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

I saw Carnie Wilson on a talk show. I thought is was too complicated and too expensive to ever be a possibility.

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

To get my insurance co to approve, I had to have a psych evaluation, see my family doctor once a month for 6 months, be on a low calorie diet, and visit with a dietician. Be very patient and jump through the hoops, in the end it will be worth it.

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

My first visit was very informative. He explained the procedure, the risks, the benefits, all that would be expected of me, and how I would have to change my habits.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

Only being 30 years old and having trouble walking. Having severe knee and ankle pain with minimal activity. Feeling like I was missing out on life because I was too embarrassed to go out.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I did alot of research online and by watching shows dealing with WLS.

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 very afraid of dying during surgery. I was also worried about complications. I almost changed my mind about surgery because I was so worried. But I am a very spiritual person and I prayed alot to God to keep me safe. I figured if anything goes wrong that it is meant to be and it will make me a stronger person. Also, the risks of me living a life of obesity were worse than the risks of surgery.

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?

When I first brought up having surgery to my family, they were dead set against it. They did everything they could to talk me out of it. They couldn't understand why anyone would have surgery on purpose. But after a while, they realized I was unmovable. After surgery they were very supportive and did alot to help me through the pain afterwords.

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 my employer what type of surgery I was having. Things were very tense at my place of employment for awhile and I didn't want anyone to know about my surgery for fear of losing my job and my health insurance. My boss at the time was the type of person that if he knew he could screw me out of something I wanted, he would do it. I was off work for 2 weeks recovering.

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

My hospital stay was very pleasant. Even though I was in alot pain the staff was courteous and very attentive. I was there a total of 3 days. The most important thing I brought was my journal. I wanted to record everything for future reference.

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

I didn't have any complications at all.

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 was very excited after I got my surgery date approved. I dealt with anxiety fairly well. I prayed and just felt comfortable in the fact that I would be ok.

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

The first few weeks were definately the hardest. I was pretty sore the first week and a half I was home so I wasn't that hungry. But after I got my hunger back, it was worse. The liquid diet definately gets old but I stuck it out and listened to my doctor. The first bite of food after getting off liquids tasted the best.

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

I lived 2 1/2 hours away from where I had my surgery. It didn't affect my aftercare at all. My doctor was always a phone call away if I needed anything.

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 haven't had any problems tolerating food. I have been very lucky. Getting off clear liquids after 2 weeks was the best. But trying new things and being able to keep them down has been great.

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

I had minimal activity the first few days after surgery. I was able to get around but my abdominal pain kept me from getting too active. A few week after surgery, I was back to my normal activities. I had to take it slow, but I was able to do everything I did before surgery.

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

I am taking a chewable multivitamin, calcium supplement, and B-12 tablet daily.

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 only side effect I had was some sleep disturbance. Not being able to sleep in the position I was used to because of abdominal pain was the worst. That lasted about 3 weeks after surgery. Then I could sleep comfortably.

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

The pain around my wounds. It made it hard to sleep, move, be comfortable. I had a hard time relaxing.

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

I just joined my local support group in DuBois PA. I have been to one meeting so far. They have been very helpful online as well. They have answered all my questions and concerns about my bypass surgery.

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

My scarring is minimal. They are smaller than I expected. Each day they become less noticeable.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I plateau'd 2 weeks after surgery. I lost 25 pounds in my first 2 weeks after surgery then I quit losing. I was a little upset at first, but once I understood that this was normal I was fine. Now I have started losing again.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes, mostly people who are close to me are amazed at how good I look. They tell me how proud they are of me and are glad I have decided to save my life. My co-workers have been so supportive and give me a boost of self-confidence when I need it most.