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

Carnie Wilson going public about her battle. Then I really started looking into it it on the web. I thought it was the easy way out, but I have learned nothing is ever as easy as it seems.

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

Amazingly I had no problems get approved. I was more worried that the surgeon would tell me I was not a candidate. I actually cried with relief after leaving the office. My advice is to take a deep breath and wait it out.

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

My first consult went very smoothly. I didn't get to really spend much time with the surgeon, all he did was briefly examine me (pressed on my belly, and barely looked at my legs for signs of ulcers?, and took my blood pressue). The balance of the consult was spent with his assistant, Dawn. I have to go back again and I am assuming this will mean more time spent with him. I think this first appointment is a scare tactic to weed out the ones who aren't serious about this. If you come back "You Mean Business!". The second appointment I spent a little more time with the surgeon, he was a little more personable and made sure I understood everything.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I always thought it was for people who had 300+ lbs to lose and then I learned this wasn't so. I also thought if I didn't do something I wouldn't live to see fifty.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Well since I have had a previous abdominal surgery (I had an anterior/posterior spinal fusion) I just assumed it would have to be open. When I chose my surgeon I was unaware he only did it open. So I went in with open in mind and had no other choice.

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?

No fears at all!!! This was suregery number 7 or 8 for me in just 7 years so I am or was used to everything that goes with surgery. I also had in mind that I was not going to live very long if I didn't do something. So I figured if I was going to die, I would at least die trying.

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 husband was against it because he felt I had been through enough medically and surgically with all the past surgeries I've been through until he met all the losers on the other side and then he just said to me "DO IT AND DO IT SOON". Everybody was 100% behind me before, during, and after!

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

My stay was as wonderful as a hospital stay can be..... My surgeon stayed with me all night long (or so I am told by my husband). I had one on one nursing care and all the nurses were just great (help in using the potty, getting washed, massages with body lotion and then powdered to avoid rashes from sweating, etc. They wouldn't even allow to get up without assistance.). The best in care I ever received hospital wise. I think it was because it was ICU, because a couple of weeks later a friend of mine got lousy care, same surgeon, same surgery, but not ICU. I was there for 4 days and released directly from ICU (was not happy about this but it from the a surgical standpoint I was good to go but my cardiologist should have kept me an extra da or two in a stepdown unit!). I DID NOT NEED ANYTHING!

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

None at all that I am aware of.

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

Elated and happy! Could not wait!

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

Long and painful! Very rough on my husband! He could do nothing for me other than help me bath and roll. Just remember it gets better and etter with each passing day and the results are worth it!

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

Maybe 10 miles.

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.

Did not and still do not eat much although nothing is really of limits. I just have no appetite.

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

Light. Mostly just short walks.

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

Calcium B-12 Childrens chewables

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?

Nausea-about 6-7 weeks Hairloss-about 8 months then I cut my hair and this seemed to help Heart Burn-still happening

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

The waiting.

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

None

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

Neat and Clean! I guess it was what I expected although I have seen some gruesome scars ans was a little concerned about it.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Have alot of plateaus and when they happen I worry about failing, or gaining the weight back.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Yeah!!