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

I was the 5th person in my family to have bariatric surgery.

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

My insurance company was pretty good, they approved me on the first letter. However, they kept adding information that they wanted, or this doctor wasn't good enough etc. My advice is to pester the hell out of the insurance company and the doctors and make sure they send the information right away.

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

My surgeon was very late, but in Los Angeles traffic, that can be expected. He was fantastic. He made me swear to follow his pre-surgery rules (diet, quit smoking). Call it tough love. He didn't give me my surgery until he was convinced my body could handle it.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I was determined to have it by the time I met with my surgeon. I did research for about 3 years before hand.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I wanted the version that would give me the least chances of gaining back everything I had lost. I have watched friends and family gain wieght again and I don't want that.

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?

The only fear I had when I was in pre-op was that they would find some reason that they couldn't do it. I knew if I didn't do something, I was going to die.

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 were very supportive. I have one friend that was excited for me, but then once the weight started coming off she stopped coming around.

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

My boss was very understanding. I was off for the full 8 weeks. I could have gone back much sooner, but due to the type of work I was doing I had to be 100%. I worked in a drug and alcohol treatment center for teenage boys at the time and restraints were not uncommon.

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

My stay in the hospital was long. My surgery was in Los Angeles and I live 6 hours away. My surgeon decided to keep me longer to make sure I had no complications. I was the only surgery that morning so they took their time with me on the table. That was fine with me except that having the bulk of my weight like that on the table bruised my tailbone. I was pretty much miserable. I couldn't sleep on my hospital bed because I couldn't lay on my sides or my back, so they had to bring a recliner into my room. The best sleep I got was 4 days later, sitting up in the truck on my way home.

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

I discovered quickly which foods were no longer my homies. Dumping is the most horrible feeling. The only "complications" I have had has been 2 bouts with kidney stones and a persistent gas bubble hat seems to plague me.

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

By the time I got my surgery date, the only anxiety I had was getting a phone call and them telling me I couldn't have it.

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

My first few nights home were hard because of my bruised tailbone. Meds controlled most of the pain from the actual procedure. I mostly just had a tight feeling in my tummy. Bending was painful, but it eased over time.

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

After care has been difficult. Anytime I have had an issue (kidney stone, etc) that I thought might be surgery related, I have had to go to my local ER which does not do bariatric surgery. My surgeon and hospital is 6 hours away.

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.

In the months since surgery, my tolerance has changed alot. I can no longer eat bacon, sausage, eggs, or most dairy products. I can handle some sugar but not much. Luckily I am still able to tolerate the lite version of my starbucks frappuccino that I love. I am convinced they lace those with some type of narcotic.

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

I was able to do quite a bit after surgery. I could walk alot and felt better when I did. I even went to a Green Day concert only 11 days out of surgery. I was tired, but I survived :)

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

I take a sublingual B-12 every other day and 2 childrens sugar free chewables daily.

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?

Lactose intolerance has been the worst. I had to break alot of dairy habits that I had. Dumping is horrible. I always feel like I just want to curl up in the fetal position and lay there for a good 2 hours before it finally goes away.

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

The worst part of my experience was the mental part. I had no idea how emotionally attached to food I was until it was gone. The first month was so hard. I just wanted to sit and have dinner with my family and COULDN'T. Once I moved on to more solid foods, most of that feeling went away. Afterward it was dealing with the fact that I am no longer 400lbs. I would catch a glimpse of myself in a mirror or window and just stare at myself. I knew it was me, but in my head it wasn't me.

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

I have been lucky enough to have family and friends that have supported me on this whole journey. I have only gone to one support group meeting since my surgery, but I have many friends online that have experienced this and I talk to them daily.

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

My scars are almost nonexistant. They are tiny and an really only be noticed if I point them out.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Plateaus are the devil! My funniest plateau experience was one that lasted almost 2 months. My neice asked me to be a bridesmaid in her wedding. We went to our dress fitting and I got a beautiful dress for the ceremony. Wouldn't you know it, in the 3 weeks between the dress fitting and the wedding I lost 25 POUNDS!!! I had to have some serious last minute alterations.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Sadly yes. I get many more smiles than I did when I was 400lbs. People don't act like I am invisible anymore. My sisters and best friend have been the funniest. My best friend decided to go back to weight watchers for the third time and the reason she gave her husband was "I can't let Cheryl be a size 10 on her own". My sister went back to Jenny Craig and has lost almost 60lbs. We can share clothes for the first time in my life :)