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

From my co-workers, I was impressed with how well they were doing.

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

My surgeron/his office handled everything -- they sent a request on Thursday and I was approved on Friday. The only advice I can give is to have all the proof in your hand -- whatever can help -- have it, show them everything that you have done to get healthier and why this surgery would help you. Even the receipt from the exercise machine made into my file....

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

I first went to the informative session and after that I went to see my doctor. Don't down yourself before the first visit, don't worry about the doc saying that you are fat, he will not do it. Be positive and calm!

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

My health problems and the fact that I just couldn't do more on my own.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I knew that I needed a tool -- I was eating pretty healthy, just too much of the healthy stuff, so I just needed something to limit 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?

My fears were mostly about the failure afterwords. I knew that I was in good hands and that things would go great! So if you trust your surgeon -- trust that he will take good care of you!

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?

The skinny people were not supportive... But people who care about me and who wish me well -- were all happy for me!

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

My boss gave me the time off I needed (12 days) and she was great about the whole thing!

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

I work at the hospital that I was staying at. I was there overnight (came at 6 am for 7am surgery and left at 10 am next day). It was great, I know my nurses and I had a good time! I enjoyed having my robe to walk around in.

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

Just during the first night I started retaining fluid and my BP was really high. BUt after few hours I started peeing again and problems were all gone!

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 pretty nervous and I was afraid that I would gain weight from my "last meals". But it was okay. I was just talking a lot to people who had the surgery, I went to the support groups and I was spending a lot of time learning more and more about the procedure and about the post-op diet.

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

First few days were hard at night -- I had a difficult time with getting comfortable. Another thing -- I have kids at home, it was hard to remember not to pick them up. BUt it wasn't bad at all.

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

My hospital is only 20 minutes from my home.

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 has been only 4 weeks so far, but after the surgery I was on clear liquids for 4 days, then full liquids for 3 days and after that I was increasing my diet as per my doctors orders. I have been concentrating on proteins and I haven'h had a food that I couldn't eat yet.

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

On the 1-10 scale it was about 4-5 for the first days and now it is closer to 8.

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

I take one chewable multivitamin (Centrum) a day and one chewable calcium (calcium carbonate 600mg) twice 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 only had some nausea during the first night after the surgery, no other problems yet.

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

I am not really sure -- it wasn't bad at all!

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

I see my nutritionist as often as I like (once so far). I have support group through the surgeon's office once a month). If I need more support -- there are many groups at the hospital that I work at. Also talking to people via OH, yahoo groups and myspace helps a lot.

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

I have 4 scars that are about 1 inch long, I have 5 small scars that will be gone soon and the big one is about 3 in long. The scars are healed and they will be fading with time. I was actually expecting little more scarring.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

People who know that I had the surgery joke about me getting skinny. I never had problems before the surgery, so people are still as nice as they were before.