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

I first found out about WLS from my best friend. She had been told she was diabetic and didn't want that at all for herself. And she was reseaching weight loss on the internet when she found this site. She was going to go thru the process without telling me and just surprise me with her weight loss, and on a trip we had taken together she finally told me because she knew I had always looked at being diagnosed with diabete's as a death sentence. The more she told me about it the more excited I got about the procedure. When we returned to my place she showed me this site and ever since then I have been here at least once a day researching this each and every step of the way.

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

My experience with getting insurance approval wasn't bad at all. Only two calls through the whole thing on my part. My insurance company told me that if you are 40 BMI or more and have co-morbids they look at it as preventive medicine. But like anything good in life you must be patitent with them to a degree.

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

My first visit was a combination of nerves and happiness all mixed together. I had surgery years ago where the surgeon did some very serious damge to me that left me handicapped and needless to say I am scared to death of Doctor's - but mine had me at ease and confadent in his ability before I left his office after my first visit. I went prepared with knowledge of WLS, all the risks, aftercare, nutritional needs and diet. I also went in with my complete list of medications, my medical history, my family history and past diet history. You should go in with knowledge, but not as a know it all.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

Wanting to live a LONGGGGG and healthier life free of the complacations of high blood pressure and diabete's, taking a detour in the road before I ran into the rest of my families medical history. Which I knew was only a matter of time before I ran head long into it.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I researched the different types of WLS and I believed that RNY to have the best results. I have alot of friends who have gone thru RNY surgery some having open and some having lap, I asked them all questions on the procedures they had and decided what I believed to be the best for me. And I went from there.

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?

The fears I had resulted from what a surgeon had done to me years previously. Any major surgery has risks involved, but with my health I had to do something. Fear is a natural reaction to the unknown and uncertain. Fear in this type of case is a very natural and normal process. Because you are the one deciding to put yourself through this knwing what the risks are.

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?

I am one of the lucky one's as I have not run into 1 person, family or friend that has not been supportive of my decision to do this.

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

I do volunteer work and no one else does what I do there, so they don't have a problem with it - they were and are supportive of me doing this.

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

My stay was great - everyone seem to really care about me. A staff that cares about what they do and dont act like it's just a "job". My surgery was on Thursday and I was released from the hospital Saturday afternoon. Most important thing to bring CHAPSTICK... lol

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

none 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 felt great - went thru some anxiety but that was mostly due to a blochted surgery I had years ago. How did I cope with it total faith in my surgeon and god.

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

The first few weeks for me weren't bad, only problem I had was taking a shower it drained me big time. And I am a little over three weeks post and I still sleep in my recliner, but thats more due to some problems with my shoulders.

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

it is 1 hour from my home to my surgeons office and the hospital.

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 don't know about this as of yet as my Doctor has me on fluids till my next appt, which is my 6 week check up.And I still have 2 weeks till then :o} I was not allowed any food till week 12 - then it was soft foods. I have only dumped 2 times since surgery - once was from crystal light and no idea what caused it the second time. I tolerate the foods I eat well. I watch what I eat (types and quanities) I eat chicken, fish, veggies, fruit - I do not eat starchs, rice, pasta, fats, sugar, carbs, soda's.

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

first few days it was a chore to get up to walk - walking was ok - just the getting up was hard but as each day it was better and better and the walking really helps.

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

Flintstones Complete Chewables and GNC Sublingual B-12in a few weeks will be adding chewable Vitamin C and GNC ActiveCal chewable Calcium (choclate or carmel - Yummy)

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?

No nausia, no vomiting I have never slept good, only dumped twice, once on cyrstal light and once don't know what caused it - only had liquids that day. At 3 1/2 months I have started losing hair.

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

The worst part is the burping, it doesn't matter if it's liquids or food - if it goes in the mouth it causes me to burp.

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

I have my surgeon and he is very helpful and I am doing fine, physically and emontionally. And I also have this site to help me and it has been here for me 24/7.

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

my scar is better than I expected, and it looks real good and is heeling very nicely.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

First month was continuing weight loss, after that I lose 4 pounds and hit a platuae for 2 - 3 weeks and then it starts over again 4 pounds - platuae 2 - 3 weeks. After that I hit my first REAL bad plateau until month 7. But remember when you hit a plateau that the scale may not be moving but the inches are still coming off.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

not really, except quite a few have a hard time reconizing me now that I have lost 105.5 pounds.