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

Internet research. I wanted it immediatley!

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

I did not get insurance approval. I paid for the surgery myself and then took my insurance company to copurt. i lost the case but I also lost 160 lbs and have kept it off since 2001 so I actually won.

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

Quick. Take the time to know the surgeons surgery rate and complication rate. Be safe, get a good one.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I wanted it from the time I read about it. I called and made an appointment within a week of first reading about it.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Internet research and comparing results, complication rates and on line chat/forums on the subject.

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?

None. I knew I would die too early if I didn't have the surgery and I was miserable the way I was.

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 a little apprehensive at first but after the surgery and with the dramatic results both in my physical appearance and my attitude they were great. Very supportive and still are.

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

I didn't tell him. I took a week of vacation to have the procedure and recover. I was off work 6 working days.

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

The stay was short. In at 7am on Tuesday out at 8am on Wednesday. The nurses were wonderful. The hospital specializes in the MGB procedure and even had oversize hospital gowns that actually fit my 333lb body. The most important thing to bring is confidence that you will succeed.

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

No 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?

I felt great and began an exercise program so I would be as healthy as possible going in to the procedure. The walking also helped with the anxiety but there wasn't much of that, more like impatience.

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

The first few weeks I was pretty tired. The family was very concerned that I chose to stay on liquids for so long but they were supportive and it worked!

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

From Oregon to Raleigh/Durham N.C. A long, long way. My personal MD at home did the aftter care check ups. I had no complications so only had bloodwork at 3 months and 1 year for comparison.

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 was told I could eat anything in moderation. I chose to say on a liquid diet for appx. 3 months. After that, I began adding in solid food very slowly. I chose things like green beans, clear soups with very cooked veggies, things like that. It took quite a while to be able to tolerate beef or pork or any type of fatty foods. I quickly found out what (sugary food, greasy food, eating too fast, eating too much of anything) triggered dumping syndrom and auto-eject (vomiting) and avoided all of the above.

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

I was working full time and going to college full time so I was very busy plus I walked at lunch every day with a friend.

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

I take fish oil, calciun, and potassium supplements.

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?

The dumping syndrom was the worst because it was very painful. Vomiting was just an inconvienence. No sleep problems or hair loss. I still (7yrs later) occassionally vomit and have dumping when I am REALLY bad! Hey, that's what I paid for, a built in reminder that the surgery is a tool, NOT an answer.

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

Once I had lost a significant amount of weight 100lbs, people that had never paid me the time of day treated me differently. It was so annoying that people were so shallow as to think I was a worthy persaon simply because I lost weight and looked differently.

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

The mirror, my new closet of size 12 clothes and I are all the support I need.

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

I have 5 quarter inch scars that are barely visible. No big deal. I expected them to be much larger.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I have stabilized at an acceptable weight. I didn't really have the plateau experience.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Absolutely.