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

My dads cousins wife had it some years ago and she just explained it all to me how and what was done. First impression was she looked fine healthy and happy. I thought it to be like almost any other surgery.

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

Both insurances we had both had exclusion pertaining to anything that had to do with obesity. I had to go to the Texas Rehabilitation Commission for assistance with my surgery.No matter what don't give up because I did after my first attempt in 2002 but I stuck with it the second go around and here I am today

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

Well my first meeting with Dr. Frezza was kinda scarey. He told you about the BAD part of the surgery because you already know the good about it. He was very upfront, honest and he told it like it was. I thank people can get a lot of information at the first visit and actually be able to ask questions and concerns. It was more like he was interviewing me not me interviewing him.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I don't want to waste my life when I can do something about it. I saw how being obese has hurt my dad and our family. I sisn't want to die at a early age. My children's future made me want to have it done.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Look at what procedure would work better for me as an individual and a procedure that I could understand and accomplish.

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 had a fear of maybe having a leak, dying during the surgery, not healing right due to diabetes. I would tell them to make sure you followed all pre-op instructions and just make the decision if you are ready to do it because nobody really knows how it will turn out.

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 took the news real well they was worried and they had lots of questions. Everyone was real supportive.

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

They really didn't know

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 about 4 days 3 days in SICU. My nurses where really nice and very caring

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

Yes, I had weak intestines so he had to hand stitch em all and didn't get to use staples. I took one day at a time

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

HAPPY couldn't wait til I had surgery. I wrote in a journal and left a note for everyone in my family and friends a letter just in case of problems.

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

I was tired not hungry just hurt a little and was just excited to see the weight fall off.

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

30 blocks not far at all the hospital is less then 2 miles from my house.

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.

I couldn't eat anything for 2 weeks only fluids then after that I was able to eat pureed foods I manely wasn't hungry but I would eat a bake potatoe, soup, jello and then after that 4 weeks I went to softer foods and then meat but I couldn't digest chicken or red meat I mainly drank my protien drinks. Til this day I still have a hard time eating meat and other foods like dairy it makes me ill and sweet stuff will make me puke.

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

My activity level was kind sluggish til about the 5th week then I could walk a lot with out stopping for air.

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

Centrum, B12 shots and iron pills

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?

Hair loss but that meant I needed more protien but it was hard because I really wasn't hungry I had to make myself eat.

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

Not having the money to constanly buy clothes.

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

I go to our support group every other month at the doctors office and I talk to my friend who also had the procedure done. It helps to talk because no one else understands what your going through.

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

I have 4 tiny incisions on my tummy due to the procedure.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I really didn't plateau. I lost all my weight fast.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes, there are men I work with and they really didn't talk to me when I was overweight but know they always make sure they say hi. Plus there are people I would see from school and they are real quick to talk to me to.