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

I found out about the surgery when I was 21 from some surgery show on tv. I researched it and talked to some friends from work who had it done. I made the decision to do it, but got to scared because of the cost and the actual surgery.

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

Be patient cross all your t's and dot all your i's. I don't think you have to call them for approval.

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

It was very interesting. He was very upfront with everything. I would say to get the most out of meeting with any surgeron is make sure you are ready before you go, ask questions lots of questions. Make sure you understand what exactly you are getting yourself into. This is not a joke, it's not a game. This is life and death and people can die.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

My daughter told me on Christmas that she could fit her arms around daddy but not me because I was fat. After all these years everone had seen it and it was fine as long as my #1 fan didn't see it. But she had. It was also that my mom was diagnosed with diabetes and has been in and out of the hospital. I don't want to go through that

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Research. I looked up all the different thing and the RNY looked to be the best approach to lose all the weight and keep it off. I wanted to have it laproscopically because I didn't want the scar. Dr. O doesn't do the lap RNY. I would say research all of your choices before finding a doctor. Then find a doctor who performs the procedure you want.

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 am scared I'm either going to get into the hospital room and they are going to tell me I have to pay upfront totally for the surgery. But my biggest fear is that I'm going to wake up in recovery and find that they didn't do the surgery because something is wrong with me. I will let you know how it goes later. My best advise is make sure you are ready for this surgery and you seriously weigh all the pro's and con's. This is a major life decision it shouldn't be taken lightly. Once you know that this is what you're going to do, put those fears on the back burner and just go for it.

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?

Jennifer, my best friend, thought I was crazy but a few weeks later she came around. Jack at first said I could work out and diet and lose weight but if this is what I wanted he supports me. (A little contradiction there though!!!) My brother thinks I'm crazy for wanting to rearrange my organs but supports my decision. He just wishes I didn't have to rearrange my insides. Mom is 100% behind me though. She has been my rock the one person I know will tell me like it is and not baby me or sugar coat anything.

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

He's really cool with it I work for a guy that owns his own buisness, so as long as the rent is picked up and deposited on the first of the month he's happy.

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

The hospital stay was good, the nurses were understanding of the pain and my frustration. I was there for a total of three days. The most important things to bring with are a person to help you, and chap stick. The nurses can't always be there to help you in and out of bed to walk and go to the bathroom once the catheder is out so haveing someone there is really important. Chapstick is obvious because your on so much medicine that it drys your mouth and lips.

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

None

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 excited and anxious and scared. I knew that this was going to be a life changing event so it was kinda scary. My biggest fear though was probably leaving my family behind if I died. I talked to Jack and my friends and they all helped me get over it.

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

It was hard to get comfortable when laying down but it does get easier. Walking hurt until the staples were removed. I didn't want to eat only drink and it was hard to change from gulping to sipping very slow.

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

It takes about an hour and a half to get to Ocala from my house. It's not that big of a deal considering I drive 5 times a year to North Carolina and back.

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.

Absolutly no sugar. I hated the soups I had to drink. I can only eat chicken if it's really moist, marinate it, boil it, but don't just broil it. I was able to handle milk at first but now I can't it makes me nauseated. So soy milk for now. I can't eat any fried foods they make me violently sick. Other than that almost three months out and I can eat just about anything. I will not eat things that are pan fried with butter or oil.

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

At first I didn't want to work out. I hated it now though I realize how important it is to do so. So I walk and am able to jog on the tread mill and I have an incredible amount of energy (except when Aunt Flo is visiting). I clean my whole house M-F now in about an hour and deep clean M+F it takes about 2 hours. I feel great. I love to have sex now with or without the lights on. I jog with the kids and we dance and play most days of the week.

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

10/06--Right now I am taking childrens multi chewable three pills a day, Citracal plus, 4 pills a day; b-12 dots 1 a day; nexium 1 a day; b complex sublingal 1 drop a day

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 worst was the vomiting, because I don't really vomit anything but foam, so if I eat something I'm not supposed to or too fast it takes forever for it to get out because I'm not vomiting. It's not as bad now because I've learned what not to eat and how not to eat. Next would be the hair loss. I haven't gone bald or anything but I can definitly see the difference in my hair thickness. I had REALLY think hair so thick that it would take 2 hours to dry under and hair dryer or bow dryer. Now it takes me about 45 mins to dry my hair. BIG DIFFERENCE.

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

The pain. No one told me how much it hurt. I had never been in a hospital for anything other than giving birth naturally. Comparing giving birth naturally and having gastric bypass. By far the gastric bypass hurts more. However, I would do it all over again in a heartbeat.

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

I was going to a support group but didn't find it to be as helpful as having close friends and family around. All my freinds and family know what I can and can't have and make it a big deal not to have anything in front of me that I can't eat but really miss having like cookies and cake.

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

My scar is cool it's my little railroad track. It kinda looks like a keloid scar and that sucks but I look at it everyday and it reminds me of everything I went throught to get to where I am today.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I have only had two. One at five weeks it lasted for a week and then one at 7weeks that lasted for 2 weeks. I started to lose patientes and talked to my friends and family and they all helped me regain confidence in this surgery and I have done well since.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Nope other than making sure I can eat what they're cooking. And Jack he seems to be touching me more and being a lot more affectionate.