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

I worked in the OR and participated in the surgeries.

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

It was very easy with Blue Cross. Be prepared with information. Previous Diets, Pains and Comorbidities

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

My surgeon let you fill out the paper work for the insurance company online before the meeting so I was approved in less then two weeks. Go to the seminars, do your research and have a list of unanswered questions ready for him and any concerns you have.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I had a CT Scan for kidney stones. The Radiologist I worked with called me back into the office and showed me changes in my spine due to my weight. After that it was a no brainer. I rather have gastric bypass then back surgery some day.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I had the Lap Roux en y

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 knew they were there but tried not to dwell on them.

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?

Everybody tried to talk me out of it including family, coworkers (surgeons and other nurses) and friends due to the higher risk of complications and potential death. After the surgery though, everyone was completely supportive.

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

Very Supportive. Even helped me pick out the surgeon. Since I worked in the OR, I worked with people that worked with all the bariatric surgeons in the area. Got to ask who they thought were the best. How many had go backs or complications that brought people back to the OR. Who had good technique etc.

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

It was great. I was there only a day and a half. I didn't tolerate the PCA because Dilaudid made me nauseated and was too strong. It also made m oxygen level desaterate and depressed my breathing. They took it away pretty quickly and I did great. No more nausea. They switched to the Lortab Elixer that night and that was more then enough to cover the pain. I had them take out the catheter after I was awake. I even walked around the unit later that night.

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

None, I did great

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 felt surprisingly well. I knew alot of it was mind over matter. Drink your fluids and your protein drinks, even if you didn't want to. No real anxiety though.

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

I did really good. My surgeon wanted us to get up and walk as much as we could tolerate after surgery. On day three I walked around Target to get some nighties. On day five I walked around the outlets and by day seven I could mow the lawn. By Day 14 I was at Magic Mountain walking around.

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

I lived within a half hour of the Hospital. After 3 years though I moved out of the area.

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.

Well I couldn't drink soda for over a year after surgery. Carbonation didn't sit well. I could never eat eggs and still have issue with that. Never really got sick from food if I remember very small portions and always chew it well. Oh yeah be careful with sugar - too much and you will pay for it - example heart thumping, intestinal cramping, diarrhea and feeling very tired/dizzy. You need to lay down until it passes and it does eventually pass. You learn your limits quickly and every one is different.

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

I got a personal trainer a month after surgery and worked out 5 days a week for the first 6 months after surgery

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

Chewables - Viactiv multi-vitamin & calcium. Foltarin twice 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?

Hairloss was the worst for me. So I cut my hair short and just took my vitamins. At one point I got hair extentions but only did that for about a year. Then it grew back. No sleep disturbances and no real nausea

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

Learning that you were full before your briain told you it was full. There is a delay in communication there.

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

I attended the support group until I went back to work. I worked nights so I really couldn't get to the meetings after I went back to work. Obesity help also helped and I used to go to this website called fitday.com to keep track of my results which kept me encouraged.

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

Yes my surgery was Laproscopic so all I had was just a few punch holes

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I had quite a few. It seemed like forever. But looking back at it none were really longer then two week. Sometimes your body just needed to adjust. I kept track of it with the web site www.fitday.com It also kept track of your measurements too. It was fun to watch everything keep dropping

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes Big Time!!! Professionally, Personally. I never realized that people treat overweight/obese people alot different until I wasn't overweight anymore. I switched jobs and none of the people knew me when I was obese. It was like night and day. I was treated with alot more respect. People went out of there way to be friendlier. It was really an eye opener. Not that I thought I was treated badly before. Just afterwards I felt like I was treated alot better.