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

Heard about it through reading magazines and such...Initial impression...stomach stapling...desperate....weak people have it...

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

I have medicarte they dont' approve they just do it and you hope they pay...they don't preapprove

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

List your questions on paper...Dr. Greenlee was great patient answered every question I had I was confident walking out of there

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

My diabetes were ruining my kidneys already..I knew I had to do it or my diabetes would kill me

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I didn't really think about anything other than 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 alot of fears of blood clots..I was so scared...I even wore my stockings 3 months after surgery...It is perfectly normal to have those fears but you need to think what the overweight is doing to you now

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?

Mom was scared to death...my husband supported me although he thought at one point it was a selfish decision to make... in other words I was DYING to be thin...the more he read about it the more he understood..

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

Dont' work...Well I work I'm a stay at HOME MOM

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

Unfortunately I was forgot alot about..I was in the far corner of the hospital..When i rang my bell it took at least 30 minutes for a nurse to get there...Which put me behind on pain...I might be a seperate incident I don't know. I was in there from Monday to Thursday night. Bring shampoo...The shampoo in hospitals are pitiful,..also a brush and a ponytail holder was essential to me. Underwear and pads..I started my period like most do after this surgery. Wear home what you wear in that will keep luggage down a bit..Wear something comfortable home. Dont need much, I felt good enough to read so bring something to read..and defnitly slippers..

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

No complications...

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 had been waiting on a date it felt like so long...when I finally got the call with a date..I immediatly felt depressed and totally sick to my stomach...I just looked at before and after pictures to keep my spirits up and talked to my online friends about my feelings... I felt so much better by the time the date came around.

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

I have only been home a few days...i am 6 days out of surgery...Expect to not feel like walking but have too....Expect not to feel like eating,but have too and expect to about go blank on everything you have learned about this surgery....I did....I mean really blank...I asked more questions than ever..I thought I knew it all before surgery you realize when it is time...you don't know what you think you did.

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

It took me only 30 minutes to get to the surgery...afterwards i stayed with my mom who is only 15 minutes from the hospital just in case I had to make an emergency trip up there...So that was a good decision I thought.

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.

only 6 days out I haven't had a problem eating anything yet..hoping to...Sometimes I have problem with greasy foods...mostly problems with SUGAR I majorly dump on anything with more tha 11g of sugar...

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

I was walking daily...I now at year and a couple months clog twice a week

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

Iron Multivitamin Calcium B12 A little Vitamin C

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?

Right after surgery i had a problem in my incision area they put the cameras in...It took about a month...i also had depression problems and the dumping is not pleasant...Hot sweats,nausea,just major blah....I also have a problem with my sugar dropping real fast...Hot sweats shaking just a tired overall feeling...

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

No worse part the dumping isn't fun....the protein drinks were thrilling but I would do it all over again Losing all your weight effects you mentally and physically..I feel like a total different person sometimes

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

We have a monthly support group...it keeps me grounded knowing I'm going to see my doctors every month and they will be looking at me for any weight gain...

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

My scar is better than expected....It is my flabby skin I am unhappy with...But it is better than FAT

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I have had plateaus but they didnt' really bother me....In fact i didnt' weigh too much after awhile....Your body has to catch up nothing to panic over

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Absolutely...I am friend worthy now..I am worthy of attention whatever....I was always these things but I believe a self esteem also makes you worthy if you want to say that word...I get alot of attention from men I haven't gotten in a long time since my very early 20's...It makes me nervous sometimes I wish i was blended in again...Does that make sense?