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

A woman at my work had had it doen, and she looked great. She started answering my initial questions. I was impressed, and intrigued, she had been overweight since childhhood.

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

Patience, I was very lucky in that I had tried several different means with my primary doctor to lose the weight. And he had documented it. He also documented all the co morbity problems that were happening to me. My surgeons staff was great, when you pick your surgeon, it is very important he have a good staff, who take the time to speak with you and answer your questions and concerns.

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

Mine was great, I had studied into it and him, so I had all my questions ready for him. He was confident and nice, 2 things I was looking for. He was adding Gastric Bypass to his practice at the time. He was just waiting for hospital privleges to do so when I met with him. He was the top lap Dr. in Las Vegas, and had been in practice for ten years, he was also board certified. I reccomend you ask everything even if you think it is a dumb question, I also asked him what anthesiologist he used so I could check out his credentials as well.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

As scared as I was of the death rate involved in the surgery, I decided the life I was living was really no life.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

My surgeon did, I wanted lap verses open because of the faster recovery rate, and I had a small son and needed to get back on my feet as soon as I could.

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?

I honestly did not tell them until after I had it done.

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

My employer was very supportive and I was working part time and they let me take off 4 weeks and come back at a slow pace for the first 2 weeks.

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

It was good and bad. I was the first Gastric Bypass patient for my hospital, so they put me in intermidiate care, not general nurseing. So I had allot more attention, and at first I had allot of pain, but the pain meds helped, I got up and walking as soon as I could, and I kept walking, that helped me recover the most.

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

no, I was very lucky, no side effects. I did have low potassium on my first blood work check, so my Dr. put me on liquid pottasium.

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 very tired, all the time, I wanted to nap at least 10 time a day. I was not hungry but I really did want to taste a different flavor. I had no anxiety I was to tired for that.

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

You will be tired, you are recovering from a major surgery, and you are taking in very little compared to what you used too. And you still have the excess weight to haul around.

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

My surgoen was in town 6 miles away, I would not recommend going out of town unless it is your only option.

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.

well I really follwed my surgeons liquid diet for 30 days, it was boring after 2 weeks, but I was not hungry. At 3 weeks I was having Jello, crystal light and a little law fat yougart. At 1 month I was eating cottage cheese and tuna. Every 2 weeks I would try a new food. I always tried it at home first, I do not reccomend trying it at work or in public as it could not agree with you. My tastes have changed, I no longer like chocolate, of any kind. Icecream, I do not like eiether, gives me gas, any kind, low fat, sugarfree, I just plain do not like it any more.

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

very little, I would take short walks down the street and back.

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

I take a chewable multi vitamin daily, and trinsicon(iron), calicum, and b-12, b-6 complex as when I blood work test my B's are always on the low side. I also get B-12 injections every 3 months or so.

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?

Well for me loseing my hair was the hardest. Lucky for me I have allot of hair. But all the time I was obese the one thing I did have was beautiful hair, so when that one claim to attractivness started falling out in the shower it really depressed me. It lasted about 8 weeks then stopped. My hair has come back completly, full and thick again. The only other thing is the excess skin. I have allot of skin on my thighs, I did not espect that, my stomach sure, my breast sagging sure. But my thighs?, that really bothers me.

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

The worst part for me was the first 10 days, because my surgeon had a drain in my side, that he takes out 10days or so after surgery, it bothered me.

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

I go to my surgeons monthly support group which he runs, or his nutristionist does. It is important, especially for someone who just had it done.

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

very small, less than I expected.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I had one it lasted 7 weeks

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

oh yes. Doors are held open for me, people smile at me. Men are well men, HA! And strangers are very nice to me too.