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

I had heard very negative comments about the surgery and was determined not to have the surgery unless my health was in danger.

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

The first visit with my surgeon was very informative. He went over the procedure in detail and advised me of the risks involved. He encouraged me to become as informed about the procedure as I could and stressed the importance of being informed.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

My legs were swollen and infected and I could barely walk. The vascular surgeon my primary care doctor referred me to told me he could treat my legs for the rest of my life but the problem would not go away unless I did something about my weight.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

It was the procedure performed by my surgeon, Dr. Glen Moore.

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?

For anyone with doubts about having the surgery because of possible complications or even dying - ask your surgeon his "track" record; find how the chances of having a complication occur during this type of surgery; then find out your chances if you do not have the surgery based on: 1)your past "track" record of losing weight, 2) your track record of keeping the weight off, and 3)the medical problems you are having that are either caused by or made worse because of your weight. In my case my surgeon had an excellent "track" record and the chance of complications or even my dying because of having the surgery was a lot less than the chance of further complications in my health or me dying if I did not have 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?

The close friends that I told about my decision to have the surgery were very supportive before the surgery and they continue to be supportive. My dad was very worried about the surgery but never said anything to me. Now he is worried that even though I have lost a little over half my projected weight loss, I will gain the weight back. He has seen me lose the weight many times only to gain it back. My daughter never mentioned anything prior to the surgery but now she is the one who cautions me to slow down when I am eating and helps me read labels when we go to the grocery store. I have an aunt that we phone each other once a month and she is very supportive and has told me that she had been praying for me. Only a couple others in my family know about the surgery and they basically have had no comment. One did want to know if I could not have done it by myself without having the surger.

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

I could not have asked for better care in the hospital. My surgery was Tuesday morning and I was discharged Thursday. The lady who had her surgery Tuesday morning before mine came over to my room and we talked several times during our hospital stay.

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

No, I did not have any complications from the surgery.

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 an excellent support system with a few of my friends. Every day I felt better and on days when I would get down I would call one of three close friends and they would give me encouragement. I also went to the support group and listened to the others who had gone through the surgery which would make me feel better. I would also think about the shape my legs were in before the surgery and my medical condition before the surgery and that would help put things in perspective.

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

I went through a lot of different emotions. You will have good days and you will have bad days, and this is normal.

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

Not very far about 15 - 20 miles so distance is not a factor in my aftercare.

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.

Fried foods and foods containing sugar are off limits. My surgery was almost 5 months ago and I still have a problem tolerating poultry and meat. But as everyone tells me if you can't tolerate something one month wait and then try it again at a later date. It has now been 7 months since my surgery and I am trying different foods. I have had a little bit of steak and lean hamburger with no side effects. I have learned that I cannot tolerate premade hamburger patties (even the lean patties). There are days when I can eat chicken and days when I can't eat chicken. It really depends on how dry the chicken is once it is cooked.

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

Every day my activity level increases. I have gone from falling asleep as soon as I sit down and not having any energy to do anything once I got home, to being able to go to the gym and doing things with my family and friends in the evening. At 7 months out my activity level continues to increase. This month I plan on walking in the Relay for Life.

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

Multi-purpose vitamins; calcium; and protein supplements

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?

The nausia was the worst for me. At times I still have nausia when I eat too fast or eat something that is a little too dry. The best thing for me to do then is to go lie down for about 30 minutes and remember what it is that has caused me to feel this way so I can avoid it in the future.

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

We have a support group that meets once a month. One important thing about the support group is that people are there who are in the different stages. Pre-op patients and patients who had the surgery 2, 3, 4 years plus and that helps you realize that this time when you take the weight off it will stay off.

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

I have several small scars and they are similiar to the ones from my gall bladder surgery so they are what I expected.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

My close friends don't treat me differently, but others do. I also act differently now. I could always be myself around my close friends but not around others. Now I can do crazy things without having to worry if the people around me are going to laugh at the "fat lady". They may still laugh at me because at what I am doing (singing along with the clowns at the circus, dancing in the aisle at a concert, etc) but it is not because I'm "fat lady".