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

I heard about on tv. Initial impression was no way! A year later as I was still gaining weight made me reevaluate my needs.

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

There was absolutely NO problem getting approved for this surgery. I was one of the lucky ones.

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

My first visit was informative. I loved the fact that my surgeon pulled up a chair next to me and (gasp!) talked straight to me.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

Watching my mom battle cancer, losing my job, and my 15 year old almost running away put my life in a whole new perspective. I learned what I could control in my life and what I couldn't. The items I can control I step up to the plate and take action now.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

This was more geographical. I love my surgeon and wanted the procedure done locally. I do wish that I had done the procedure laparoscipally instead of an open procedure. Hindsight is a great thing.

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 worried that it wouldn't work. Another failure. Dying was something that I was doing to myself everyday. Plus at my age my mortality is still a little skewed. I don't think of being gone. The end result is worth it. I read through hundreds of testimonials on this website. Very few were bad. My chances of ulitmate success were there. I just had to reach out and DO IT.

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?

They were very worried but very supportive.

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

I was laid off at the time. I would have been out 2 1/2 up to 3 months if I was employed. I had my surgery October 3 and started a new job December 23.

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

An absolute blur. I was there 5 days. I remember pain. I couldn't concentrate on anything. I didn't have many visitors which I preferred. I didn't want people to see me like that. At one point the doctor had me on percoset and ambien. I did see little children that were not there. That was a little disconcerting. Most important was the doctors care. He did a great job. Once I was out of ICU it was like pulling teeth to get anything I needed. I did let the hospital know about it and I didn't let the nurses get away with ignoring me. They were a little witchy when I left but Oh well. You have to stand up for yourself even if you are flat on you back.

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

I did very well for about 2 weeks and then this nausea hit me that landed me in bed most of the time for 3-4 weeks. I have to tell you that I was miserable. Drive heaving. Only once did I actually throw up. I was sore all the time from heaving. The doctor was trying all different kinds of medicines to stop it. The walmart pharmacy new my husband very well by the time it was over. Never did understand what caused it or stopped it. But it did stop!

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 too sick to feel anxious.

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

Very sore. Disoriented depending on the pain meds. It is difficult after awhile to watch everyone eating normally and you can't.. For the first few weeks I would just leave the room. Then I realized that I was hiding from the problem so I decided to cook the families dinner. That was fun but it accomplished the fact that I could do that and still eat what I needed to eat.

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

30 miles. No issues with after care at all. Riding in my truck down our bumpy road wasn't pleasant. I was reduced to tears by the time we got home. My husbad was probably doing 10 miles and hour down our road. I thing he wanted to cry with me.

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.

With my problems with nausea my eating patterns were really weird. I am 8 months out and still can't eat raw vegies very easily or red meat. Not without discomfort. I don't eat sweets. Unless it is literally one bite. I eat what I did before just varied a bit. Like ground turkey in my spaghetti. That type of thing.

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

Just about non existant. About the time that I physically was ready for more activity my nausea set in and everything kaput.

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

I take B-12 and iron 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?

Nausea, some dumping, and minimal hair loss. Nausea was for 3-4 weeks consistantly. Dumping doesn't occur unless I eat something I shouldn't or haven't tried before and didn't know that it would be a problem. Hair loss I just kept my fingers crossed and kept taking the B-12 and iron.

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

The first 2 months of healing. It isn't easy. It's not supposed to be. But...IT IS WORTH IT.

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

My family and obesityhelp.com

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

Big! From just under my breast bone to about 2 inches under my bellybutton. But compared to the stretch marks I am not traumatized over it. It isn't like my body isn't already marked up. I don't let it bother me however. if I lose most of the scar when I go through plastic surgery I won't miss the scar.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Each month my weight loss is a bit less. I am close to goal and haven't had too many problems with plateau's. I don't know if it because I was lucky or because I had 120 pounds to lose0

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

YES!! Huge difference. I wonder how much relates to the fat lazy thing and how mych relates to my self confidence level being better.