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

My sisters did it 20 years ago, my friend Gaylene had the bowel resectioning then too. I waited until I was confident my children were old enough just in case.

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

Don't trust your pcp to take care of you, find out who your insurance agent is and watch your own case.

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

I had to wait until all the patients were gone. He is excellent, he took his time, set down, drew a picture of his procedure, discussed it with me, gave me a large printed out manual of info.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

Wanted it for years. Got my college degree, can't go on without it. Just too big, diets not working.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Researched all of them. Wanted the open RNY. Got it. Happy with it.

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?

Many fears of who would take care of my kids. My family would not have. I waited until kids were old enough to care for each other. Had surgery.

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?

I am so big, all supported me.

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

Unemployed, college student, mother.

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

Horrible! A disgusting, agonizing, miserable place not equipped to handle obese patients. Can't xray large people, no beds, no chairs, no wheel chairs. Sinai-Grace Hospital in Detroit,Michigan.

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

Yes, stupid nurses in ICU. Had to beat on table and have my son get me paper and pen to write I was choking to death my tubing was clogged up. They dropped me during or right after surgery, I had a knot on the back of my head as large as a boiled egg. Big scab on it.

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

trouble breathing deeply, coughing a lot, sore, weak.

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

Can not care for myself. Need sons to help me out of bed, chair, to toilet. weak, tired, sore.

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

same city.

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.

first week in hospital, jello,water, cream of wheat, soup second week at home soft diet third week at home 1 inch piece of pizza no meat, 1/2 half pot pie no meat or carrots, 2 small raviloi with parmesan on them. soups.

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

none, walk to bathrooom, set down, walk to bed set down, walked to car one time to go get stapels out and back from car to house.

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

none, bought all of them, gag me, trying to eat something, drink fluids.

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?

no appetite, weak, cough, sore, infected staples. No pain med, I was given a med I am allergic to when I was sent home so have none.

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

I had the open RNY, surprise gall bladder removal, two hernia repairs. These four surgeries were a bit much and quite painful. Pain was surprising, GAS twisted my insides up and hurt like heck. Improper bed, sore backside, no chair to set in, bad hospital.

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

Online, ossg groups.

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

about 14 inches plus long and about 1 to 1 1/2 inches wide with all 46 staples two holes infected and obvious so I look like I have a huge zipper down my front now. jan 2006 update, scar is now thin, white, still obvious but ok and can live with it

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

weight leveled off at 310. not one more pound lost. regained to 375. using six week body makeover plan by michael thurmond and it works. i am down to 310 again and losing.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

when I went for staple removal I was treated better I felt because I had done something about my weight. they asked questions instead of the usual disrespect about being so big.