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

I first found out about the surgery through the media. My initial impression was....finally, something that might work.

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

Getting insurance approval for me was very easy, i was actually expecting them to deny me, but they approved me in one day.

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

The first meeting with my surgeon was very scary, I didn't know what to expect.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I felt that this was my only chance at a normal life.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I wanted what would give me the most weight loss.

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?

We all have fears, but we take chances all the time and I knew that without this surgery, i might die anyways.

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 wants me to be happy and they are all for it.

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

I don't work.

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

The stay in the hospital was ok, but who really enjoys being in the hospital? I was in the hospital for 4 days because I passed out and knocked my head on the wall, so they wanted to keep me an extra day to make sure I was ok. Remember to bring arm deoderant, I forgot mine and had to have my husband bring some in.

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

I had many complications starting at 6 weeks post-op. I underwent emergency surgery for a bowel obstruction and then had an abcess, which overall I spent 6 weeks in the hospital in which I had 2 central lines out in an NG tube put in while awake and TPN.

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 very excited.

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

The first several weeks you need to take it easy and rest. Drink plenty of water so you don't become dehydrated. Every week gets a little bit easier.

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

I traveled maybe 10 minutes. The car ride home after the surgery was rough because I was sore, and we had a lot of speed bumps to go over.

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.

It was tough in the beginning. I had a hard time because of my complications, and I was on TPN for almost 6 weeks. I didn't start a normal diet until I was 6 months out. I don't have a sensitivity to sugar, but fat bothers me.

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

The first 2 weeks, i pretty much laid around, but now I can drive and play with my kids again.

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

I take prenatal vitamins and B-12 and also Calcium citrate plus vitamin d

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 is the worst, and it was pretty scary when my hair started to fall out.

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

All my complications.

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

I had a nutrition class before I was allowed to have the surgery, and the same woman does the support groups. They are great. It helps you when you feel lost.

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

I had laproscopic, so my scars are little. Two of them still have scabs and surface stitches working their way out. The one where I had the JP drain for 2 weeks is an x shape, but I imagine over time they will get lighter. Well, it has been two years and those scars are pretty much all gone. The emergency surgery left a very big scar, but it wa still all worth it.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I had a 2 week plateau, but it didn't lat long.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes, it's amazing how people look at me differently now.