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

I'd heard of it because my roommate at the time had gone to the informational meeting and brought home the literature they had handed out. At first the thought squicked me to no end. In fact, I wrote this very thing in my journal.

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

Fortunately I had a quick turnover with the insurance company as far as the approval went. I think that had largely to do with my being proactive and calling them each business day and asking about my claim.

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

The hospital stay was good. I was on a wing of the surgical floor specially for wls patients. Although the rooms were tiny and there were no showers in the bathrooms(you had to go to a special shower room. I felt like cattle almost). I was there for a little over 2 days, from a Monday morning until Wednesday afternoon. Most important things to bring: back scratcher, phone number list(b/c anesthesia does strange things to your brain). and a book or magazine because there is usually squat on television during the night.

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

I had a bout of constipation, dehydration, and low magnesium level about 6 weeks after surgery; which landed me in the hospital for 2 days.

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 relieved. Dealing with surgical anxiety has become like secondhand for me. I talk to people, like my co-workers or my family, or I journal about it online and also talk to other pre-op patients on OH to help with the anxiety.

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

I honestly don't remember much about those first few weeks, thanks in huge part to the pain medication :) What I do remember, however, and it's quite vivid was that I was so SICK of the clear liquids after about 4 days post-op. I begged my doctor to advance my diet to full liquids, and thank god he obliged.

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

Only about 22 miles or so. The bariatric clinic is attached to the hospital where I had the surgery.

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.

Clear liquids for the first 10 days Full liquids after that until you are 2 weeks out. Pureed foods for one week. Semi-solid foods for one week. Then it was advanced to regular foods, although specific guidelines were given to us in our RNY "bible".

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

The first week--all I wanted to do was sleep. Then, gradually I got some energy and began walking.

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

6 calcium citrate(3 in the morning, 3 at bedtime) 2 multivitamin(1 in the morning, 1 at bedtime) 1 B-12 @ bedtime.

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

OH.com, the message board for my bariatric clinic, friends at work who have also had the surgery, my family.

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

the scar is much smaller than I expected. it was a welcome surprise.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I hit a stall that lasted about 3 weeks, that was 3 months post-op, then recently I hit another stall lasting almost a month.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes. I am much more confident and outgoing now. I'm not afraid to say what's on my mind, as long as it won't get me into trouble :)