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

A close friend was having it done. and at first I was like most people that did not understand the surgery. I thought why dont you try and do it before having the surgery. but then I swallowed my ignorance and learned about it.

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

I was really lucky with my ins company, I had pacificare hmo, and they feel if it is medically needed then no problem. and I had apnea and a few other problems and they approved me the day they got the submission. You can say I was estatic.

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

I did not get to meet the surgeon the first time it was his P.A. and I honestly did not like the man he did not have a good bedside manner and was acting like I had no place being there. but then I met Dr. Coates and he is AWESOME WONDERFUL. would not have went to anyone else....

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

health reasons made my mind up mainly but I have be honest so did the idea of not having weight on me too. but mainly I wanted to live healthy and see my kids grow up and their kids and so on and so forth.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

i did a lot of research and i felt that rny bypass was what i wanted and that is what my dr. suggested as well.

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, with any surgery there is fear of dying and complications, but I have had so many surgeries in my short life I was not that worried. My fears were the normal thing I think anyone goes through, My husband was a wreck and I was being strong and brave for him and my kids...

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 husband and kids were supportive and so were my most of my friends. but my family except my cousins werent supportive. they came around eventually though. i just told them that if they had nothing nice and supportive to say then to keep it to themselves. After my surgery everyone including the skeptical ones are over joyed with my recovery outlook and how well i have done...

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

Well I am an at home mom and so if my kids were my employer lol they were wonderful about this whole ordeal. I was only down the week of surgery just for resting I was driving and all by the end of the week. just no lifting...of course

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 good. i had great nurses. i was there 3 nights and 4 days. i brought house shoes and lotion and brush and loose clothes to go home in...

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

no i did great with surgery no problems what so ever.

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 excited and scared at the end. i could not wait to change my life forever. i knew i was going to be healthy and happy again.

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

i was tired from time to time but for the most part i was energetic and fairly active considering i had major surgery.

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

i am actually only around the corner from my dr.s office and hospital so i did not have far to go thank goodness

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 for the first week i was on broth and sugar-free jello and popsicles... and still sugarfree items of course, now i am eating meats mainly chicken and just a few carbs only once a week maybe but i can not eat EGGS yuk they make me nauseated and i hate that so i stay away from them. now that i am 3 months out i am supposed to eat 3 oz but i maybe can on a great day if i have not eaten all day, so usually i eat 2- 2 1/2 oz... a meal

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

i was fairly active i little kids so i have to chase them and school and things like that which helped me in the long run i think

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

i started on opti-source but had to change them to womens one a day and i take 2 a day they work great... and i am on b12.

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?

um for a while the nausea, which was not often usually if i smelled eggs i had that problem. i suck on mints sugarfree ones

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

mmm i have not experieced a worse part of it i am happy with what i did and would not change it for anything

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

i have a friend a family member that had the same thing so we talk alot and i use internet chats for support.

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

i only have little ones 6 to be exact which is not biggie being i already had ones they used those ones again...

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

i have yet to plateau i will let you know when and if i do. ok i am a yr out and i have plateaued a couple of times and it is or could be discouraging if you let it. i knew i would get through it. but i found if i was a plateau i was losing inches which is fine by me.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

ya they are nicer to me if you can believe that. and i am smiled at more now and that makes it nice to be around others.