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

Carnie Wilson....but many people scared me saying that it was the old "stomach stapling surgery". But it is not, it is more advanced and it actually works(I hope)

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

Dr Garber said that since my BMI was 47, and my Insurer is UHC options PPO, that I should have no problem getting approval

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

Dr Garber spent over an hour with me answering my questions..He also explained the surgery in detail. You can get the most of the meeting by doing research ahead of time, and preparing for the consult. I actually had a list of 75 questions from an OSSG website, and I added some of my own.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

Personal reasons...I have been overweight most of my life.. My mother died two years ago. She died from Brain cancer, but I know that her body's immune system was overloaded by her obesity, which added to the illness. I want to live a healthy life. Most of my life I have been healthy, but recently I found out that I had arthritis in my knees, and my ankles keep giving out, as well as my cholesterol has for the first time been high..I am scared and i know I have to do something about it

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I decided to have a laproscopic RNY gastric bypass because it has the highest success rate, and the lowest amount of complications. I am also concerned with malabsorbtion of nutrients. I also do not want a huge scar down the middle of my stomach..

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 think with any surgery you have a chance of complications. My best advice would be to do your research. Read as much as you can about the surgery. The web is a great source for all kind of info about the surgery. I have never had any surgery before, and have never even been in a hospital overnight..so there are some apprehensions about that, but the more I know/read the more I feel comfortable that this is the right thing for me.

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?

At first they were all negative about it, but they supported me in my decision. Now most of them think it is the right thing for me. My Dad said the other day that this will save my life! I don't get that dramatic about it, but he is correct in the sense that it will prolong my life, and I will be healthier. I think some of my "friends" are not so positive about this because some of couldn't make a choice like this (because of fear), and others act almost jealous, citing many negative things...I just have to stay focused, and think about me. I can not let them influence the decisions I make about my health and life. Also, they don't have the depth of knowledge I have about this surgery., and I think ignorance leads to fear...

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

He was very supportive, and even told me about a friend of his that had just had the surgery. I feel very greatful that he was so supportive.

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

I stayed 4 days. The nursing care was great. Actually I really didn't need much at the hospital. I never wore my own clothes, because the hospital gown was fine. I thought I would walk the day after surgery, but there was NO WAY!!! I finally was able to walk myself to the bathroom. Thats the furthest I walked until I got home. The pain was pretty intense the first few days and the gave me morphine, which was great. It was my first time in a hospital, and I think it went well.

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 very weak and really felt like the wind was knocked out of me..I walked very slowly(holding my stomach)around the house to get exercise. The pain was pretty bad, and the anxiety was as well. I cried a couple of times. My Dr told me about post op depression so I was aware it could happen, and was prepared to the best of my ability. I had family with me which helped a great deal. I was VERY concerned with healing well. I wanted NO problems!!! Finally after 4 weeks the last wound healed..

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

Don't expect too much the first two weeks. After about a week the drains from the wounds will be removed by the surgeon (that was a great relief!!). I was still in pain and not very mobile, but got better with each day. the thing that bothered me the most was having to sleep on my back for about 3 weeks. You must keep moving so that your body heals. I had heard stories of people going back to work in two weeks...not me!!! I think each person is different, so you have to know yourself and how fast you heal.

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

Not far, about 5 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.

Of limit foods include anything with Mayo, and meat that is tough to digest like veal(VERY BAD FOR ME!!). Each week it gets better. I try to focus on the protein, and taking my vitamins, so I stay healthy. Chicken chewed very well is my main protein food. Although tonight I had some lasagna which had 18 grams of protein in it...

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

Its a great group sponsored by the surgeon Dr Garber. Once a month we meet. There are at a minimum 30-50 people that attend. It is very uplifting and enlightening

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

OH boy !! The plateau. I have only had one, but it was very scary because I thought that weight loss had stopped. It was the week I transitioned to regular food at about 6 weeks post op. I did not lose weight that week...But I did well for the month. My Drs advice was ro chnage something that you are doing to get your body back into losing again. I started to swim, and it worked!! I have been on the losing track since. i know I'll have another bout with it but at least I know that I can do something to get off of the plateau.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Not yet