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

i think it was something i say on TV. but it took over a year for my brain to come to grips with what i needed to do. at first i thout it was not for me, but as i sat in that recliner, with the oxygen on and gaining more weight i finially decided i had to do something.

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

the insurance from my hubby's work would not even concider the surgery. because of strokes i was put on SSi and when medicare kicked in i went for the surgery.

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

he was so very kind, and he explained all i asked, his nurse also was there and she answered questions long before and after he left room. very great group of people in his office.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

i think it was the almost dieing . made me sit and think what i wanted out of life.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

after talking to the surgen . decided to have lap rny.. but because of a problem in hospital i also the morning after the lap. had open to fix a herniated bowel

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?

if your gonna do this, then you need to be sure. the way i looked at it was, one of 2 things would happen, i would have surgery and be ok, or i would have surgery and die. either way i was fighting to save my life.

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?

before surgery my hubby did not want me to have surgery. but he always supported me. now that i am 2 months post op he see the improvement and i think he is glad we did this. my family (kids) was scared but they were behind me all the way.

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

i don't work now because of strokes

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

mmmmm, well the first day in there is a blur. getting to hospital and going into surgery was so easy, everyone was great. post op i was doing great (so hubby says ) until a student nurse was gonna help me back to bed. i was in a recilner and i was to tired to push the leg rest down. she raised her foot (before hubby could get to my side he was 5 feet from me ) and she kicked the foot rest down, that threw me forward and i felt a very sharp pain in tummy area. later that night i started puking blood and that continued all night. the surgen was called many times and it was decided i was to have surgery at 9 am. surgen came to hospital at 6 am and i was taken to OR at that time. he was just to worried to wait. so glad he did. my bowel was dying but he got there in time to save it. most of the staff was great at hospital. noone will own up to the accident, they just say things happen. i was in hospital for 9 days.

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

well expained the accident in question 11. but after i got home i had trouble and still do drinking enough , food was a problem at first but getting 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 was very weak, but at the same time i was getting stronger. i was so weak before surgery this was not new to me. the new part was the mind telling me to get up and walk. i still cant walk a long distance, but can walk the grocery store now, and dont use a cart. as for anxiety all i had to do was talk to hubby , he's the best,

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

they need to learn to rest and let your tummy heal/ trying to go to fast hurts ya in the long run. i read in chat room that so many push it to fast. and then they are sick later. i am not saying sit on your chair all the time, just easy does it and go slow

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

it was an hour drive for us. it was not a real problem coming home, got pillow and blanket and rested sitting in car , just glad to be alive ,

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.

i was on peotein shakes for 2 weeks, then to very soft foods. i became lacto intolernt during this time, the next food group was canned soft meats, i was ok with chicken and turkey, ham was to saltly. tuna made me kinda sick so i did not eat that or salman. then the canned turkey got to me, so i was down to chicken , the only food for a while that did not make me ill was eggdrop soup/ after getting dehrated i later was able to (drink ) ice and sugar free popcycles, then i decovered crystal light *sunrise* its the only thing that works for me now. at 9 weeks post op i can now eat almost anything, not tried tuna yet and i not drinking the protein shakes again, i got real sick on that and my mind just doesn't want to yet.

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

from slow , almost not moving to doing so much better, i can walk some get tired but i try to push it a little at times

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

i take the chewable calcium, a B12 pill , and multi vit.

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 only get sick when i eat something that doesnt set right, i can tell right away and i stop eating

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

1. the complacion and having to have a second surgery. this was nothing my surgen did wrong, or me, this is something i have to get right in my brain and let go. 2. my incision still is tinder and i am 9 weeks post op, but i had surgery like 3 times , 2 lap and 1 open, i guess it will just take time to heal.

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

1. the surgen has a suppeot group meetings every month and i ve been going to those. his nurse is so great and always there. 2. the chat room and people here help so very much/

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

i have the tiny 6 holes from the lap, then i have a long scar from breast bone down and around belly button and down about 3 inchs. no i was not expecting the long one,

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

na

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

only that they are happy i am doing so much better and getting around so good