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

My friend on the job told me about gastric bypass surgery and my first thought was "No way I'm going to do something that drastic". I thought it was too risky. It took me years of research and talking to different people before I said "This is something that can I can benefit from".

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

At the time I had oxford freedom plan. I was approved the first try I had my doctor write down all the diets I tried since my teenage years. I had her write down all the medical problems I had that was affiliated with my weight and sent it to my insurance company. If you are in your first stage I suggest you make a list of all the diets you tried and all the weight loss programs you have tried and submit it to your insurance company and if you don't get approved the first time don't give up because some insurance companies don't want to pay they want you to give up giving up is easy so be prepared to fight look into your insurance plan with a fine tooth comb

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

My meeting with my surgeon was great. In order to get the best out of your meeting with your surgeon you should have questions wrote down so you can be prepared and so you won't forget things you wish you should have asked. don't be afraid to ask questions in fact if you don't ask questions that will be considered strange.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I was sick and tired of making up excuses why I was fat and who fault it was that I gained all this weight. I was sick of complaining about being fat and making excuses why I shouldn't have surgery. My favorite exuse was yeah I'm fat but I'm healthy I didn't have diabetes, high blood pressure or anything like that so I made it up in my mind that I was healthy. No I wasn't there is no such thing as being morbidly obese and healthy your heart is tugging too much weight around I was at a great risk for a heart attack and in denial about it my knees were giving out they couldn't hold the weight any longer my body was giving up and I knew it. I became border line high blood pressure and I knew it was time to take action it wasn't getting any better only worse. I said its time to do something about the weight and stop making excuses for myself and thats when I made up my mind to have surgery

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I sat down with my surgeon and he asked me what kind of surgery did I want. I told him and he went over the procedure with me and I asked him all the questions I needed answers to.

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 thought about death the closer the day came for me to have my surgery. When the day of surgery did come my appointment was at 3:00pm I wanted to back out so bad but my whole family was in the house telling me how proud they are of me and how they couldn't believe I was actually going through with this they figured I would have prolonged it like I had on so many other occassions. When I got into the operating room I cried because I said I might not wake up to see my children but if I don't have this surgery I might die of a heart attack being 5 feet and 314lbs I couldn't run and play with them, I couldn't go to amusement parks with them. Fear of dying is something everyone who is having surgery goes through its normal. Just know who your surgeon is and what kind of experience he/she has with preforming gastric bypass and do your research.

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?

When I informed my family of my decison to have a gastric bypass my family stood behind my decision 100 percent they knew I was having a lifelong battle with my weight and they knew I couldn't fight the battle without help. My surgery was kept a secret from my husband. He and I had been seperated and we hadn't seen each other in over a year. I wanted to give him the shock of a lifetime. After surgery my family couldn't believe how much weight I was losing they were amazed and when my husband saw me 7 months after surgery he couldn't believe his eyes in fact he didn't even know the woman he was staring at was me his wife.

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

I informed my director I was going to have a gastric bypass and she was thrilled with my decison. I was out of work for 3 weeks.

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

My hospital stay was nice although I didn't get a room in all the 3 days I stood there. I was in a recovery room with 6 other people but it was great the nurses were stationed in the room with us so we did'nt have to wait for assistance with anything that made it better for us.

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

I developed a ulcer 2 months after surgery and couldn't eat or drink anything for days. My nurse prescribed zantac 75mg and it worked like magic

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

In the weeks after surgery I was estatic, I dreamed about it. It stayed on my mind constantly it was like a count down all my thoughts was on my new life after surgery that is until the month before surgery than I became a mess my nerves where on edge thats when the anxiety began

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

I was very energetic and I looking forward to make my sugery a success. Not everyone should expect to have the same energy we are all different and we must remember that ourbodies is trying to adjust to the change we shouldn't push ourselves beyond what you can handle.

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

I live in the bronx and my surgery was in manhattan it wasnt' far at all.

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 much of nothing. I was on pureed foods for 3 weeks than i went on solids. I couldn't eat much but a little top of food an actual medicine top was enough for me. after 4 months I was able to eat about the size if my palm

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

I was extremely active. I walked so much I just felt good and determined to make my surgery a success

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

I take 5 calcium pills one multivitamin one iorn pill 3 vitamin d

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 hair began to thin out 6 to 8 months after surgery. I realize that if I take my vitamins as I should it wouldn't occur as much

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

realizing that I couldn't eat as much as I wanted was the worst part about the entire gastric bypass at first just the reality of not being able to turn to food and eat what I wanted to eat. I had to get it in my mind that I did this for my health and I had to change my way of life. In the beginning I figured surgery would make me healthy and appearance would be much better but we as obese people have to get our mind straight and get ready for not only a physical change but a mental change as well

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

I have the www.obesityhelp.com family for support and I also have 3 close friends who have had sugery also. It is important to have people to talk to especially someone who can relate on what you are going through

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

I expected scars from the six little incisions I had. I don't have any scars at all there is noway you can even tell I had surgery

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

The longest I went on a plateau was two weeks. everyone experience plateaus

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

I notice the change in the way men notice me. they look at me much differently. People treat me with more respect