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

I had known about it from being an RN and one day just started to think "Maybe this could work for me". My first impression was...OH MY GOD THIS COULD HELP SOMEONE LIKE ME!!!!!!!

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

My insurance company was wonderful. I had letters from diet clinics I had been too and from doctors. SO I had my ammunition ready and there was no way the couldnt approve me and I met EVERY ONE of the their criteria for the surgery. The BMI, the failed attempts at weight loss, through doctor monitored programs, been there done ALL OF IR...but never successful for long!!

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

My first appointment was very laid back but informative, my doc was knowledgable with any question I asked, and I had researched the procedures prior to my appointment and I am an RN too so was talked very frankly about the risks and the procedure I was with the doc about 45 minutes which I thought was wonderful.To get the most of of the first meeting have your questions ready and dont be afraid to ask ANYTHING you are wondering about!

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I had enough of the YO-YO syndrome this was my only hope.Or I was going to die...emotionally and possibly physically.And I knew I had soooooo much to live for

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I had reserched VBG and RNY and was originally going to have a VBG, but my best friends sister had the RNY and encouraged me "if you are going to have it (WLS) done that the RNY was the most successful and most successful for LONG TERM. I researched it in detail and knew that it was for me

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?

Fears were abundant but my thinking was "I felt like I was dying anyway, emptionally and physically."When it got to the day of the surgery I was sooooo ready the fear was gone the day of the surgery was almost surreal, like it wasnt me! think long and hard before you do it be informed and use Obesityhelp.com it is wonderful!!

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 husband was supportive but fearful, but I told him "I cant live like this I dont even like myself" He understood how I felt. My mother was SOOOOOOOO supportive I couldnt have asked for more. Before and after the surgery

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

I had just started a new job and I was a chicken haha, I had my mom call work for me and teel them I had a massive gall bladder attack and I was in surgery and that she would call them after to let them know how I was. (I did have my gallbladder taken out so I was totally fibbing teehee) then I called them and told then I had some complication (which I really did with my gb part of my surgery) and I was off of work for 9 weeks total. hey just cuz I work there doenst mean they have to know everything about my life hahaha

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

All in all my stay ws not bad. I was in from Tuesday (the day of the surgery) and was dischared Friday late afternoon. it was rough I am not going to lie the pain was constant but kept at bay (so to speak) cuz I has a pain control pump. I had one REALLY rough day which was actually Thanksgiving day....all I did was vomit BILE any movement I would vomit (not fun especially with 38 stapes down your belly)but ny Friday I was 100% better and ready to go home...which I did!

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

Well the only "complication" so to speak was the slow peristalsis, my bowel didnt start to function afeter the surgery like its supposed to and hence the multiple vomiting episodes.Bile (grossest smelling stuff I ever encountered )sorry for the graphics

In the weeks after you got your surgery date, how did you feel? How did you cope with any anxiety you might have felt?

Every day was like a count down...only 8 more days only 7 more days etc...but life kept me busy ANXIOUS is a mild understatement.

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

I felt like a turtle....SSSLLLOOOWWWWWWWW its like you are in slow motion, but thats the way it has to be your body has just be through hell. I didnt do steps for almost a week Thank God my bathroom is down stairs..also I felt like I went #2 (sorry no graphics this time) I felt like I was having BM's everytime I drank or ate...but no vomiting which I was happy about. Its rough and slow but well worth the pain...I would do it again in a heartbeat

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

I traveled approximatly 60 miles (1 1/2hours) one way to the Doctors office and hospital. It didnt affect my aftercare my hubby was my driver...."driving Miss Denise"

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.

Well at first it was pureed everything, an not much of it only abotu an ounce each time about every 4-5 hours, and I never finished wht I made. I drank alot mainly b/c I was thirsty but they tell you to maintain your fluids.as I progressed the doc told me to try different things but one at a time just in case it made me sick then I would know what it was that made me that way.I guess about 8 weeks into it I stopped the puree, and just chewed everything as if it was the last thing I was going to eat EVER haha.I can never eat icecream or milkshakes again and I stay away from high sugar/hig carbohydrate thing Dumping isnt fun. I am 10 months post op and eat pretty much whateve I am hungry for just small portions which I am used to. The only thing that took me AWHILE to get used to is the "no drinking while eating or for at least 1/2 after b/c of the fear of dumping. but now its a new way of life for me so I am used to it

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

like I said before I felt like a turtle....slow didnt do much, thank god I have a great hubby and 2 great kids. They kept the house cleaned and took good care of me...but after the first few weeks I tried to increase my activity level a little bit everyday.

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

I take 4 Flinstones chewables with iron(an anemic to begin with), zinc (lost some hair) and I heard that helps. I take a B12,Tums Ultra as a calcium supplement, and now the doc just put me on Niferex(iron) cuz my blood count is still low. I also take a liquid protein supplement. I should be Wonder Woman hahaha

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 hair lose was the worst for me. A few months into my post op period I was losing clumps..and I mean CLUMPS of hair everytime I washed or brushed my hair. And I ALWAYS had thick thick hair, but it was thinning rapidly.Thats when I had read that zinc helps and increasing your protein (I did both)I eventually got my hair cut SHORT the thinning wasnt as noticable! It has since stopped. I have had a few episodes of dumping (not fun) but the hair thing was the worst for me!

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

The home recovery was the worst, especially when You are used to doing things around the house and it takes 5 minutes just to get up and go pee. It was a rough 10 weeks but well worth it!!!

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

I see the doc every 3 months but never joined a support group which I sometimes regret, not alot of people to talk to about things regarding the WLS. but this website helps ALOT

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

I think my scar gross and huge and still to this day itches like heck!!!, but I was never the bikini wearin' type so I dont care about how it looks...it doesnt bother my hubby and it doesnt bother me. In my opinion it beats the heck out of 135 pounds of blubber there.haha

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I have hit a few plateaus and they are a pain but I know they will pass..and right now I am about 20 pound away from my goal so I know it will be SSSLLLOOOWWWWWWW but this I can deal with.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Sometimes I think people treat you different...in a good way sometimes and in a bad way sometimes, but I learned to take the good with the bad. This is me now take it or leave it!!!