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

I know a lady who had WLS 6 years ago and have seen such changes in her. I have flip flopped over the years at whether I felt like it was something I would choose or not, and finally came to the realization that this was my only option to lose weight successfully and keep it off. I don't want to develop health issues related to weight, and I know that I would have been headed down that path had I not had WLS.

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

Well ... I had to fight. I had to fight 2 different insurance companies, a total of 4 denials and 2 appeals before getting approval (and switched to a different insurance company at that). My advice is, fight if this is what you want because they will try to make it impossible just so you will give up.

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

It was very informative. He knows what he is doing and does not hide anything from you as far as what to expect the process to be like.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I was tired of being tired, tired of being too fat to fit comfortably into this world.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I researched everything I could find on the internet to see which procedure would suit me and my lifestyle best, and what changes I would have to make with each. RNY was the option that offered me the best outcome, in my opinion.

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?

Oh, I knew I was gonna die! Very apprehensive, but not enough to cancel the operation. I would tell people that it is just the normal emotions you go through when coming up on a major surgery like this.

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 and friends are very supportive. When I first started researching WLS, my husband was against it -- fear I think. After he participated in the surgical visits and became better educated about the benefits, he was totally behind me 100%. I wouldn't have done anything any differently. I am blessed to have a supportive group of family & friends around me.

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

My supervisor has been excellent -- one of my biggest supporters! My company was also very supportive. I plan to take one week off of work, but that depends on how I'm feeling at that point. I may have to take a few days longer than that. Every day gets better, though, so I may make my goal after all of going back to work in 1 weeks.

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

Hospital was wonderful, very conscientious regarding bariatric patients. I had my operation on 3/12 and was discharged on 3/14. Important things to bring -- fan, hair brush, chapstick, laptop computer!

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

No known complications this early in the game except I forgot I was allergic to bandaids and when the staples were removed, they were replaced with Steristrips, and I am dealing with the blistered remnants of allergic reaction right now at 2 weeks postop.

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 got approval and the surgery date less than 2 weeks away from approval date. I felt shocked, anxious, scared, excited ....I had every emotion. I tried to stay very busy to keep my mind too busy to spend worrying. And I read a lot on obesityhelp.com.

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

First two weeks home, take it easy and rest when you need to. It is easy to do too much. You must rest and also follow your surgeon's and nutritionist's guidelines to focus on getting in all of your required protein, fluids, and exercise!

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

About 8 miles from my home. The surgeon's office is only about 13 miles from my home. That's comforting to me.

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'm only 2 weeks postop while writing this, but the first 2 weeks was liquid protein ONLY. No solid food sources. I drank Atkin's shakes and also used Proteinex liquid added to water and Beneprotein powder added to soup broth. This week (week #3), I began solid food protein sources. It is harder because I have yet to be hungry but am told to eat every 2 hours whether you want it or not. It's really making me angry, to be perfectly honest, that I have to eat and I just simply do not want it. Never thought I'd say that.

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

Averaged 15-20 minutes walking daily the first two weeks and my goal is to increase it to 1 hour of walking daily -- I also have a Gazelle and use that 15-20 minutes at a time.

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

Chewable Centrum multivitamin, Biotin, Prevacid, B Complex, calcium with vitamin D (Viactiv chewable)

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'm only 2 weeks postop. I haven't had any vomiting. I have insomnia chronically, not from WLS. I dumped once on liquid adult Tylenol. What is bothering me the most right now are allergic reaction patches of blisters around my incisions from the Steristrips.

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

WAITING ON AND FIGHTING FOR INSURANCE APPROVAL!

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

Monthly assessments by the nutritionist. Monthly support group meetings. It is extremely important to my success. On a scale of 0-10, I would say it is a 10 all the way.

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

Five little 1" long incisions. Exactly what I expected except the allergic reaction to the Steristrips.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

No plateau yet -- I'm only 2 weeks postop.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Everyone is just really excited for me at this point.