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

mother had it done. at first, I said, it is not for me... I am not overweight. Then did the BMI and was like - OMG I am fat.

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

both my husband's insurance and my insurance didn't cover it. I was not about to let an insurance company tell me I can't have this done. So, I went and got my own policy that does cover it. If you want this done bad enough. Don't let anything stand in your way.

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

meeting the surgeon was quick and didn't know much to ask other than can we do this today. She was nice and easy to talk with, but we didn't talk long, I had already made up my mind that I was going to do this.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

40 years old and still fat! Wanted to spend the next 40 years of my life thin!!!!!

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

wanted it to be a permant solution, didn't want to go back each month like the lapband.

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?

complications happen however, I believe that they happen when the patient is older, and has more medical problems. If your just fat, and have no medical problems, then you have less to worry about. Dying... that would suck... so I am not going to think about these things.

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 husband was like - No don't do that. Then when I explained why - he was supportative. Kids were all for it. Family is all for it. I have not told a lot of people about it because I don't want the unsupportive advise.

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

He didn't like it. He said just stop eating.... but then again, he is thin and doesn't understand.

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

I stayed for 3 days but wanted to leave after 2 days. I had a hard time sleeping and they forced liquid in me which I didn't want. I was not hungary or anything. important to bring would be nothing. They had everything I needed.

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

no complications at all

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 excited and ready to start my new life. I think that I wanted to eat everything in site as well. I coped with the anxiety by looking at the before and after pictures on this website and telling myself that would be me soon.

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

expect to be tired. and not want to eat.

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

I traveled an hour and 15 minutes to the hospital. I did it because that was the best and I wanted to go to Duke.

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.

sugar and bread stay away. soda is bad too. I really didn't want it and it was easy. I really have had no problem with this.

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

low very low for the first couple of weeks.

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

None - i feel bad that I have not taken anything.

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 at 6 months - now at 9 hair is growing back.

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

Loose skin.

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

I have kept in contact with one woman that had the surgery the same time as me. But we don't talk all the time. I really have not had much with a support group.

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

scar what scar... you would never know I had anything done.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

yes I have had some - but it takes a couple of weeks and I start loosing again.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

people tell me that I look good, they want to be around me and they treat me well. In stores, I get help and not looks like what am I doing here...