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

i found out about gastric bypass RNY through my doctor and i gave it some serious thought over a period of 2 years

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

It wasnt too hard to get approved. I got approved and had the surgery within months

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

When I first met with Dr. maureen martin my impression was that she was a very devoted lady. She made me feel secure and comfortable and helped me along the path with any questions or concerns i had.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I wanted to be able to live and play with my children. I wanted to be able to get on a slide with my 2 year old son and to play soccer and football with my 7 year old son and be able to play princess with my 4 year old daughter. I wanted them to see mommy as a child should not sick and bed ridden

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

well i chose the one my insurance covered

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?

well for me it wasnt scary until they hoisted me onto the oporating table. Then i started getting scared and i think i actually shed a few tears. Overall it wasnt so bad they talked to me the whole time and assured me things were going to be okay.

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 excited. Nobody in my family would have not been. it was either the surgery and be dead in a few years

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

They were okay with it. I had alot of support from friends/family and co-workers

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

The stay was excellent. There were a few nurses that didnt do thier job but 98 percent of the stay was great. I was in the hospital for 3 days. I was able to walk around the hospital hours after my surgery it was hard to do but i did it

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

I have not had any complications

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

well currently I am 4 weeks and 5 days out and i feel good. It's been an emotional rollercoaster but thats to be expected.

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

the first few weeks after getting home i found that i couldnt sleep in my own bed yet i ended up on the couch. after the first few days the pain started to go away slowly and everyday after that got a little easier.

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

I didnt have to travel

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 Im still currently on soft foods. Ive found that i have had to explore a wide range of foods. some made me sick after the first bite or two others i could tollerate and others i would throw back up the instant i took a bite

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

days after the surgery i was walking around the house for about 10-15 minutes. then came weeks after the surgery i was walking around the block. I recently bought myself the Wii fit game and found that it works wonders. I have three small children and this game allows me to play with them and exersize too

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

I take childrens gummie vitamins daily along with a calcium supplement. and on a monthy basis i get B12 shots that give me energy.

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?

I have yet to experience dumping syndrome and I hope i dont. I do have ALOT of nausea seems like everything i eat makes me feel nauseated. vomiting is only on occasion when i find a certain food i cannot tollerate

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

so far to be really honest its been the depression i have indured. it's not all from the surgery its just been really hard for me to cope with the things that are going on with me.

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

Dr. Maureen martin has an after surgery support group. I find that these are very helpful.

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

my scar is from below my breasts down to my belly button. I have small holes on the side of the scar from the staples and two small scars down below my belly button from the pain pump. overall the scar isnt that bad

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I havent had any

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Not yet. I'm still pretty early in