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

My mom had bariatric surgery about 5 years prior to mine. Hers saved her life. I was in denial about needing it for awhile after she had hers, but then when I accepted it, I was ready for it to help me.

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

My battle with my insurance company was terrible. Mine requires the 6-month "dr. supervised diet" pror to approval, well my dr didn't do it right the first time so I was denied. Then when I had done it over again, they didn't have a weight for all 5 prior years because I hadn't been to the dr during one of those years. I had to do some stupid stuff for sure. But eventually they came around. I think it took 2 years all together for my approval. My best advice is to get everything in writing and make sure YOU have all your paperwork too. Don't trust your Surgeons office to keep track of it for you. Also, make sure you have everything they request up front so there won't be any surprises.

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

My suregeon was great, but not very communicative. He understood that I had been through surgery with my mom and basically knew what I was getting into. If you don't know what you are doing, ask questions, write them down before hand and write the answers down as you get them. Get all the numbers you'll need and keep them in one place so you'll have them nearby.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I knew after my 2nd "6 month" weight loss attempt, this time with medication, that I was not going to lose any real weight any other way. I'm young and I didn't want to spend the rest of my life on the up and down rollercoaster I had watched my mom fight.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

The one my insurance would pay for. My mom had a DS and i would have preferred that to the Gastric Bypass which is what I have, but they won't pay for the DS. However, I'm happy with my Bypass.

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 didn't have many fears about dying. I did have fears about complications because I had an aunt who had severe complications from hers. But I had a sense of peace that this was the right thing for me.

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 family and friends were very supportive both before and after. It helped that my mom and a couple of aunts had WLS as well.

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

They reacted great. It was very easy to get approval for time off and they were supportive when I came back to work.

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

My stay in the hospital was great. I was there 3 nights. 4 days total. You should bring chapstick as your number 1 priority! Your own pillow helps. If your surgeon says so a protein shake that you have tried before hand and know you like.

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

No I didn't, but I also know I was blessed. I'm young and relatively healthy.

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 was excited but very nervous too. I prayed and just tried to accept that this was right for me.

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

Try to get on a schedule as soon as possible. The first few days of course you can't because it's all you can do to get one shake in, but after that a routine really helps. That's why going back to work so soon really helped me. I was only out two weeks total, so really I was only home one week. I walked as much as I could, kept myself busy, tried not to sleep too much.

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

I was lucky in that there is a great program in the city I work in. It's about 35 miles from where I live, but since I'm there everyday for work, it made it very easy on 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.

First total week (7 days) were protein shakes, no solid foods. Then I was allowed to try protien. I ate a scrambled egg first. It was great that time. After the first couple of times however, eggs made me very sick and still do to this day. I tried chicken breast dipped in light dressing very early out and that did well. I couldn't eat much of it, but I did eat it. I ate cheese early. I tried to eat hamburger one time about 3 weeks out and it made me sick. I still have trouble with hamburger unless it's very moist. I ate yogurt almost every day. About week 6 I was cleared to add veggies and "good" carbs to my diet as long as I still got my protein. Nothing tasted as good as that first bite of green beans! I'm at 7 months out and I still try to follow pretty close to the protein first, then veggie, then carb rule. I still drink a protein shake in some form almost every day. They have such a great variety of them you can find one you like. I also added protein bars as a treat about the 4 month mark. They sit kind of heavy on your stomach, but it feels kind of like a candy bar and you get your protein! I started adding fruit back in my 6th month and have smoothies with protein powder and yogurt about 2 times a week. It's my after workout treat. You have to have some carbs when you are working out. I hit a really long stall in my 4th month and several people told me I wasn't eating enough. Well, I added some more carbs, a few more calories ( i was only getting about 750 a day) and my stall broke! It's hard for us to wrap our mind around something like that!

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

The day of the surgery I walked the halls. I didn't have any pain issues until the day I went home. I started having a stabbing pain in my side when I moved around too much. It was a combination of gas and my muscles healing I was told. The pain continued on and off for about a week. I walked alot the first week. The second week, I had to slow back down due to the pain. After that I resumed normal activities. Six weeks after surgery I was playing softball.

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

I started with 2 children's chewable vitamins a day for the first 3 months. Then I switched to regular multivitamins and calcium citrate. That's all I take. My levels are all normal so far.

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?

I have had some hair loss. Luckily enough for me I have a lot to lose. I have nausea if I eat the wrong thing, I don't dump as a general rule. That might be because I don't push my luck.

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

There are no bad parts other than having to think about what you are going to eat all the time. I don't like having to plan so much. But it's worth it. Also losing weight so fast has left me with some loose skin that I'm working on.

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

They have a support program at my surgeons office, but to be honest I've never attended. If you don't have a great support system at home then it's very important, but I have a great support system. I do love OH.com and get on the boards quite often for advice and info.

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

I had mine done laproscopically so I only have 4 little scars and they are improving everyday.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I plateaued in my 4th month. I didn't lose anything the whole month. But after I took some good advice and upped my calorie intake a little (my body was most likely in starvation mode), my stall broke in a spectacular 6 lb week.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes, it's a little frustrating. I'm the same person. But it's also nice to get complimented and noticed in a good way.