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

I heard about it through a friend, and my first impression was " wow, how drastic"

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

My surgeons office did a great job with my insurance company, I was approved after the first try and it only took 2 weeks, but I do have a suggestion since I do insurance billing for a living, call call call, you speak to many different Reps. they dont know how many times you've called (the Insurance co.) call them until you get your answer. Remember we are all human, and things do take time, but after awhile call the Ins. co daily until you find out their answer.

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

The first meeting was actually a group seminar of many people considering the surgery. My suggestion is just like school, take many notes and ask any questions you have, no matter how menial it seems, ask it. You need to know everything that is involved.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I saw the results of my friend and how great she looked, plus I was 28 years old and diagnosed with high blood pressure and that scared me.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

By researching and speaking to my surgeon at the first meeting, asking the questions I thought needed answered.

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 worst fear was not making it through the surgery, but after the death factor question was asked at the first seminar and I heard the statistics for my surgeons group I was relieved. Again ask that question to your Dr. " How many surgeries have you performed, and how many deaths, and what were they related to"

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 parents were very worried, my mother who is a nurse read up on it and agreed that it was a good idea especially with the surgical team I chose. My father who knew someone with complications took more convincing. The person he knew however had, had the surgery in the first few years they were doing it and had it open. After I showed him all my paperwork and all the testing he relaxed ( a little). He was still there at 545 the morning of my surgery, waiting for me to go into recovery. Just explain, gather information, talk to your support group, if you dont have a good one, chat at obseityhelp.com's chat room, they will offer great support! After surgery I had ( and you will need, too) help at the house, my family was wonderful!

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

I work for a Dr., he had questions about safety and after I told him who my group was he agreed it would help me. I was off for 2 1/2 weeks then started back slowly, working 1/2 days. I told him where I was having the surgery, I explained everything each step of the way. I had paid time off, so I didnt miss paychecks coming in.

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

I was in-patient from Friday morning day of my surgery until that Sunday morning. The hospital I was in was fantastic, no complaints at all. I didnt take anything with me, my family brought me things to read, but with moving around walking and resting I dont think I read much.

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

Thankfully, I had none.

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 extremley excited and extremly nervous. I coped by talking to the people I know that have had the surgery. I had known quite a few.

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

The pain was not that bad, I had a visiting Nurse for a few weeks, to check my surgery sites and monitor me. I spend the first few days, resting, not doing too much, each day got a little easier for me.

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

I am lucky, I am only about 1/2 hour from Pittsburgh, PA, which is where I had my surgery.

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 tolerated everything that my surgeon recomended, pretty much. I didnt (and still to this day) do not eat fried foods, sugar, or much bread, those are pretty much off limits to me, those are the foods that I plan to avoid for the rest of my life . Thats my choice, though, those are the fods that helped me get to where I was before surgery. I pretty much eat the way Doctors have always said to now, Fruits, vegtables, lean meats, chicken, turkey, fish, no red meat or very occasionally. Also very glad for Splenda and Splenda products, Im very glad to have such a wide varity of choices from this product!

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

I started to walk for excersis in the few weeks after surgery. As I started to gain tolerence to excersise, I joined the YMCA

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

I take daily: Vitamin C, Iron, a MulitVitamin, Calcium, I also get a B12 injection once a month

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?

Actually with me, hair loss was and still is my biggest worry, I am 9 months post op now, and still yet continue to have thin hair. My Dr. reccomended zinc for this problem but I could not tolerate zinc. Vomiting was a persistant problem only for about 2 weeks for me, then it subsided. Once in a very great while if I eat too fast or something greasier than I usually do it can occur.

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

Honestly it wasnt that bad of an expierence, but if I had to choose it was the first few days home, from the Hospital....wondering what I did to myself, then about the 5th day it clicks inplace and you realize what a wonderful road you have ahead of you.

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

I have my family that was the most important support group to me. My hospital has a group, and from what I hear its wonderful, just cant ever get to it due to work.

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

Very small, and now that Im 9 months out its barley noticible at all. I expected much worse than this

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I have had them few and far between. They dont last very long for me, but im NEVER discouraged, I look at where Ive come from until now.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Absolutley. I would be lying if I said, no. Its not right how society treats overweight people, and now looking at it from "the other side" . I still cant fathom, people judging others on the way they look.