I was. I explained to them that I had to have this surgery for me, that I had to get healthy and this was the only way. My family was wonderful especaially with all the complications that I had from the other health problems and the problems that I still am facing before I will be healthy again.

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

I was in business for myself, doing daycare in my home. Because of the seriousness of my health problems I had to give up my daycare. I cannot work for at least another 6 months or longer as I still need more surgery.

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

My hospital stay was very good although I don't remember a lot about it. I was in the hospital the first time with the WlS for 3 days, I went home on a Sat and was doing well. On Sunday afternoon I began to have some serious problems and was taken back to the hospital and had surgery that night. My bowel had twisted and I had to have a ellistomy. The next evening I was in severe pain in the stomach and was taken back to surgery and was found to have 5 different kinds of infection. Major surgery was done and I was in ICU for a couple of days, on a vent and in serious condition. Another 6 or 7 surgeries were performed over the next several weeks. I had a couple of bad experiences in the hospital but on the whole it went very well especially for being there 8 weeks. Personal things like toothbrush etc are about the only things necessary as you are in Hospital gowns the rest of the time and I can tell you that you really don't care about dressing up

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

Yes I had major complications but not from the WLS. I dealt with it as well as I could, but it has been very hard and at times it still is, but I keep reminding myself that this surgery saved 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?

Anxious and a lot of prayer. That is the only thing that got me through the past 7 months

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

For me it was very difficult as I had been in the hospital for 8 weeks and was unable to do much of anything because of all the problems that I still had. I had no strength. I was so weak and tired all the time and having to have other people do things for me was so hard.

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

I only had to travel 5 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.

For the first two months I was in the hospital and most of that time I was fed through the veins. I needed to be fed that way due to the seriousness of my condition. For weeks after I got home it was mostly CIB and protein drinks. Finally in about the fifth month I began to beable to eat soft things and soup. I still don't eat a lot and meat is very very hard to keep down.

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

My activity level was at the lowest it could be. Finally after 7 months I am getting stronger. Just remember that all my problems were not from the WLS, that was a success. My problems were due to the large hernia and the infections in the wounds from this surgery.

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

I take a Mult-vitamin, B-12, Iron and Calicum pills

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?

I have and still vomit a lot. Part of it I think is because I don't chew good enough. Know after 7 months my thick head of hair is beginning to get very thin. I keep reminding myself that my hair will grow back.

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

I have no worst part accept for the 9 months of having to battle with the insurance. I keep thinking that maybe if they would have approved me right away the hernia would not have been so bad and I wouldn't have had all the complications.

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

I go to circle of friends support group right her in Grand Rapids, Mi and I wouldn't miss it for anything. It is so helpful and I have learned so much.

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

My scar(s) Looked great and I have had lots of surgeries before so I knew what to expect

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Yes I had a plateau, for 3 weeks I didn't lose a pound and that was very upsetting but once I started getting back into drinking water and walking I lost 6 pounds in a week.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Oh yes, people keep telling me that I shouldn't lose anymore weight that I have lost enough, when I tell them that I have 28 pounds to lose yet they have a fit. I am 5'1 and know weigh 158 and my goal is 130.