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

I looked up "weight loss" in a yahoo.com search engine and ended up on someone's personal website that had WLS about 6 months before -- she changed how I thought about never having a way to become "normal"

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

Insurance was a nightmare. Cigna HMO will drive you to the edge but finally give in -- BE PERSISTANT!!! Never let it rest and call them wekkly -- heck call them twice a week -- stay on top of everything -- keep copies of everything and mail/fax everything personally with confirmation or have someone sign for it!!

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

The first meeting was repetitive. I had attended a seminar where I took a pre-typed list of 20-25 questions that I scribbed down all the answers to. I used my inital consult with the surgeon to clarify a few things. Be prepared -- have a list of things you want to know.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

After all my research and deciding that having surgery was no more of a risk that remaining morbidly obese - the desire to not be in pain everyday and the deep desire in my heart to have the chane to grow old & gray with my husband is what turned the leaf over for me.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

It wasn't my decision really. Cigna only covers the open RNY becasue it has the highest proven success rate according to them.

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 can honestly say I had no fear. Never even thought about the prospect of dying. I think because I felt like I was dying inside everyday anyway.

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 very stand offish at first -- until it became real and my mum had a flight paid for -- then he got nervous but knew I had researched this for over a year and that it was my decision -- today he still thinks I could have applied myself an avoided surgery -- but that is something we agree to disagree on. As for my parnents & extended family everyone was very supportive -- I even have an Aunt that had surgery 2 months after I did !!!

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

My employer really couldn't react. They had to accept it according to laws and such. I wasn't ashamed of my decision and explained the procedure to many of my co-workers basically because I was so excited and they were very surious. I took my full disability leave of 9 weeks and returned for 1 week's worth of 5 hours days to get me back into the swing of things. Luckilly I have a desk job :)

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

THe hospital wasn't bad -- it was old and needed to be updated but I had no doubts about my care. I was there for 3 short days. The most important thing I broght (besides my mother) was chapstick -- all the drugs really dry you out and I hate having chapped lips.

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

Well with the rapid weightloss your hormones go insane -- for a woman that had been told for the previous 11 years that I would never carry a child -- guess who showed up pregnant?? Yep that's right -- me. Use birth control even if you never have because if it can happen to me it can happen to you too. I had my RNY 03/05/02 and was back under the knofe 04/11/02 to remove the fetus -- it was stuck in my tubes so it wouldn't have survived and neither would I...

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 alive!! I felt like there was really hope in the future for me and a life I wanted to live. I didn't feel much anxiety only excitement and impatience!

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

I was tired, cranky and depressed. Mostly becasue I had no stomach muscles to speak of so getting up and down was a chore. But I walked everyday, got in my water & protein and things got better.

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

The hospital was about 25 miles from home. It didn't really affect my aftercare (there wasn't much to speak of) but the traveling back and forth was pretty hard on my poor tired, worried and scared husband.

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.

At first I couldn't eat anything with bulk - it always came back up. Soft foods like pintos & cheese or mashed potatoes with cheese were the staple of my diet. I mixed in babyfood meats like chicken & turkey to give my mush a lil protein value. Off limits have been anything with sugar -- tried half a PB&J sandwhich and it made me sick as can be -- these days I enjoy my PB&J with low sugar jelly :) I can now - 0 months later pretty much eat anything I want as long as I take my time and chew. I still end up praising the the procelin goddess (good thing I clean it so much) from time to time if I eat to quickly --- kinda reminds me that I have to treat my lil tummy with more respect.

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

At first I slept a lot. I would make myself go for my walks and hubby usually went with me in case I got overwhelmed and tired, but gradually my energy levels began to return and I felt pretty good. Now-a-days I hit the gym 5-6 nights a week and then walk my dogs nightly for about a mile.

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

Pretty much I'm terrible about taking my vitamins -- I try to take 2 multivitamins daily -- I have a huge hang up about pills...

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 loss was the worst for me. THe only thing I ever like about myself was my hair and when it began fallingout I was devistated ( I was even taking all my vitamins & protein suppliments) it lasted 2 entire months beofre new growth started again.

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

The insurance battle was the worse part of the bariatric prtocess.

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

There is a support group meeting once a month down in the city -- but its in the middle of the afternoons on Saturday -- not a good time for someone trying to get out and enjoy life. I've never gone - I get my support from friend that have had surgery.

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

My scar is lumpy becasue of keltoid scarring - not anyones fault. I hope that with my tummy tuck it will be repaired.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I have had 3 plateaus that I have noticed - but honestly I don't pay much attention to not losing -- as long as I'm not gaining I'ma happy camper.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes, people that I "knew of" before now come up and strike up a conversation for now reason. Complete strangers out in public are nice and accomidating to me -- its really weird.