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

Carnie Wilson first opened my eyes to bariatric surgery and my initial impression was that it probably wouldn't work.

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

Actually my experience was painless. I was very surprised. Most of the postings on the morbid obesity web site were approved after the 1st letter or on appeal, & I just figured that I would never be approved & would suffer the rest of my life with being fat. I knew I was 100 or more pounds overweight but I didn't know if I would qualify with any of the other co morbitities. My advice is to follow through, get all the information you can, and don't give up if you are denied the 1st time. I was prepared to fight.

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

My first impression? A very big man! He seemed very knowledgeable and confident in his abilities. Ask lots of questions until you are satisfied

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Basically the doctor decided that I would have the Roux-en Y procedure. But I am happy with that decision. I am also glad I am having it done laparascopically.

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 am a little apprehensive about the surgery but feel this is worth it. I have confidence that I will be okay. Since my surgery my doctor has had 2 patients die within 2 weeks. I believe if I had know this I wouldn't have been so eager to have it done or maybe I would have checked out another doctor. However, I am happy with my surgery and the skill of the doctors. I don't think that the 2 deaths were related to the doctors skill.

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

I haven't told anyone at work yet what kind of procedure I am having and don't plan to right now. I may tell after the surgery but I don't know. I haven't had the surgery yet but hopefully will not be out of work longer than 2 weeks. I was out of work 2 full weeks and tried to go back part time but just couldn't because I didn't have any energy & was quite sick after trying to eat. I don't mind telling anybody now about how I have lost all the weight and everybody I have told at work supports me.

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

The hospital stay was ok. I had surgery on a Monday & should have left on Wednesday but didn't until Thursday. One of the nurses had the surgery with the same doctor and kept telling me I would do fine. A couple of the nurses didn't seem to know what they were doing but overall the stay was nice. Just bring lots of night gowns, as I went through several a day

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

No I had no complications from the actual surgery

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

The time seemed to fly by from when I got the date until the actual day. I didn't sleep much the night before & had to drink that stuff to clean you out & couldn't eat anything but liquids the day before, so I woke up with a screaming migraine the morning of. I was in misery all the way to the hospital, about a 2 hour drive. Luckily my mother was driving. I almost backed out, I was crying most of the way to the hospital, wondering if I was doing the right thing. I couldn't take anything for the headache. It was misery

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

I wanted to stay in bed, sleep & cry. I had no energy at all. I really didn't expect it to be that bad. Wasn't interested in eating, but ate yogurt & sipped water. I was very depressed for some reason.

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

I had to travel about 2 hours from home and because of that, had to stay in a motel in the town for 5 nights until my follow up visit. Then I had to drive this 2 hours once a month for the first year. that is pretty rough

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.

The first few weeks I mainly ate soups & yogurt and water, eggs, grits. I tried to eat several things I shouldn't have & it got stuck & I thought I would die. had to go to emergency room one time. also ate lots of vegetables, mashed potatoes, etc. 4 months post op doctor said I could eat anything I wanted. sweets don't seem to bother me as far as dumping, I love chocolate. have cut out most fast food, & sodas, which was a big problem for me.

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

Zero. I tried to do as little as possible, except work, housework suffered a lot

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

Iron, cause my hemoglobin has been low, one a day vitamins, Tums EX, B-12 sublingual

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?

nausea & vomiting were awful the first few months, seems like all I did was throw up every time I ate something, although I ate a lot I was supposed to, so that was my fault. extreme hair loss started around 4th month, but has slowed down in the 6th month. haven't had much dumping.

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

the first few weeks & couple months after surgery, with no energy & the nausea & vomiting.

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

None right now, just the doctor's office & nurse there, who has had surgery

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

I had laparascopic surgery & the scars are very minimal & I'm sure will fade almost completely in time

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

am on my 2nd plateau now, just got over 1 and am now having another. it really sucks, too!

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

No, other than commenting on the weight loss, which feels great!!!