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

I met a lady at church several years ago that did it and has had great success. It was a bit scary at first and so I started researching it more and other options.

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

I havnt had to deal with this really..my surgeon has done this for me. :)

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

I would recomend a notebook and write everything in it you want to ask...you might find the answers before you ever see him, but its nice to have a good to refer back too. :)

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I had a dr tell me that he would not do knee surgery on me because i was too fat and too old....he was an idiot..but he was infact the final straw.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I reviewed the risks, costs, recovery time of each and then decided that Lapband was my best option. Besides I was thinking about all the ewww loose skin that I will be facing and if I am dropping weight a bit slower then that will give me more time to work to trim some of that with exercise....i am aware I wont be able to trim all of it but I am hoping i can make an impact.

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 worry some...but when you do the math...i believe that my risks of dieing from a side effect of being morbidly obese adds up to be greater over the period of a life time :) Besides...Im here till God calls me home :)

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?

havnt had surgery yet....my boys are not very happy about it...they worry about their mom leaving them...my mom is supportive of it..but concerned...my friends....well they think im silly...they tell me im fine like i am... I told them that think about how much better i will be if I am fine now :) have had surgery and many did step up to do things for me....there are also those that say they will and dont just work to be sure that everything you need post op for 3 days is right there handy. (Its the best thing)

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

I sorta havnt told her...Im hoping that I can arrange the surgery to be on one of our two or three week breaks from work and that i will not miss work....

What was it like attending your first information seminar on weight loss surgery? Were you glad you attended? if so, why?

The information seminar was not what I expected. I thought it was going to be basic information about the band and about bipass...what happens, what to expect, who does what, details, etc.... instead they simply talked about metabolism... I was very frustrated because I was wanting to learn something about the band and I left with nothing, well I do have notes on speeding up metabolism but I was not after that on that night.

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

CHAPSTICK is the Hospital GOD.... DO NOT GO without it!! you think I am being silly, trust me you will be glad you have it. :)I was only there for the day sent home the same day..and everyone was wonderful to me...I dotn think I have ever been treated so well in a hospital setting. Oh the other thing I did that was now looking back BRILLIANT.... I took some Pajamas to wear after the surgery in recovery and then home :) Once home ...I just hopped in bed...No moving or dressing or anything :) Thought for a minute i would feel self conscious about being in PJ's.... and yet.... not so much :)

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

Bloating like everyone from the the anesthesia and walked to work that through. Did have pain breathing if more then short breaths like to talk if took a deep breath or cough or hiccup or sigh it was horrible pain for a bit....was checked for clot and told probably just pressure. (so as long as im breathing at all we are hoping :)

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

Physically sore in stomach..as though someone cut me (:)) stomach bloated and very gassy (ugg but it does happen) But mostly...ok....I mean I did manage after 3 days to go sit through an auction (pain meded) but it was out of the house :) Mentally glad it was over ...the surgery I mean and I look forward to having it work for me.

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

Didnt do much but sleep first two days, then mostly rested third day (well except for the date to auction) better some on forth wrapped presents stomach very sore :( cant bend, shopped a tiny bit on fifth and Christmas on sixth day and just like God...on the seventh day....I am home resting again :) but doing well :)

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

Dr is about 40 min away, so I dont see it being a big issue to get there.

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 have been told that many have many items they cant eat...I am able to eat everything I have tried thus far but in small amounts...Its day 8 I have eaten 1 chicken leg, 1/2 soft taco, turkey, pork roast, fish fillet, 4 french fries, 3 slices of bread butter pickles, 1spoonful of banana pudding, one mushroom. lol it looks like alot but trust me it so wasn't and wasn't eaten at one time most were eaten independently.

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

I feel fine to do most anything I mean I cant bend well adn cant pickup heavy stuff but mobility wise Im fine first 4days...not so much.

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

calcium, vitamin d, multivitamin Its about 1.3 yrs later... I am taking multivit, D3, and Omega 3, I am also trying to remember to take the calcium as well. Considering Biotin.... you don't realize what a hassle it is to remember to take all of those until you have to do it...blah... and everything has to be gummy or chewable.

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?

At first it was gas and stomach pain...much like being in a fight.... after side affects of surgery cleared I had alot of unexplained port pain (poking like) About the 7th mth the throwing up started....somethings made me sick one day it would be one thing the next day it would be something else.....it was around this time that I discontinued the diet the dr gave me and adopted my own. He had me on the wrong diet...it was for bipass...it was the carbs making me sick and and keeping me from losing weight correctly. I did notice that when I didnt get enough protein in my hair started to thin..but no one would admit it, until now when its growing in well....(they should have told me then)

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

Hmmm.. waiting was hard.... like everyone else... I wanted it now. I had already waited so long to be brave enough to do it, then to be approved, then bandster hell was rough....I was still hungry for ages. It took a long time for me to get restriction and you put that with the fact they had me eating mashed potatoes everyday.....weight was not falling up...(plus i was unable to walk well at this time so exercise was hard) But in reality... the hardest part.... the part I wish I could have been spared.... was being left to figure it out on my own... to not have a supportive Dr's office that made me feel like I mattered the moment the insurance cleared the surgery.... I felt worse about myself as a fat person inside a drs office FOR fat people....one place I should have been made to feel a little better about self. THAT was the worse part.... feeling all alone and wondering What have I done to myself..... I am successful now, (according to others)but could feel much better about self if the support team had been in place and done the job they are paid for. I would not send anyone to the Dr I went to. Ironically its a Dr that is owned by a major medical group so I thought was good choice.

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

My coworkers, my children, the gentleman I was dating were all very supportive. I had found this site and it was also helpful, although slightly intimidating at first. Support is very important and I would have done better had there been a group for freshly banded folks to be reassured that everything was going to be okay :)

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

I don't like my scar....its a sad face in the center of my stomach directly below my ribcage. Smiley face would have been MUCH better... and the "dot" scars are not so bad except for the one that the binding came off of and now its as big as the head of a pencil eraser.... the Dr's response when I showed him and told him about it coming loose? "Oh I wouldn't worry about that.." HMMF

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I do plateau and it does get frustrating.... during those times I try to remind myself I didn't gain it all at once... I had periods that my intake didn't really add to my weight...and there will be times that now my exercise and diet don't pull pounds off like I would like.. I count inches now (when I remember to)

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes, especially men. I am asked out more times then I can possibly go out and the choices are better ( I know that sounds bad) But even in retail stores I notice I receive more attention and help. People are friendly now...but people for the most part have always been nice to me...I tend to be nice to others so I expect it comes back to me.