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

I first found out about it like many others...Carnie Wilson. At first I thought that it was a bit extreme and didn't want to do it. But after researching and going to seminars...and dealing with increased health problems, I changed my mind.

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

My surgeon is a very passionate and caring man. He understands how obesity affects people's lives and truly wants to help. My advise to people is to be as prepared as you can when you meet with your surgeon for a consult. Research as much as you can not only about the procedure but the surgeon. Talk to people who've had the surgery done by this particular surgeon and see what they have to say about him/her. It's important that you trust your surgeon...your life is in his/her hands after all.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I've tried almost every diet out there to lose weight...from Richard Simmons (meal-a-deal) to the South Beach Diet...from Herbalife to Metabolife...from dieticians to physicians...even phentamine & Meridia...nothing has helped. I joined gyms...had personal trainers...you name it, but nothing has worked. I'm not a binge eater nor have I had a eating disorder. According to physicians and dieticians I have a very good diet...accept the fact that I don't eat very much. Finding out that I'm classified as Super Morbidly Obese was the biggest wake up call for me. My health has been deteriorating over the past year...but the past few months have been the worse. I decided after having a BMI <50 that I can't do this anymore and that I need help. So I've chosen the WLS.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I personally decided to have the RNY procedure done because I need a permanent solution to a lifetime problem. My insurance also ONLY covers this particular procedure. So I guess that it was good that I'd already decided that was the one for me.

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 don't really have any fears about the procedure itself. My biggest fear after deciding this is what I wanted was whether or not my insurance would approve 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?

At first my mom - who happens to be a dietician - wasn't thrilled with the idea. She only knew of the way this procedure had been done in the past. I had her and my husband come with me to a seminar to educate them more on what to expect in hopes that it would help them to better understand it all. It helped a great deal and I have full support from all of my friend's and family. They just want me to be around a long time and be healthy.

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

I told my boss as soon as I made the decision to have the WLS and actually knew that it might be possible. He was very supportive of it all and said that he just wants me to be healthy. He didn't ask me why I was having it done...he already knew. It was common knowledge at my office as to my deteriorating health. I plan on being out of work for about a week or so.

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

I was in the hospital for 4 days total. I was expecting to be in a nice room like a friend of mine a week before me had been...but I wound up on a different floor in a room that was from the era 1970. I didn't even have a working phone until my third day there! Most of my nurses were very nice though...but I did have one technician that was incredibly crass w/ me and brought me to tears one night. I reported him. I found out from my family at a later date that they weren't informed of my whereabouts after surgery for over FIVE HOURS!!! I was put into IMCU and NO ONE told my family!! Overall...my stay wasn't what I expected at all and a bit disappointing...but it wasn't the worse thing I've been through either.

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

I had a bit of high blood pressure right after surgery and was put into IMCU...but was fine by the day after.

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 VERY excited when I was approved for surgery and my date was scheduled. However, my circumstances became extremely complicated as I was "let go" from my employer of 10 years the day after putting in for time off for my surgery. This created a many complications w/ insurance coverage and I almost lost my surgery date. Luck was on my side though and I did get to keep my date and went through w/ surgery. :-)

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

After coming home from the hospital...I was tired, excited...and a bit scared. You will go through a period of "what did I do to myself?". Don't worry, all of us go through this and it's normal. My advice is to follow the dietary and excercise instructions given to you by your surgeon and don't stray from it!

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

Thankfully my surgery was local...about 20 miles from home.

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.

Everyone has different dietary plans given to them for after surgery. Each surgeon is different therefore all dietary plans are different. Most bariatric patients don't have the "hunger sensation" for quite some time after surgery, however mine came back about a week out from surgery. This complicated things a little bit and made frustrated. I learned to cope w/ it and followed my instructions as closely as possible. Also communicating w/ the surgeon's office helped a lot. Now I just watch what I eat and make sure that I'm eating plenty of protein and only a few complex carbs.

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

The first week after surgery I was tired all of the time...but you have to walk...walk...walk!! You must force yourself to get this exercise in order to prevent complications. You will slowly get your energy level back...I did around 3 weeks out. However, you will be very tired by the end of the day!

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

I'm taking my multivitamin and B12 & Folic Acid...both spray vitamins. Those are wonderful! I need to start my Calcium now though. :-)

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 haven't really had many side effects from surgery. The only time I've had any problems is when I have eaten one bite too many OR something is having a hard time getting through the pouch. This makes for a long process and is very unpleasant.

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

I would have to say that the worst part was the seroma that I developed after surgery on my upper left incision. I was lucky though because it went away only after a couple of weeks...but can normally take months to dissapate.

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

I attend a support group every 1st and 3rd Monday of the month. Support groups are crutial for bariatric patients!! I also have a lot of support from family and friends...this too is crutial to ones recovery.

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

My scars are bad at all. I have six small scars from the laproscopic incisions and they are still healing nicely at 2 months out.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I haven't really hit a plateau as of yet. However, my weight loss on the scale did slow down a bit after starting my resistance training portion of my exercise routine. I was told that this is very normal because I was losing more inches during this time so my body must have been building more muscle and since muscle weighs more than fat...that's what was reflected on the scale.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes! I get hit on more by men and people open doors for me all of the time. Also women smile at me more now that they used to.