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

No problem....hospital got it within 3 weeks of my first meeting to discuss this as an option for my life.

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

Fantastic...Dr. Marymor is knowledgable, thorough and very into what he is doing and the quality of life he is bringing to people.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

The 300 mark....my age....body parts starting to ache (knees, hips, shoulders etc...) and wanting to live a QUALITY life in the second half of my life. When you are young you can put up with a lot, but as you age you want more quality of life.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Wanted the Dr. to have complete access to everything at a glance.

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?

Dying under anathesia was my biggest fear. 6...Making sure I exercized and breathed deep the month before surgery. Fears are normal. I even did a video documentary for my family as to why I was having this done just in case something happened to me.

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?

At first, they were 'like' please not a another 'snake oil', but as they saw I was serious and needed a lifetime option they supported me both pre and post. Now 6 years out and still 100+ down, everyone is very Pro RNY. I feel great and look great~starting to consider plastic surgery. They say you should wait a minimum of 5 yrs to insure you maintain. I did and I am:0)

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

100% support pre and post. I was honest with them about what I was having done. They have loved watching the transformation both locally and divisionally. I was only out of work 3 weeks and PT 3 weeks.

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

Great....5 days....Low patient to nurse ratio and constant care were most important.

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

Allergeric reaction to pain med's. Once we realized what was causing the nausea and stopped it, I got better and better. No problems since. 6 yrs out and have NEVER EVER had 1 problem including blood work being great too. BP since surgery never higher than 110/70 even when I put back on 28 lbs which I have maintained the last year. They said that could happen. It did, but I am not discouraged, I just increased my activity by stopping our house cleaning services. Economy gave me a good reason to do that also.

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

Felt great each day since. No anxiety at all. 6 yrs out and I ditto the above.

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

Slow....but each day got better and I got more mobile. It was a glorious day when I could wipe my own butt again...let me tell you.

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

3 hours north of my home. No problem for aftercare. I drive up there and make a day of it. Now that I am past 3 months I only have to go annually except for the quarterly blood work I have done at a local lab and they send it to my surgeon who then calls me to let me know the results. Works GREAT!

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.

Followed the post-op food plan the first six weeks. No problems. Now the only thing that I find that I am not able to have is peanut butter...it makes me feel full forever. Really...after a teaspoon, I was full for a day. REALLY:0) 6 yrs out it is still peanut butter and now steak (except filet mignon) too.

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

In the beginning..walking and slow going for about two weeks. After that I have been fully activity.

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

2 Flintstones a day and 1 Tum's. That's it! 6 yrs out and I haven't taken a vitamin in past 4 yrs. All levels tested about 1 month ago and I am not deficient in anything! Hurrah...I am special according to my Doctor though since most people would be. So don't stop!

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 negative side effects whatsoever 6 yrs post op and the above is still true~

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

Being cut open and going under anesthesia. This was my first major surgery, other than giving birth twice.

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

No group...A woman and I who had surgery the same day and were in adjoining rooms keep in touch pretty often.

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

An earthworm...Not what I had hoped for, but it is the same as my mother scarred.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

None yet...keeping my fingers crossed. Past 6 yrs I hit many, but they all passed in time. I was very patient since I had been FAT all my life.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Absolutely....men are flirting with me again after an a 18 year hiatus. 6 yrs out it appears that they treat me the same as before the surgery, it is just my perceptions sometimes.