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

My surgeon was awesome, he explained the procedure to me, and all of the complications. He was able to give me a timeline of what to expect each day after my surgery.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I lost a very close friend of mine in December - she was very active and involved in her community and with her family. She lived every moment of her life - I realized after her death that I was just "existing" and not really living my life.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I spoke with the nurses at the office, read and researched, and made the decision that the RNY would be best for me, as I need to lose over 200 pounds.

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 am terrified, but I realize that I will die from obesity complications if I dont do something about this. I have tried every diet and exercise program out there, and nothing has worked. This is my last hope at a new 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 mother, boyfriend and daughter are the only ones who know right now - they have all been super supportive.

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

The only thing my employer knew was that i was going out for surgery - not what kind of surgery. I did post to my face book page 3 days after surgery, and told everyone I only needed support, and not negative comments.

What was it like attending your first information seminar on weight loss surgery? Were you glad you attended? if so, why?

I went to the weight loss class, and learned all of the technical aspects of the surgery in the first class. The second class was much smaller, as half of the people who attended the first session didnt come back. I was amazed, and the RN said, many people realize they are just not ready to make this change, or they will make a change in another way. For me, this really isnt an option, but a necessity. I was glad I attended, as it gave me a lot of information, and I was told what I could expect to have to do prior to surgery.

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 average. I was there for 4 days, and saw over a dozen different doctors.

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

I was in the hospital from Wednesday thru Sunday. Wednesday night, the RN's tried getting me out of bed, and I explained to them I had vertigo, and if I stood up, I would pass out. They insisted on making me stand up, and of course, I passed out! That was really the only incident I had. My stay was extended due to the vertigo, as I was not able to walk for the first 2 days.

In the weeks after you got your surgery date, how did you feel? How did you cope with any anxiety you might have felt?

Week 2 was tough... I slept in the living room, and was not able to sleep in bed. I am almost to week 3, and will be trying to sleep in bed over the weekend. I didnt have much anxiety, but am struggling to get in my protein in food, and shakes and drink all of my liquids.

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

Tough time eating - some foods are good, others are not. If your pouch hurts after eating something, dont eat it again for a while! I had this problem with scrambled eggs and cheese - not friendly to my pouch at all!!

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

1 hour - approximately.

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.

First home from the hospital, I was on clear liquids and jello. At two weeks, I was able to try eggs, cheese, refried beans, pudding, and tofu. Three weeks out, I was able to add meat.

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

First month was very low... I was only able to walk, and arm strength training. After a month, I am cleared to work with the personal trainer.

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

Vit D - 2000 Biotin B12 - 1 mg Calcium - 1000 mg Multi - 1 per day

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

having vertigo - I was not able to do anything for myself.