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

Some friends of mine were having the surgery and got me interested in it.

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

It took 3 weeks to get approval from my insurance company. They only paid for 80% of the surgery. That is okay though. I wanted the surgery and was willing to pay for the rest out of my own pocket. My advice is to be patient and do what the insurance companies want you to do. It will be well worth it in the end.

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

Dr. Melkonian was great. He answered all of my questions and gave me all the information that I needed.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I had run out of ways to lose weight. I was ready for the change that would come from surgery.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I went to an informational meeting on the types of surgery and then decided with my husband which one that I wanted. I chose RNY.

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?

I had a moment of fear when they wheeled me into the surgery room that I might die. Other than that, I was more excited than worried. Don't worry about the surgery. If you are ready and have all the information you need and trust your doctor, then everything will be fine. You just need to make sure to stay informed about everything.

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?

Some were happy, some were shocked, and a lot aksed why? My real friends though were supportive.

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

My principal didn't seem to care. I was out of work for 2 weeks.

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

My hospital stay was good. The only problem was at night. I was hooked up to some machines that needed to be moved so I could use the restroom. It would take forever for someone to come and help me. That is horrible when you have to go the restroom quickly.

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

I had no complications from surgery. all I did after surgery was follow my doctors reccomendations on what to do. It is important to do what your own doctor says, not what your friends doctor teels them to do.

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 to have the surgery. i was only nervous when I went for the actual day of the surgery. I am a Christian and I did alot of praying.

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

You need to have someone to help you the first few days. My husband worked during the day and I was alone for 8 hours a day. Find someone to help you. I was very sore too. I had to sllep on the loveseat sideways for about 2 weeks after surgery.

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

The hospital is only 10 minutes away from where I live.

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.

You cannot have sweets and that has been rough for me. You also cannot have bread at first which was also rough. It was hard to eat liguids for 2 weeks before surgery and 2 weeks after. I was sick of water by then. the for 4 weeks after, I had semi-solid food like mashed potatoes. I am now sick of them too. I am now finally able to eat other foods and that has helped alot.

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

I walked everyday. At first, it was around the house, but now i am walking around the apartment complex. It really is important to walk. It helps you feels alot better and makes the weight come off faster!

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

I take 2 calcium pills (I take Viactive), 2 Fintstone complete vitamins, and 1 Vitamin B-12 everyday.

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?

The dumping is just as bad as they say it is. Don't eat junk food, it will come back to haunt you.

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

The worst part was getting used to new eating habits. That is still hard to this day.

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

I have the support of three of my frinds who have also had the surgery. It helps to talk to someone who has been through the same thing.

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

My scar look just like scar. i hope they get lighter in color than they are now. That will make them look less noticable.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I used to weigh myself everyday. I don't antmore. You lose weight in very weird ways and now I do it every few days.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Everyone I know is saying that I am melting away. Some who thought I was doing the wrong thing are now happy that I did it. I did it for me and no one else, so the comments don't bother me.