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

I saw it on tv. I made me an appointment for a consultation. Getting on the huge scale made me really feel fat. When I was told I qualified for the surgery, I went home and called my insurance company. They said they will not cover it.

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

Getting approved through my insurance was horrible. I was given the run around. That took the longest out of the whole process. Once I was approved, I had my surgery date with in a week. DON"T EVER GIVE UP. Fight for what you want. It seems like a losing battle at times but never give up until you get your approval.

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

I was anxious and stressed out. I was affraid of being turned down. My DR and his staff were awsome. Dr. Mason explained everything then asked if I had any questions. He answered all of them. He was very patient and took time to explain the surgery to me in detail.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I was tired of fighting a losing battle. I finally realized that I had to love my self before I could even have the surgery. I was out of options. I didnt want to be in the shell I was anymore. I was tired of worrying about my weight, worrying about people laughing at me.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I wanted it to be permanent. This(Gastric Bypass) was the surgery for me. I did not want to chance the band. There would be things I could still eat with the band that I could not with bypass. Some sweets. I also didnt want to go get fills.

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 didnt really have any fears. I was going to die one way or another and I didnt want to die fat. I would rather die trying to help myself then to die of obesity. I wrote everyone I love a letter explaining why I want to do this. I also wanted them to know that if I die during surgery, I didnt want them to blame them selves. I made the choice to be thinner and healthier so I can live and be happy. I told them that I love them very much. They were given the letters after I went into surgery. Write letters and explain in great detail how you feel. Tell them that no matter what happens, you love them very much. It helped my family understand me and know for a fact that I do love them no matter what. I wrote in these letters eeveryday for 2 months. Kinda like a journal but in letter form.

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 family was very happy for me. They said they would stand behind my descision 100%. No. I believe I did a great job with that in my letters. Also, include family members to your support group meetings before your surgery. They will learn alot there. My family is even more supportive now that they see a different me. I am very happy and outgoing. More so than before.

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

I'm not sure how he reacted. I don't think he really understood what I was doing. He did give me time off and told me to come back when I was ready to. I told him the truth. That I was going to have Gastric Bypass surgery to help me lose weight. I tried to explain it the best I could since he didn't know what it was. I was out 1 month. I was out that long cause I drive a school bus. I wanted to make sure I could drive the students in a safe manner.

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

It was weird after surgery. I was up walking with in an hour after being put in my room. I had a glow that I can not explain. It was like I was a different person already. I was there 5 days cause I lived 2 hours away. Dr. Mason wanted to make sure everything was fine before I went home. It was weird not being hungry at all. Bring any medicine that you may need. Bring house shoes and a robe. You will be out of bed walking alot. Tooth brush/paste, hairbrush, and a new attitude.

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

I had no complications at all. Two weeks out, after seeing my doctor, he said I don't even act like I just had major surgery. I felt great and didn't even feel like I had. Then I went to the store and reached for cubed ham and knocked the package down. My natural reaction was to grab for it. When I did, I pulled the muscle in my left side apart that he had sewn together after cutting out scare tissue. That was MY fault. It took 2 weeks to heal.

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 walking on cloud nine. I was already planning my new life. I started the diet and exercising early. I kept my self very busy so I wouldnt have time to let the anxiety get to me. The morning of my surgery, everything hit me hard. The time passed so fast that I couldn't believe that in a few hours, my new life would begin. It seemed like forever for them to take me back.

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

I was up every morning and walked as far as I could. Each day I would walk a little farther. I was not hungry at all but my mom, sister and daughter made sure I ate even if it was broth or a sugar free popcycle. They should not rush anything. Don't over do it either. Expect to be a little sore. You will sleep alot. Expect to have very low energy. Don't lay around all day. Get up and walk even if it is a few steps in the house. You feel better after walking. It also helps you to heal faster. This is the period you will throw up alot cause you can not really tell when you are full. You may eat/drink something too fast or something your stomach does not agree with. This time frame, you are learning how to eat and how much to eat. Your learning your body all over again.

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

I traveled 2 hours. It didnt affect my after care that much. My doctor was great. If I had any problems all I had to do was call and if he felt I needed to be seen, He would fit me in.

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 was able to eat chicken, sugar free jello, surgar free pudding, brocoli, cauliflower, pork chops, spinach, mash potatos, toast, peanut butter(low sugar), I can not eat corn or ground beef. Ground beef makes me sick just smelling it. NO corn ever. It will not digest. nothing with 15 or more grams of sugar, NO cokes, candy, cake, some breads(it expands in your stomach and makes you feel full), No fried foods. Its weird...1 week I can eat food that I can not the next week. Im not sure why. In the months since surgery, I can eat a little more than before. I can eat a taco now. Im 6 months post op.

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

I had alot of energy. I think spome may be because I knew I was going to lose weight no matter what and it made me want to exercise more. In the first few weeks, I couldn't walk as much as I wanted to because I would get tired real easy. I have to be careful not to wear myself out.

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

I take B-12, Flintstone vitamins and Calcium tablets, both which are chewable.

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 was not too bad. I think the throwing up was the worst only because it takes all your energy to throw up. It didnt really hurt to throw up. Just made me very tired. I did throw up until I learned when I was full. I learned very fast what to eat, not to eat, and how much to eat. I had 1 episode of dumping syndrome...I NEVER want to go through that again. It was the day before Thanksgiving. I was told how to make a sugar free pecan pie in a support group meeting. I bought one at Walmart (SUGAR FREE). I wanted to taste it before Thanksgiving because I didn't want to get sick and ruin it for my family. I scraped just enough to put on my finger nail. Within a few minutes, I was bent over with the most horrible pain ever. I started throwing up and pooping at the same time. As I was doing this, I almost passed out. I had to lay down. This lasted all night. I will NEVER eat anything with sugar or man made sugar in it again. I will not eat it if it has more than 10 grams a serving. Didn't have hair loss. I just told myself it is worth it all and it will get better. This lasted on and off for the first 3 -4 months.

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

The wait to have it done. The insurance approval was the worst for me. The surgery was the easiest for me. It is a tool and long life changes. If you can not change your eating habits and exercise habits, then this surgery is not for you.

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

I meet with all patients, whether pre-op or post-op. This is very important because the patients that are post-op can help you with anything you go through cause more than likely they went through it. You need the support from them. They know what you are going through first hand. I meet with Gastric Bypass patients that had or having surgery at the same hospital.

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

I have 5 small scars. I was able to have it Laproscopic. They are better than what I thought. The longest one was about 2 inches. The others are small. They healed just fine. With a tan, they will not be noticable.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I was losing 4-5 pounds a week. I weigh in every Tuesday night. About 2 months out, I was losing 1 pound a week. The leader of TOPS had taken my measurements before surgery. When I was not losing much weight, She took my measurements to find out that I had lost 64 inches. I was so shocked. If I lose 1/4 of a pound a week, I will still be happy because that means I am losing inches.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Oh yes. Very different. People that I have worked with for 2 yrs never talked to me and now they tell me how sexy I look and talk to me every day. Men stare at me now. I love it. I stare back. I know they are staring at me because I am beautiful now.