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

My friend was looking into it, she still never had it, but as I got more upset with my weight, I turned 30 and said, I am not any of the things I expected myself to be: THIN, EX-SMOKER, MARRIED, ETC. so I quit smoking and had RNY surgery.

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

I didnt get insurance approval. I was on Charity Care and the hospital paid for it for me.

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

I met with him alone (with my mother) and told him about my past history with my weight, asked if I would be a good candidate. Then we had a group meeting and I asked questions about mortality rate, etc then.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

My parents told me that they would pay for any additional costs.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

The lap band seemed like too much trouble, with fills, $$, slippage, and the fact that RNY patients lost more faster, that made up my mind.

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?

Never beeing able to eat again, dying, but I would rather die from the surgery than die from being fat. I wasnt going to let fat kill me; it had already taken so much from my life.

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 was EXTREMELY supportive. I had friends tell me I would have a big head and tiny body, that I would look anorexic like another friend not following the diet rules from RNY (an alcoholic now). That I wouldnt be fun anymore b/c I couldnt drink like I did before. Now everyone is VERY supportive.

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

I told my boss I was having the surgery and needed a week off. She said that another co-worker had had the surgery and if I needed to talk to anyone about it, feel free to ask her. I was out 1 week.

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

It was ok, the hospital wasnt as nice as the hospital in Athens, GA where I had out my gallbladder. I was there 1 night. I brought chap stick, which was the best thing I brought b/c I wasnt able to drink water, my lips were dry and cracked. Also, my own pajamas put me at ease.

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

The ladies in the XRAY room where you drink the barium solution made me drink out of a straw. I told them I wasnt suppose to, they said it didnt matter. Well, I did and they told me to drink more and faster, I got severe cramping in my arms up and down my side. I started screaming on the top of my lungs and fell to the floor and was hysterically crying. They didnt know what to do to help me. One nurse said she had read about this in her text book, but never saw it happen. I thought I was going to die.

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 thought what the hell had I done to myself. This wasnt worth it. I took lots of naps and read trashy magazines.

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

A resting time, time to get to know the new you. People tell you it will be different, but it doesnt sink in til you do it,

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

down the road

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 cant eat sugar or carbs. Sugar free foods, popscicles I live off of, and sweet potatoes, I have started to eat meat again after 20 years b/c I need so much protein and fish and tofu all day get old. I could tolerate protein drinks for 2 weeks, then started vomiting from them. Cant have milk products, then could. Each week it varries. This week bacon for breakfast, 1 crab leg for dinner and lunch is popscicles, mashed potatoes or cheese.

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

I got up and walked to the end of my street and back every day 3 times a day. This was for my circulation. Now I ride my bike for 30 mins everyday.

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

2 Flinstone vitamins, nexium, plavix (just stopped that), 2 calciums a day and a B-12 once a week, and 42g of protein drink once 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?

Nausea...I am 5 weeks out and still have it. It makes me sick to eat anything but popscicles. (sugar free) I just got nausea meds from the Dr yesterday. We will see how it goes.

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

nausea and not being able to enjoy a bloody mary on the boat at a party. Also not being able to eat cake at birthdays....but i will get over it.

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

I see the Dr every 6-8 weeks, go to a monthly support group at the hospital and meet with my nutrituionist as needed. This is very important. I need to feel like I have a team of people with me doing this or I would feel so alone.

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

I have 6 bright red scars. I knew what to expect b/c I had gallbladder surgery last yr and they are not even visible now. So I think they will go away.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

3 weeks out I didnt lose anything for a week, then started my period, had diahrrea for 12 hrs and lost 3 lbs.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

people keep telling me oh how beautiful you are going to be...like Im not already. But those are appearance obsessed people.