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

I first found out about bariatric surgery when my stepmother who was also battling being morbidly obese had gotten the surgery....when she lost over 2oolbs. in about a years time it left me in complete awe and ever since then i was determined to get the surgery myself.

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

I personally never even had to deal with my insurance company....my bariatric surgeon and his office did basically all the work and were very successful (they got my approval in 3 weeks).

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

My first visit with my surgeon was excellent he was very nice and answered all my questions he also explained everything i needed to know about the surgery pros and cons.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I never had to finally decide to have the surgery.....once i had found out about the surgery...i just knew i was getting it and it was the surgery for me.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Well actually my surgeon decided on what surgery was best for me ...and i agreed ..do to my size he recommended i have the open 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?

Wow my fear list and levels were going berserk !! especially the day of surgery i think my biggest fear was having a leak in my new stomach and just being in extreme pain....pain scares me .....but now that i'm 5 weeks post -op i w/ no complications and i would tell anyone thinking about getting the surgery the pain was bearable and totally worth it ...i would recommend just relaxing and having faith.

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?

I have a great family and husband that supported my decision 100% and anyway even if they didn't no one was stopping me from having this life saving surgery.

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

I was unemployed around the time i had gotten the surgery.

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

My four day hospital stay was great, i would recommend to bring some stuff from keeping you bored i personally could only take so much of the 10 channels the hospital offered....so my family brought me magazines....my ipod....and my laptop..which i was able to go on and come on obesity help.com and look up some info on what i would be expecting for the days to come.

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

So far thank the dear lord i have not had any complictions and i am 5 weeks post-op.

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

The first few weeks especially the first week your going to want to sleep sleep sleep atleast thats what i did ....then i would get up walk around as much as i could.....i tried to eat solid foods even tho i was only supposed to be on liquids ...i would try to eat a spoonful here and there of foods i wasn't supposed to and i would get extremely sick, feeling great discomfort and pain in my chest area then comletley vomiting the small spoonful of food i ate...it would make me upset thinking i would never be able to eat again and what have i done to myself ....but i just want to say stick to what your surgeon says you will be able to eat solids again and even if your not able to eat certian things i can guarentee you that that bowl of pasta or that slice of carrot cake or what ever it is that you can no longer eat isn't as good as losing weight !

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

I only traveled about 45 mins. away from home.

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

The first approx. 2 weeks coming home from surgery your activity level is very low i think it might be becuase you hardly eat and are only on liquids but for me personally about 2 weeks after i felt very energetic and great, honestly it didn't even feel like i had the surgery except when it was time to eat.

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

I take 2 chewable childrens vitamins daily (ordered by my surgeon) ....and i also take biotin vitamin once a day (which helps promote hair and nail growth) i am taking the biotin in hopes it will help me with the hair loss i might experience in the future as other wLs patient said they have experienced.

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?

This is kinda gross but i think the worst thing i have experienced is the lose stool.....its something i'm not used to so it kinda makes me feel weird.......about a month after surgery it went away tho even tho it comes back every once in awhile.

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

Well it's been hard but looking back it is totally worth it in my opinion. I am only 5 weeks post=op and i have lost approx. 50ibs i have NEVER lost this much weight in my life...so the loose stool, the pain, the unable to eat the foods i love but also the foods that made me the size i am/was it's nothing compared to feeling great and losing weight!

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

My scar is about six inches long and it isnt pretty but i look at it this way i rather have that scar anyday and lose the weight i need to than not ....i never showed my stomach in the past so the scar really doesn't mattter to me.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

I have already lost fifty ilbs. and i already see the difference in the guys wanting my number lol !!