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

I had always known about the surgery but because of all my health problems I was a high risk and no one would do.I wanted to loose all my excess weight not just to make me look good for my health. I did not want to die.

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

becasue I am a disabled person my ins company refused for me to have the surgery. My doctor sent them letters and they kept refusing. They said I could lose weight on my own. Since they manage my medicare I appealed my case and after 8 months -1yr medicare agreed with me and my dr, and I recieved the lapbad . I wanted the gastric but it was to risky. Keep fightiing don't let the insurance company get the upper hand. Keep writing them letters,have your doctors and other people who see you to write letter for you, document everything. If your on a diet write it down showing what you eat what you don't weith loss, etc/ They want to see documentation and keep appealing.

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

My first meeting with my surgeon was great. He has a great manner he explained everything to me and how the band was going to work. asnwered my questions and reassured me about the surgery and the mortally rate I was concered about.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

When I was having trouble breathing while sleeping and then I had to have a sleep aphena test and fourd out that I stopped breathing 80 times during the night.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I opted for the lapbad instead of the gastric. They did not have to go in and cut me and I did not want that. The lap band I think is a lot safer and you recover faster.

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 was scared that maybe because of all the scar tissue I would not get banded and I would have been more depressed. I had faith and confidence in my doctor that he would not let anything happen to me . Everyone is afraid of the unknown but if you have a good feeling about your dr and trust then go for it. If it will make your health better then what do you got to lose.

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 supported my decision and we had talked aabout this he did not want me to do the gastric because of the death rate and other complications and my son and his girlfriend and their son were very supportive. These are the only family I have.

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

I do not have a job due to disability

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

I was in the hospital overnight because of my sleep apena. Leave your jewerly at home and bring your insurance card and no valuables.

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

Yes one of my incisions became infected when I went for my 2 week checkup was giving antibotics and it clead up. Then I kept putting antibactrial cream on them.

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 so excited I wanted it to be sooner, and as the time got near I started wondering to myself if I had made the right decision. and it bothered me till I was on the way to the hospital then I felt calmer.

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

I slept alot, rested did not do nothing. ate my little tablespoon of food that I could have and slept. I think I slep the whole week that was the after affects of the surgery. the second week I was up moving around, very sore could not lay on my side because it hurt did have to take pain med occasionally. then each day got better. followed my diet on what I could have.

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

60 miles round trip. It was unconfortable because the seat belt rubbed the incisons. Other than that it was alright.

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 could have soft food the first 3 week a daily diet would be 2 tlbs egg beaters 2 tlbs cream of wheat 1/2 tsp promise margine and 1 sweet n low sugar. then a 8oz shake dr atkins or whey protien shake with skim milk. lunch 2 tlbs pureed meat, 2 tlbs veg 2 tlbs fruit. and then another shake then dinner 2 tlbs prureed meat 2 tlbs veg 2 tlbs fruit, this went on till week four. I still have the 2 tlbs but now I can have cottage cheese fatfree , sugarfree pudding. a variety of items as long as I have 90 gram of protein that also includes the shake. Each week I look forward to something that I can add to the regular routine.

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

First month just resting and walking. after week 4 I have been able to use weights when I exercise. I still do a lot of walking to. I exercise 30 min a day 10 morning 10 afternoon 10 min night.

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

Chewable centrum vitaim one time a day

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?

I really did not have alot of systoms I vomited one time after I got home from the hospital that was it,

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

I had the lapband done not the gastric The lapband did hurt and was a little uncomfortable

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

I really do not have one. I know it is important to find out if other people went through what your going through. I go on the internet.

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

The only big scar I have is by my belly button where they put the port in. Yes the dr told me that this would be the biggest scar. I had five incisions in my belly .

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

My plateau is weighing every week you do not see the resultsuntil the following week. The scale just sits there and that makes me so frustrated and I want to go back to my eating habit. I do not I just except what the scale reads and keep hoping for the best. The weight is slow and I thought it would be fast.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

They do not say ugly things to me to hurt my feelings so far.