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

I went to see a specialist concerning fatty liver disease and was told that even though I did not drink I was developing cirrocus of the liver due to the fat hardening on my liver.

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

My surgery was approved first time around. (thanks to GH!)

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

I was scared to death that something would be wrong and she would say no to me. That my last hope at being healthier would be crushed.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

wanting to live!!

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

rny

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 was terrified of dying and not seeing my daughter grow up

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?

Most were supportive but scared

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

were happy for me

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

I was there for 5 days. The only bad part that I remember was one day probably the 4th day there my family had gone home and the aide had assisted me onto the portable commode in my room and then she left the room and didn't come back for quite some time. My legs feel asleep and I couldn't take care of my needs yet if you know what I mean. I just sat there and cried and thought what have I done to myself.

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

no

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

scared but I remembered that I was doing this to live

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

my sweet daughter trying to help me with everything (she was 5 at the time) broth, carnation instant breakfast, medicine cups (to drink out of)

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

30 minutes or less

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.

any form of meat was my sworn enemy for awhile

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

started out walking and then moved on to exercise videos and classes

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

daily vitamin, iron, b12, folic acid, vitamin c, acid reducer

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?

My experiences with dumping are pretty severe, I dumbly tried to drink on top of eating the worst thing ever penne pasta. It was not pretty. I still have it alot. I wake up at night vomiting sometimes.

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

I would still do it over in a heart beat

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

For awhile I went to support groups for awhile and then I moved and quit going. Then when I moved again there was not one here on the Outer Banks, but thanks to alot of people and their hardwork we started one! Our first meeting was last night.

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

I had the open rny, my scar goes from just under my sternum to almost my belly button

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I lost quite a bit and now I have gained 35 pounds back.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

yes