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

A girl at my work place had it done and I saw the results after the surgery and I got a feeling for what types of lifestyle changes would have to be made after the surgery.

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

I am a military dependent and I had no choice but to go thur the military hospital. But if I had to do over again I would have chose that hospital regardless. I never had to deal with insurance.

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

I was scared to death! I was so afraid that he was going to say no to me having the surgery for some reason or another. I had went to orientation the day before and he had given out these "Blue Bibles" that had so much info in them and he went thur it all again during the intinal consult.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I didn't want to live like I was anymore. My son was beginning toplay sports and I couldn't play with him and I didn't like myself when I looked in the mirror. SOmething had to change and I was ready.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I didn't get to chose. The surgeon had the type of surgery that he did unless aproblem occured and then he would resort to another type. Honestly, I didn't care what he did as long as I was healthy afterwards and made it off the operating table okay.

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 biggest fear was dying, of course. I was so afraid but I was dying already. The surgery has given me back my life and I am grateful. It is normal to have fears before surgery. RESEARCH YOUR SURGEON BEFORE SURGERY!!!!!! Ask questions, read up on the surgery. The more information that you have the better you will handle 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?

My husband was there for me no matter what and my family was surprised that I was actually "big" enough for the surgery. My mom was supportive but very nervous about me having the surgery. They see me now and just can't believe the differece in me. They still try to make me eat more but I refuse, I know my limit.

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

Gratefully I did not work at the time, I was a full time college student. I was able to complete most of my classes early for that semester and the few that I still had were understanding when I said I was having surgery.

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

They stay was okay, the nurses and surgeons checked on me regularly. I was there a total of 3 days. The most important thing to bring with me were a phone card and a small fan, I was sooo hot and chapstick for my lips.

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

No real complications from surgery but developed kidney stones 6 months later and then gallbadder problems lead to having a gallbladder removal.

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 felt like I was run over by a mac truck. No each day got a little easier. I suffered from some nausea and some pain from my incisions but as time went by I got better.

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

I was tired alot and I needed my pain meds for the first few days. It was hard to try to get in all the water and I really was never hungry, I had to make myself eat. I moved very slow and got tired very easily.

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

I went less than 20 miles to have my surgery done at the Portsmouth Naval Hospital.

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 have pretty much been able to eat whatever I wanted except for fish. I stil cannot tolerate fish with the exceptio of shrimp.

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

The day after I got out of the hospital I began walking around the block then I moved to Curves 3 times weekly but that just wasn't for me now I am walking/running the track outside my back yard 5 days a week and I am getting a Gazelle too and I can't wait.

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

I take 2 multivitamins daily, 1500 mg of calcium daily, a B complex 3 times a week and that is it.

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?

My worst side effects were nausea but crackers helped with that and I vomiting a few times, that was not pleasant, but I learned to eat slower and to sip my water and I dump on the smallest amount of sugar. Dumping has to be the worse thing for me, I get hot, sweaty, shakey and feel nauseous and then I have major diarrhea and it all happens in about 30-45 minutes. Everything has stopped about 2 -3 months after surgery except for the dumping.

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

The hurry up and get all your testing done and then waiting game was the worst for me.

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

I was going to the support group offered by my surgoen and seeing him at certain appointment times however I have moved and just fond a new support group top begin attending.

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

I have several small dots all over my stomach, I joke that I can play connect the dots. The scars are exactly as I had expected.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I spend most of my time having plateaus. I have a plateau then I lose several pounds then I have another plateau and then lose several more pounds.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes, I see people talk to me more and treat me like a regular person instead of this large woman.