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

Reading an article about Carnie Wilson in a People magazine. I instantly thought "Hey, this might work for me!"

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

My doctor's office did the whole thing and it was fast and fabulous. I say try to find a surgeon whose staff is willing to go to great lengths to help.

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

It was great! I went in very knowledgable, having read everything, pro and con, I could get my hands on.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I was at the point emotionally and physically that I was ready to do anything or die trying.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Since my insurance paid, I went with the "gold standard".

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 really didn't worry about it. I was willing to face anything because I was so desperate. But I did almost die. So take it seriously, but if your health complications were anything like mine, you may be dying soon anyway.

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?

They were all horrified. I was not very sympathetic with them. The one thing I would change is I thought I wouldn't want plastic surgery and so I assured everybody I wouldn't have any more elective surgery. That was totally unrealistic!

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

I worked as a substitute teacher at the time so it wasn't an issue. I didn't work for almost six months due to complications and other happenings in my life.

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

I was in the hospital where I had surgery for four days, then a big university hospital for about two more weeks. The most important thing to bring is extra underwear!

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

I had SERIOUS complications. I had a huge blood clot form at my "y" site. I was rushed into emergency surgery, but the clot seperated and I ended up having a pulmonary embolism, a collapsed lung, pnuemonia, and a semi-coma resulting from reacting to a sedative. I didn't deal with it. I was unconcious, it was my poor family who suffered!

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 just so glad to be home.

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

I don't remember anything for about several weeks after my surgery.

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

Only two hours. I didn't/don't attend a support group. But that is really 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 basically went from crysal light in the hospital immediately following surgery, to soft foods like potatoes. I really never struggled with my eating. I can't eat rice or spaghetti. That is it.

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

Absolutely zero!

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

I used to take a prenatal vitamin and an iron supplement, but no longer seem to need those (my blood work shows I have amazing absorbtion). I do give myself a vitamin B shot every three to four weeks.

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?

Nausea was bad for me at first, and I really didn't understand how horrible it would be if I overate. I still really suffer if I overeat even a few bites. I have a huge complication in that I am physically unable to vomit, so the pressure would be so bad I wanted to die. I learned really fast how much I could eat!

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

People's misconceptions of it being a "cop out".

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

I have had basically none .

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

My scars are ugly. I first had laproscopic surgery, but ended up with open due to my complications. I was in a major car accident three months later and had to have my spleen out so it is even longer than most. It is about an inch wide, with staple scars along both sides, but is soft and light in color. Not a bit like what I thougt it would be. It actually is better than I thought, because I had previously had a surgery scar that was keloid.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I platueaued for a long time just short of 100 pounds. I gained about twelve pounds back around the three year mark, and have since lost that plus a little more to end up at my lowest adult weight. Still not a "healthy" BMI, but absolutely fabulous for me!

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Sometimes.