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

I heard about it on the web. My first thought was I would fail at that if I had the surgery. I felt it could help others but it wouldn't help me. Well I was wrong. I am 3 1/2 months post op and have lost 65 lbs. I feel great and my self confidence has sky rocketed. It is the best thing I have ever done for myself. I would do it again in a heartbeat.

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

I had no problem with insurance. I had letters from my cardiologist, primary, pulmonologist and lots of data recorded

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

It was exciting and he was so honest and down to earth with his info. He himself had this surgery

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I just wanted to get healthy

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I didn't decide. The surgeon told me which proceedure would be the best for me.

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?

no fears at all. I felt if God brought it to me HE would help me through it. and HE did. Just trust in your faith.

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?

Everyone was wonderful about the whole thing. They were so proud of me.

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

I was out for 2 weeks. I had the open surgery RNY

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

My stay in the hospital was really good. They took good care of me and were there to help me with everything. I was there for 6 days. I brought my nightie and underclothes but didn't need them. I had a cathadur in for 5 of the days I was in the hospital.

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

I didn't have any complications with surgery. When I first started to eat I couldn't handle the smell of the food. That has never happened to be before.

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 glad to get my surgery. The time went really fast to get to the date. I was nervous the week before surgery but the day of it I was really calm and happy. I was having another chance at life.

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

I had lots of support from my husband and he made sure I did what I was suppose to at all times.

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

I am only 1 1/2 hours from Rochester Mayo so I had no problems with the travel.

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 a little hard to be on the liquid diet but I think it was all in my mind. Then when I went to soft foods. My husband made my favorite food GOULASH. I was so excited to eat it. My husband said he would get me some. When he brought it to me he had run it through the blender. I got a big laugh from that one.

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

I started out slow and just kept doing a little more each day.

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

fish oil capsules, multi vitamin, mangosteen. I am getting lots of omega 3

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?

hair loss but not to bad. everything else was fine

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

getting me up to walk soon after surgery. I didn't want to.

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

I went to a support group for a while but found it wasn't what I was looking for. I found people who had the surgery and formed friendships with them. That worked better for me than a meeting. I think everyone needs someone who has gone through it to lean on and ask advice.

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

I have a scar from my chest down to my button. In time it will fade away. It is a small price to pay for the new life I am living now. I was expecting the scar as I researched this on the web alot before I had the surgery.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I hit a plateay every so often but I knew I would. My weight stays the same for 3 days then it goes down. I have confidence that it will continue to go down so the plateaus are a small price to pay.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

People do treat me different now. They don't look at me like I am lazy fat person anymore. Even though I still have 82 lbs to go. Part of it is because I now walk with confidence and I feel better about myself and other people see that.