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

My mother had an open gastric bypass in 1981

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

No sweat. Submitted the paperwork on a Friday and when I called to check the status the following Tuesday, they gave me my procedure date. Thank you UnitedHealthCare!

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

Ask questions and show up prepared. Understand what the process, have an idea of what to expect, and then ask the questions that are germane to your experience.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

It's been in the back of my mind for years, I knew it's where I would probably end up...meeting Dr. Rutledge and his staff, exploring the lap options, and my mother saying "Why wait til your 40 like I did -- this is 10 extra years of feeling TERRIFIC!" That, and one day after discovering a "traffic boot" on my car tire, I realized that there was no physical way I could walk anywhere to get help. I was completely at the mercy of whoever was kind enough to come and get me. At the age of 27 I was not willing to give up my independence without a fight.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

No decision, really. I knew I wanted what had worked for my mother (we share an almost identical medical history), and when I discovered the lap version, I was sold!

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?

Not really -- I'd never had any type of surgery before this. The only twinge of panic I had was waiting for the nurses to take me down. I thought to myself: "Ok, there are going to be metal rods inside me in a little while...what am I thinking!"

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 partner was/is very supportive. I live far from my family, but my mother calls in every Sunday to see if I've weighed and how things are going. Most of my friends were not even aware I'd had the surgery until the weight started to drop off

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

I had the surgery on a Tuesday, and returned for 3/4 of day on Friday...piece of cake, but it's not like I dig ditches or juggle anvils, either.

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

The hospital stay was boring...the cable choices were not great. But I stayed on the peds ward and had terrific nurses (Jeff (Jennifer) and Karen -- you go girls!) and they give you morphine, so what's not to put up with?

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?

First week was a little tough...very low energy, but after that, my energy has just continued to improve. The biggest adjustment I had to make was one I had not been prepared for at all. I missed food. I felt like I'd lost a dear, beloved playmate. It was bizare! I actually mourned my diseased relationship with food!

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

Like I said, I returned to work that Friday, and the following Monday continued working full time and going to school full time. There were moments when I thought I would drop from exhaustion, but before the surgery those moments were everytime I had to walk a flight of stairs. Now when I'm exhausted, I feel like I've earned it!

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

2.5 hours. My PCP was prepared to handle the little bumps in the road, and Dr. Rutledge is always only an email away.

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 "solid" thing I ate was a piece of cheese 9 days post op. I'd only had juice, water and consumme until then. I did not have any problems until I got a little cocky and decided I really needed some pasta the following day. It was another 4 days before I tried anything else solid. Now a little over a month post op, I don't feel like I CAN'T eat certain things, it's more a question of want. I feel like I could drink a soda, but all I want is water (and no more fruit juice...I'm tired of it sickly sweet and I'm tired of it watered down...and if I NEVER see another Dole frozen fruit bar, it'll be too soon!)

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

Getting to my car was a marathon. Now I take the 7 flights of stairs to my office!

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

One-a-day multi vitamins and Sundown protein suppliments for healthy hair, also actigall for gall stones...or, to prevent further gall stones.

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?

Dumping, yeah...believe me, you'll convince yourself you need that chocolate until you experience dumping...then you'll be done with even chocolate for a while. Haven't done a lot of vomitting. 3 or 4 times max. I discovered early on that with only a tiny stomach pouch, it's almost impossible to get any real torque behind a wretch...I ended up making a silly cat-like hiss that didn't bring a whole lot up -- which, in turn, meant I felt miserable. I have since learned how to avoid that misery....for the most part.

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

Missing my dysfunctional little friend, Food. I watch commercials and think...."Geez, that used to be fun." It's a twisted sense of lonliness that is truly hard to describe.

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

I hang out at some cyber support ports and belong to mailing lists and those seem to be satisfying that "support group" hunger nicely. I have a partner who struggles with obesity, who has lost weight and who is dynamically supportive and loving. That helps immeasurabley.

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

I have 5 that look like an angry kitten got pissed-off on my stomach...they don't even compare with the stretch marks, honey!

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

None yet...I'll let you know!

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yeah, but I've been thin (briefly) before. The superficial garbage is not what I'm in this for. I looked fine as fat person and when I wanted to turn it on, I didn't have a problem...now I can just turn it on and leave it on longer :)