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

1st time, at a general practioners office back in 1986, and I thought that was extreme measure and that I could gain control of my weight issues and behaviour.

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

It was easy for me...approval in 2 weeks. I had tricare thru military. For once the government was good about paying.

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

I was a wreck! There was so much information to absorb and I was on emotional over load! I lost 65# prior to my intial consult with the surgeon and then she told me I had to lose another 30#'s:( That was like pulling the rug out from under me! It took me another year to lose that weight, which delayed my wls even furhter. I finally did it by starving myself and drinking lots of water.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I could never keep the weight off and everytime I lost weight, I gained it back and more.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Research and availability in my area. I decided I wanted something that lasted forever and couldn't be adjusted by a band.

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?

My only fear was that I would die from morbid obesity and not live to see my young kids grow up. The surgery...I feared pain after waking up...but it wasn't bad at all!

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 thought it was too extreme, except for one family memeber who is a doc, and thought our family had lots of reasons genetically to have this done. He was right about that!

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

I told them and they were concerned about how long I would be out of work. But they accepted that I needed to do this. I was out 3 weeks with NO complications.

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

I was in for about 16 hours, discharged the next morning. My stay was supportive and I walked off the gas pains from the surgeon testing my pouch with CO2.

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

None...it went very smoothly. When I got home, I was uncomfortable laying down on a bed. So I slept in a recliner for about a week, which also made it easier to get up:)

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 so excited but worried about gaining the 30# I had to keep off to have the surgery. I kept busy with walking and because my joints hurt so badly, I found swimming to be more helpful. I also cried alot...OMG! I cried about losing my best friend and having to give it up forever...FOOD! I cried about fear of major surgery and waking up in pain. I cried mostly because I felt like a failure because I needed something so drastic as wls.

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

Moderate pain from the incision site, tiredness, and trying to deal with consumption for the sake of health needs. I had to force myself to consume protein suppliments. 300 calories a day was very difficult!! I lived off protein suppliments and pudding and freeze pops...sugar free of course. You are so tired and when you feel restless you need to do easy execising.

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

38 miles

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.

Nothing solid!! Not much soft foods either. Basically I consumed protein shakes for about 3 months. My tolerance didn't change much until the 5th month and then it was like teaching myself all over again what foods my body would except and which one's it woul not. Sometimes, I would consume one food one day and I felt okay and the next day it was bad and I barfed. That was frustrating! But I know that I can never consume bread, rice, pasta and sugar...never!

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

not much activity until about 2 weeks out, when I could swim. I don't like walking because of needing joint replacement...so water exercising was best. At first I walked in the shallow end for about 15 minutes and built up to an hour in a month. I promised myself to walk in the pool everyday and have done so since then (2yrs so far).

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

Vitamin B-12, multi, iron...OMG iron and lots of it!(if you feel very tired...have your iron levels checked with the doc), and calcium.

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?

dumping is always the worst thing to happen...I still dump to this day (2 ys out) not just on sugar but also on fat. Sometime I think I get more sick from fat than sugar. The only way I found to cope with this is to not consume it and read all your labels and avoid eating out as much as possible.

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

Waiting for the process to get to surgery and mental emotional hunger after.

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

I had this site to came into everyday and they are all so supportive:) I thiink I learnt more here than from the DRS. office:) But you need to attend support groups forever, it keeps us on track and we get to help someone else out who is just starting.

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

I have three poke holes that are barely visible. I expected worse.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Plateau's...just keep pluggin along and don't give up on your food plan and execise and it will come off. Its just your body responding to the changes...be patient. And don't weigh yourself everyday so you do not become a 'scale junkie'. Its one step forward, two steps back and 5 big steps forward again!

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Everyone notices the changes and for once in my life, I reflect success! All of sudden men find me sexy and my employer treats me like I am capable:)