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

I know several people who have had the surgery in the past 4 years, all of them have had great sucess. My PCP recommended seriously looking into the surgery this spring because of the problems I am having with ruptured tendons in my feet and I am boarderline diabetic.

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

It was a very emotionally draining process. I did all the leg work upfront, thought I had met all the insurances requirements, only to be denied. The reason being that they said I didn't have enough documentation on a 12 month PCP supervised weight loss attempt. I specifically asked if this was required on three different occassions prior to my submition. All three times I was told no. Anyway after being denied I got what documentation I could to prove that for the last two years I have been working with my PCP to loose weight. They were going to deny me again until I threatened legal action. My grounds were that there was NOTHING written in my husbands insurance policy that stated that this was a requirement. My husband's HR coodinator also felt that they would have had to notify his employer if they were going to make such a change to his policy. I also made it very clear that I was not going to give up. Needless to say an hour later I received a phone call that I was approved. My advice - know your insurance policy and DON'T GIVE UP!!

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

It was very informative. My suggestion would be to do as much research on your own prior to your first visit. Become knowledgable about the medical terms and have an idea of which proceedure you would like to have done. This will also help you to have the right questions to ask at that visit.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

Talking with others who have had it and looking at how my health has been declining over the past three years. I want to be here for my children and I knew I needed to take a drastic step since nothing else I have tried has worked.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Research, consulting with the surgeon, and talking with others who have had these proceedures.

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 definately have fears about the complications but not dying from the surgery. I guess the way I look at it is that God will not give me more than I can handle. I was fully aware of the risks and complications and after seriously considering them I knew the benefits far out weighed the risks.

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?

Many felt it is the easy way out, how ignorant they are!!! Most were supportive but concerned for my safety. My husband and parents were completely supported because they were informed and knew my struggles with my weight and health. I wouldn't have done anything different. I didn't hide my surgery from anyone who asked about it and there is no way to control what others think.

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

I am a stay at home mother so my only concern was my husband being able to take off enough time from work to help me out with our 2 girls, and concern that they would not be too affected by my decision. My husband's work gave him the time off although only my husband's co-worker knows exactly what I am having done. He told his boss that it was for "female issues" which is not a lie - they are my particular female issues!!

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

My hospital stay was good. I stayed in ICU 2 full days due to a complication with intestinal bleeding. I then spent 3 days on the surgical floor - 5days total. There wasn't much that I could say that I brought from home that was overly helpful except chapstick!! The nurses where the most help by encouraging me to get up and walk when the gas pain was keeping me up and when I would start feeling like I could throw up.

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

Yes, I had my opening from my stomach to my intestine close completely at 10 weeks post op. I started vomitting blood so my Mom took me to the emergancy room where they couldn't get the vomiting to stop. I was moved to ICU where my stomach was scoped and I was found to have a small tare that was causing the bleeding and I was completely closed. The GI doc dialated my opening however it was almost completely closed again when I had it scoped again three weeks later. I am now scheduled for another endoscope proceedure next week - hopefully that will do it.

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 pretty good the first month after surgery, especially since my surgery was done laporscopically.

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

Rest when you feel like you need it, but stay active (exercising however you can). Follow your doc's diet guidelines - this will be the fastest you will ever be able to loose weight and jumping ahead in the diet progression will slow that down.

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

Less than 10 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.

I still have a hard time with meats. Red meat is completely off limits and chicken and fish give me problems off and on. I am not a very good example because my opening from my stomach to my intestine was slowly closing over time I was never able to make a normal diet progression and spent most of my first 12 weeks on liquid/puree diet.

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

I have remained very active and feel great when I exercise.

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

I take a 1000mg b-12 daily (under my tongue). I take one Viactive calcium chew in the morning, two chewable vitamins at lunch time and one more viactive calcium chew in the evening.

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 worst side effect by far the first 12 weeks was vomiting. Once I got my opening dialated that got much better. Since then I have been loosing a significant amount of hair. I also developed kidney stones twice - although they say there is no proof they are connected to the rapid weight loss I know they are. Coping has definately been a challange each and every day and I take antidepressants everyday. It is hard to stay positive when you have had as many complications as I have - but each day is a new day and I try not to dwell on yesterday!!

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

The worst part has been the negative feelings/comments that I have received from others in the post op process who haven't lost as fast as I have. Believe me I would trade having a normal weight loss to have had no complications but I have lost my weight 2.5 times faster than I should have and at 14 weeks post op I have already lost almost 100 lbs and only have about 25-30 more to go.

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

I was attending support group meetings held by my surgeon's office twice a month and I meet monthly with my psychologist.

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

My scars are insignificant since I had it done lap. I have 5 small scars the biggest being about 1 1/2 inches and they have shrunk with weight loss.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I haven't really had any yet but I have slowed in my weight loss per week since having my opening dialated.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

YES!!!! Everyone thinks I am a different person. They are amazed at how I could make such a rapid transformation, and people are definately more open and direct with me.