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

My mom and sister both had gastric bypass two years ago. I didn't think I needed it because simultaneously I lost 80 pounds through diet and exercise and I lost it at a faster rate than them.

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

Very easy. Way easier than I thought it would or should be. I got a response within a day or so and I was in shock! I would say don't worry and that all insurance companies are different with their policies. Some wait for years while others just days or even hours!

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

It was good. I felt very comfortable and though the waiting room part was about three times longer than the visit, I was okay with it.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I knew I couldn't do it on my own when it comes to keeping the weight off.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

They recommended the RNY as the "gold-standard" of WLS.

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?

Quite a bit. My sister and mom came out fine, so I was afraid we had too good of luck.

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?

Mostly supportive, but the guys at work said I could do it on my own again. They just didn't get that not keeping it off and going from a size 6/8 to 22/24 in a year is quite dangerous and devastating.

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

Fine, he is afterall my father!

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

I was there three days and I had two very good nurses. Although I did have a student nurse one morning who had terrible bedside manner and wasn't sure what they were doing.

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

Not really. More from eating.It's just a process of trial and error.

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

Excited and nervous.I started a scrapbook to remind myself why I was going through with this. When I lost all the weight before, I was a different person. I was outging, attractive and just happy a lot more than I had been lately. I missed feeling good about myself and the way I dressed to impress daily whereas now I wore rags and baggy clothes.

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

A lot of ups and downs. You will crave foods, then detest the mere sight of it. You will be bored and tired and you may feel a little regret here and there. but why? Would you trade your goal for a bag of french fries? What is the point of instant gratification when you can have longterm happiness in the longrun. You really have to fight for this!

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

A whopping five miles!

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.

Clear liquids in the first week. Proteins shakes and pureed food such as eggs and cottage chees in week two. From weeks thre to six it's chicken, shredded beef, turkey and one shake a day. I went through longing for food to hating it to liking what I was getting.

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

Sometimes overactive, and sometimes under.

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

biotin, optisource 4x daily, and caltrate 2x daily.

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, vomiting, sleeplessness, too much sleep, diarrhea. Amixture of them all. It just depends on what I ate and the way I ate it. I make adjustments accordingly.

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

Coping with the loss of food in my life. I have to learn to realize there is more to life than eating food.

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

Once a month support meetings. A case maager through my insurance company and access to the good ladies of the bariatric program and a dietician whenever I need to contact them.

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

Most are small, but I had one split when the staples were removed and it became quite large. They are still healing though.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

The second week I didn't lose a pound which was quite frustrating!

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Not quite there yet