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

My daughter researched it first. She was very excited and I totally shot her down. I told her NO WAY IN HELL! I was so wrong! After I was open minded enough to look in to it myself I totally changed my mind. This website has made me laugh and cry more often than I care to admit!

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

The insurance company has not been the problem for me. They have been pretty good at helping me. My only complaint with them is the lack of live humans to man the phones.

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

Great. It took a long time to get the appointment (2 months) but it was worth it. Dr. Nye is great. He answers all your questions. So remember if you are the one waiting to see him and he is running behind it is because he is being so thorough with someone else. He chased away my fears. He was very real. He is an upfront kinda guy. Make sure you write down your questions so you can give them to your doctor and make sure they get answered.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

One day my feet were so bad I could not walk to the bathroom. I was in so much pain it brought me to my knees. I figured if this will get the weight off of my poor little size 5 feet that it is worth it. I did not let a broken neck cripple me why should I let being over weight do it!

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Dr Nye went over which proceedures work best for each type of person and I went with his recommendation. I have spoken to several other surgeons and they all had the same answer.

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?

My fears are not about the complications. Mine are about the nose tube...I have a plate in my neck and my throat is already restricted. Dr Nye explained it would not be a problem (he has had the same neck surgery I have). He made me very comfortable about it. My advise to anyone is make sure you feel safe with you Dr. If it doesnt feel right dont do it. God gave us an inner voice for a reason. Listen to it. Find the right doctor that you trust.

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 is all for it. My husband is looking forward to getting the old me back. My son is proud of me for going forward no matter what. My daughter is the greatest in the world. If it were not for her I would not go through with it!

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

I am not employed, I am retired! : )~

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

It was great. The entire staff was really wonderful. They are very busy and did take their time to come around to check on me. My IV backed up and I had to go out to the Nurses Station and get someone to come fix it. But, I have to say...the whole country is short on nurses and these guys are doing their very best. They were so kind to me!!

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

The only problem I had was with heprin. It made my blood too thin and I was so bruised up I look like I had been in a car wreck! For that reason they had to leave my drainage tube in for 2 weeks. It is out now and my bruises are finally fading away. I was more of a bother than a real problem.

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 very little anxiety. To be very honest I was not afraid of this. I was much more afraid of what it would be like to be fat for the rest of my life. Any time I felt strange or worried I would remember that this is the last summer of my life that I wont want to wear shorts. I live on the ocean at that is real torture for me.

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

Being tired is the hardest part. That is so normal. It is the bodies way of making you take it slow. I am a hyper person so it has been hard for me. Being sore is also difficult. I felt like I had been beat up. I am a two weeks yesterday and all of it is subsiding.

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

about 50 miles. It is not far enough to be a problem but the car rides the first few times has been difficult. My whole midsection has been sore and sitting in a car that long is kinda hard. Make sure you always bring something to drink. I get very thirsty very fast!

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.

Dr. Nye has been very specific about what to eat. I was on clear liquids the first week. I was changed to all liquids the second week and on to soft food the third week. So far I am tolorating anything on the list of foods he has given me. I know others who are have great difficulty with this process. I can say for sure that the way Dr. Nye approaches this works great!!!! Don't forgot the ZANTAC no matter what!!!!!!!!

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

The first week I was too tired to much of anything. I walked around the most I could. I did minor house cleaning. The second week I felt better and did a little laundry, minor cleaning, walked the mall twice. The third week I am up and running (slowly). I get very tired but I am working on it! I am at 8 months and feel pretty normal. I have lost nearly 100 lbs and feel good.

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

So far none. I get my first B12 shot at 4 weeks. I am drinking ensure for vitamins. At 8 months I take prenatal vitamins every day and b12 shots. I feel good!

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 none of the side effects mentioned. I have to say I am suprised but it is true.

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

The nose tube!!!!! I hated it. Also the process with the insurance to get it done. It is humiliating and I wish the people processing the paperwork had to go through it themselves. Then they would be kinder!

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

The most important to me is the support I get from my family. They have been really awesome. We are starting a new group where I live and so far everyone seems great. I am planning a very active role in this group.

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

Ugly so far! It is much worse than I expected but it still has the stitches in it. As they desolve it will get better....I hope! At week three it looks much better!! I am at 3 months and it looks tons better!

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

after 3 weeks I stayed the same for 4 days. I found I need to drink more water! At three months my weight is dropping very slowly. I still have problems drinking enough water. At 8 months I still loose slow but sure. I thought I wasnt doing well enough but my doctor says I am doing great so that is all I really care about. It is soooo nice to have gone from a size 20 to a 12 in 8 months!

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes...even down 20 lbs I am getting compliments. I feel prettier! I have now lost over 50 lbs and feel better and I think I am alot friendlier. I am at 8 months and shopping a stores I could only dream of before!! It is sooooooooo nice to have people be friendly and not rude. I swear they are soo mean to overweight people. I now try very hard to smile at every overweight person I see and if I get the chance to say something nice!