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

first time was reading about it, thought I didn't need any surgery, I can do it on my own... then a few years later discussed it with my pcp who didn't think I needed it, she thought I could do it on my own. Another 2 yrs went by and I went to a seminar, I made an appointment with my pcp.. she during that visit slipped me a surgeons name and said she had researched Bariatric surgery it and thought it was good for me.. I told her my appointment with my surgeon was the following day and I just wanted her to know.

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

my advice is blue cross baby.... I had no problems

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

After the seminar I made an appointment to see him. We discussed what the process was going to be, the reasons why I wanted surgery, and which procedure I was leaning toward. I say ask questions and talk to anyone who has had the procedure

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

My Blood pressure was uncontrollable, I didn't want to be dead by 45 due to my weight

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I didn't like the idea of the lap band. something around my stomach.

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 weighed my fear of having a stroke, heat attack or dying due to my weight against the chance of dying due to complications of surgery. I tell people that they need to be doing this for their health not vanity. That it is not an easy way out. It is difficult when you can't lose weight the "old fashion " way. That although surgery made it easier to lose weight I still have to work to keep it off.

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 Friends and family were concerned about the reported dangers but after researching it and understanding I was doing it for my health, and That I was more concerned with what would happen if I didn't utilize this as a tool to obtain a better healthier life. They were behind me 100%..

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

I told them when I began the process and attended the seminar. Told them that I would be out for 8-10 weeks due to my job requirements. They were very supportive and kept in touch with me the entire time.. I received cards of encouragement, and calls frequently.. when I got back to work they made sure my lunch was things I could eat and small portions on my plate. They are very proud of me...

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

I was admitted on a Tuesday discharged on Saturday. What to bring... a hug pillow to travel home with. A good comb and bush to do your hair. Have good support from friends and family. Most important is faith.

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

my biggest complication at first was difficulty drinking my water. on May 2,2008 I had an intestinal blockage.. major surgery resulted. So always let your doctor know if you're having increased gas pains.. with having GB we don't present normally.. I had no abdominal distention,I had a bowel movement that morning. At first they thought I was drug seeking.. but the radiologist recognized and questioned if I had GB surgery. When confirmed pointed out I had a blockage and needed surgery right then and there.

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 excited. It was the first time I didn't go on an eating spree like I would do before starting a new diet. My surgery date was 2 days after my Birthday. I went camping with "the girls " We are known as the belly club. There was 4 of us, 2 were 1 year post op, and the third was 6 months post op.. I was pre-op. all at different stages and we talked about what I should expect. They were my rocks and made it easy when I had difficulty with somethings...like drinking my water, passing along things they found that were higher in proteins..

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

Nausea, my instant dislike of water all of a sudden. Making a conscious effort to drink all my water, to take my vitamins, learn to eat cottage cheese( eww) making sure I took in my protein. I always carried CIB packets in my hand bag. Learn that some days were good food days ( no nausea) bad days ( nausea and Vomitting when something didn't agree)

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

I live in RI the smallest state in the Union.. my travel time was 15 minutes

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 could barely tolerate my CIB, I was able to eat scrambled eggs, sugar free ice pops, Blended Cottage cheese ( ICK) and soft foods.. graduated to egg salad, chicken salad.. but not to my favorite food of tuna salad for some reason it made me very ill and still does. I can't eat anything with lots of oils or grease. I get ill if I have a bite to much of anything.. My stomach flips and it comes up. I can't tolerate any heavy foods such as meat pies or thick gravies, can't consume to much starch. I have 1 slice of toast most times only 1/2 slice. I can't tolerate creamy things, sweet things make me violently ill.. Which is all good because I don't try them any longer..

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

The first eight weeks was very little.. couldn't lift or push more than 10 lbs. which put me out of work and no hobbies.. I'm a bowler.. also no Belly dancing muscles needed to heal. After 8 weeks I was able to go back to work, and resume my bowling, dancing and going back to the gym.

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

Chewable Multivitamins, chewable Calcium, sublingal B complex, Vitamin D, and I still have CIB at times in the mornings for breakfast

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 and vomiting still persist. I cope by not eating the foods that trigger it.

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

The excess skin from the weight loss, and learning to like water again...

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

I continued with group therapy for several months after being a year post op

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

My scars healed very well, almost completely faded after 2 yrs. I was pleasantly surprised as I have a tendency to get keliods due to my race.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I have plateaued between 176- 185 lbs.. I try never to go over 185 and my damn best to get to 170...lol

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

I did notice that some of my friends and family although very proud of me didn't know how to deal with me. I am now the same size as my sister and smaller than some of my friends.. the jokes we use to make regarding our weight now is seen as offensive when I say them. I had to remind them when I was fat and said them everyone laughed.. but now that I am not as big, everyone thinks I am trying to be condescending to them. I try to be supportive to anyone trying to lose weight, I have to be careful with what I say and how I say it so I don't appear to be talking down to them I also acknowledge that surgery may have helped me to lose weight but, I have to work at keeping my weight down, and watch what I do it and eat.. 3 years post op I can eat a bit more now.. So I split meals when I go out or have my meal taken away as soon as I am full. So I don't get back in the habit of picking at my food .. Some people think I got very *itchy when I lost weight.. my mom explains it as I thought I was Queen Bee at 336lbs and now I know I am Queen Bee.