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

I've always know about WLS but felt it was for someone else, not me and thought it was too dramatic in risks to want to ever consider it.

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

Approval was a nightmare. I had been denied twice and appealed both times. I finally won the appeal but it does a number on your emotions. Best advise I can give is to make sure that the guidelines are completely met for what the insurance company is asking for. Write EVERYTHING down. Keep a log on who and when you spoke to someone. Most importantly, stay in control of your paperwork and in what is being sent to your insurance company. After all, this is your surgery. Don't leave this up to someone else to take charge of it for you.

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

First visit was very informative. I had already done research on lap band and what I was going for. After speaking to him, he gave me such positive information to do further research on other alternatives, which I took advantage of (RNY). When going to for your first visit, make sure you write down questions you want to ask him/her so you do not forget anything. Provide as much medical history to your surgeon so that he/she can give you the best care possible as well as answers to your questions. Don't be afraid to ask any question. Make sure you do a complete background check on your surgeon and know their track record.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

Many failed diets, mobility was limited, predjudices against obesity from others, and health starting to fail.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Doing as much research as possible on all that was available and what was best for my lifestyle and health. This included attending support group meetings month as a pre op for 18 months, going to a nutri for 12 months, being on support boards for obesity and listening to others who have had surgery.

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 no fears about dying while having the surgery. Fears were put to rest by my surgeon. While it was always a possiblity, I was confident with all the medical information I had given my surgeon so he could provide me with the best care for me. If you do your homework, discuss everything opening and honestly with your surgeon, you should have great success in the surgery.

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 mom, daughter, brother and friends were all very supportive in my decision and had my family meet my surgeon as well as attend my support group meetings so that they could ask questions as well. Without my daughter, I would have been lost after my surgery. She's been there every step of the way for me.

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

Prior to seeing my surgeon regarding possible WLS, I spoke with my manager and advised that this would be something I would be doing in the future and that my time out of work would be 3 to 6 weeks. He was very supportive of my decision. When I finally received my approval and surgery date, he got upset because it was prior to the holidays and was more concerned about people being able to have vacation time off then me getting healthy. I had to put my foot down and push the issue and had my surgery on my scheduled date. I would have been back to work in 3 weeks but because my incision opened, I delayed going back by an additional 2 weeks. So I was out a total of 5 weeks.

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

Stay was very good and had excellent care. My stay was 3 days long. There are really nothing I needed to bring except clothes to go home with, my cell phone and chap stick. Everything else was provided.

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

My blood pressure dropped and I had to have a CAT scan and spent a day in ICU just to monitor me until my b/p came back up.

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

The first few weeks and months were pretty rough. Between adjusting to food issues and my incision opening, it made things difficult to keep positive. My surgeon was the greatest support and made me feel at ease about everything, not to mention the support I got from others who had surgery by him before me.

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

First few weeks were just getting use to getting in everything you needed too and healing. As each person is different, it's hard to tell someone what to expect. Best advise is if anyone has questions, to always call their surgeon for the answer. That the end results are worth having the surgery.

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

Less than 5 miles. Hospital, etc. were very close to me.

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 because lactose intolerant and could not drink the Carnation Instant Breakfast. So for the first few weeks I drank Profect protein, water, ate cottage cheese, soup, yogart and beans. For 7 months, I couldn't tolerate the taste of smell of any meat but was able to eat chili. I lived on chili, bean soup, soup, yogart, oatmeal and adding Unjury to everything I'd eat of drink. After the 7th month, I was able to slowly start tolerating meat. Mostly steak, dark meat chicken and turkey. Even today I still find I need to be careful that the meats are lean as fat on the meat will make me sick to my stomach.

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

First few days were slow but after the second week, it increased to normal and then exceeded.

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

Prenatal B-12 Potassium Biotin Calcium Iron

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?

Hair loss and not able to eat meat for 7 months were hard for me. Now both have corrected itself and I'm pretty much able to eat anything I want. I have not tested my pouch for fats or sweets so I do not know if I dump and just consider that I will if I do and it keeps me on track.

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

Finding foods that I could eat to get in all my protein.

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

My surgeon and his team have a monthly support group meeting that I attend and have attended each month. This support group is something I look forward too every month and would not miss it for the world. It's the tool needed to be a success along with the pouch that has been created. You cannot do one without the other.

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

I've had issues with my scar as it opened and drained for 2 months. Right now it's causing me discomfort and occassional it's painful. I have an incisional blister that will eventually need to be repaired but I'm in no hurry right now to do that.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

The longest plateau has been 2 weeks but notice I lose inches when the weight loss stops. So none of it has ever been a worry or a concern. Just something the body does while losing weight.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Wow, yes. People will talk to me when out or shopping. At work especially, has been the biggest treatment change. Since I work at a company dealing with customers, I'm now asked to be with customers on a one to one basis where I wasn't before.