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

My best friend had it - intially it scared the heck out of me!

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

I had no issues getting approved for the surgery by my insurance. I simply went to see my general doctor and told him I wanted to learn more about it and he referred me.

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

My first meeting was pretty calm and relaxed. The program I went through had us go through an orientation seminar before you get to the point of meeting your surgeon so it was pretty easy to get through. At that stage my questions had all but been answered.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I knew it would be the only way I could do anything to better my life.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Well when I started in the program I wanted to have the lap band procedure. Then it was determined that I had a large hiatal hernia which made me not a good candidate for lap band. At that point it was gastric bypass or bust!

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?

You know I didn't really have the fear that I would die. I didn't even really have any fears of having complications - I should have - but I didn't.

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 parents weren't thrilled - they have seen so many people have the surgery and fail and they didn't want that for me. As for my friends I didn't tell anyone I was doing it besides my family. I really quite frankly didn't want to hear anything they had to say in efforts to talk me out of it or to be negative. Now everyone is very supportive. My parents I think are still holding their breathe in fear that I will regain the weight but I'm doing the same thing!

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

My bosses were great about it. I simply told them that it was a choice I had to make for my own health. I however, didn't stay gone from work for very long! My surgery was on Monday - I went home on Tuesday - Wednesday I logged into my work system from home and by the next Monday I was back at work full time.

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

My stay in the hospital was HELL!!! The nurses ignored the order for me to have something to curb my nausea so I threw up almost all night long. I couldn't take the pain meds because it made the need to vomit all the worse so I just had to gut it out. It was horrible. I was there over night and let me tell you I couldn't get out of there fast enough!

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

I have not had any; yet.

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 felt very excited. A little anxiousness crept up but for the most part I was just excited.

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

Expect to be tired and sore. Expect to need to expel gas from both ends of the spectrum. Expect to want to sleep.

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

I traveled two hours - It did not affect my after care but the ride home the day after surgery without any pain meds on board was gruesome!

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 won't be much help on this question - I followed what my doctor told me without fail or question - If they told me not to have it I didn't have it. Its the same basic diet they give all post ops.

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

All activies wore me out very quickly. It was three or four months before just getting up and going to work wouldn't wear me out to the point of needing a nap. And that doesn't include getting through the work day! Now I am 6 months post op and my activity level is back to where it was before I had surgery.

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

I take a multi vitamin, calcium citrate, iron and B12 under the tongue.

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 only side effect that I really have had is the hair loss. It stopped about the 6 month mark. I really lost a lot of hair though! I haven't dumped, haven't suffered nausea or anything else.

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

The night after the surgery in the hospital! Ever since then its been a cake walk.

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

I haven't gotten involved in any support groups. It hasn't been that important to me.

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

My scars are exactly what I expected - they are almost faded and no harder to look at than anything else.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I plateaued for 3 weeks 3 months post op. It didn't matter what I did I just wasn't losing weight on the scale - however, I was readjusting everything I guess you could say because my clothes kept getting bigger on me.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Oh my goodness yes!!! It is amazing how differently people, especially men, treat me. People who didn't pay any attention to me previously can't get over themselves now.