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

Media - in the very beginning, I said "no way! I'm not mutalating my body just to lose weight. I'll do it on my own."

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

I tried to get the lap band about 4 years ago, and at that time, my ins co had me jumping through hoops. It was going to be about a 6-month process, and I didn't tough it out. This time, I found out some co-workers had had the procedure and that the ins co (same one as 4 years ago) was now approving these procedures at a much faster rate. I went in to see the doctor in April and had my surgery end of May. And they paid nearly everything (I just paid $500 & co-pays for office visits).

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

Nothing what I expected. I went in for the lap band and by the time I left, the doctor changed my mind to opt for the gastric bypass. Have questions - do a lot of research. The internet is a wonderful resource. There are so many sites and articles on-line. No excuse for not being informed.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

Sleep apnea and pre-diabetic. I could only see myself getting worse and bigger. Wanted to start enjoying life again.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

The doctor I went to see had some good material and statistics as to why the gastric bypass was a better choice than the lap band. After seeing him, I did more research on-line and agreed with him.

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?

None. I felt confident everything would be ok. I've always had a good recovery rate from previous surgeries.

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?

My lifepartner was very supportive, as was the majority of my family. My older brother was the only one that was fearful for me - he thought I would regret the decision afterwards.

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

My boss was very supportive and very curious. He had heard of WLS procedures and wondered about them. I foolishly only took two weeks vacation, thinking since I've always been a fast healer, that's all I needed. But I now know why they recommend 6 to 8 weeks - it truly takes one that long to fully recover. I ended up taking 3 more days before I went back to work. And the first couple of weeks were hard, as I didn't have a lot of energy.

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

I had to stay one day longer as my bleeding wouldn't stop. Once my blood count was ok, they released me. The stay was ok. There were a few good nurses/techs and a few not-so-good. And one really bad nurse. But all in all, it was fine. Good to get home, though.

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

Just the bleeding, but I've always been a bleeder. No worries. The bleeding stopped about a week after 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?

I have a terrific lifepartner that was instrumental to my mental health, as well as my physical health. If not for her, I think I would have ended up back in the hospital for mal-nutrition and dehydration. She was great at finding what I could have and made me do it, cuz food, water? Didn't interest me. I was so tired - just wanted to sleep all the time. But I now know why they recommend 6-8 weeks for recovery - it really does that much time for the body to heal and for one to get their strength back.

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

I became very well acquainted with day-time TV (which pretty much sucks). And even though I have tons of DVDs to watch, plenty of books to read and work I brought home to do while I was home, none of that interested me. I was pretty much wiped out. Did a lot of sleeping and watching TV. Made myself (or rather my honey made me) walk a little every day. It started out walking from the bedroom to the living room was so hard, but I could tell after a few weeks, each day it got better and better. Folks just gotta give the process time.

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

Not far at all - Hospital and doctor's office are both close to my home.

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 did applesauce, puddings, yougurts, soups and protein drinks for the first four weeks, pretty much. I have a hard time getting all the water in that I need to, as one can't drink like one did before surgery. Tried jars of baby food - positively gross. Poor babies! And I don't care for pureed foods, either, so I just waited until I could do solids. Two months out now - can't do steak yet, or most veggies. Cucumbers work, and fruit works. Chicken works, although dark better than white. I can do ground beef, chicken, turkey, etc. Tuna salads are great - especially with a little bit of pasta in it (the smaller sized-pasta works better than the larger pieces).

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

Very weak at first - a hardship to walk from the bedroom to the living room. My partner made me walk a little each day after the first week at home and by the third week, I was back to walking the dog (only in the morning, for a short walk - each day I could go further and further - poor dog got his longer walks in the evening when my honey got home from work). Two months out now - my energy level is through the roof. I can work in my garden now, bend over double with no problems. Can climb stairs and inclines much better than before.

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

I take two multi-vitamins everyday, and I take a calcium tablet each day. Looking into different vitamins - tired of the chew-type I got for after surgery.

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 problem I'm having is vomiting. If I eat something that didn't work, I get "stuck." And if I get stuck, I have to vomit. I've several times now that I've thrown up repeatedly to release the pressure that builds up from being stuck (eating something that's not digesting). And when I get stuck, I can't drink water, even - it's just very, very uncomfortable. So as I learn what I can and cannot have, it's getting better. I have to watch that I don't become totally afraid of food. There are many times I just don't want to eat and I have to make myself cuz I know I have to. There's only two of us at home and oftentimes now, we each do our own thing for dinner, so if I'm not cooking or preparing something for the both us, I don't want to bother. It doesn't seem worth it to make a meal I'm only to have three or four bites.

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

This getting stuck bit. It hurts and it's uncomfortable. I've had a few twinges of "gee, sure would love an entire, normal meal right now" but I think of the weight I've lost so far and how much better I feel overall, it's all so very worth it.

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

I have a life partner at home and a support group I could go to through my doctor's office. I also have a group of women at work that have had some sort of WLS done and we all speak together often. It's been fun to see how well everyone's doing. The best, though, as been my partner. I believe I would have ended up back in the hospital had it not been for her. I thought I had read everything I needed to pre-op and knew what I was doing, but once I got home, it was all about her getting me the proper nutrition I needed to stay healthy, and bullying me into partaking of whatever it was I needed.

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

No - it was not explained to me that I would have six wounds (although the doctor very nicely made one of the incisions on an old gall-bladder scar). I had my procedure done laparoscopicly. I'm two months out, and they've all closed up and healed. Don't bother me - I knew I was never going to be wearing a bikini or anything of that nature.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

None so far - only two months out. I try to weigh myself only once a week, but I get too excited. I'll be the same for 3 or 4 or 5 days, and all of a sudden, there goes 2 or 3 or 4 pounds :o)

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Only in a supportive way - folks that know me are great about complimenting how well I look and how well I'm doing.