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

I found out about bariatric surgery when Carnie Wilson had it done. I watched her surgery online and it gave me hope that I could be set free from the prison of my body. I was really scared but I had hope that it could help me.

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

My insurance approval was very easy. Maria, in Dr. Liem's office, handled everything. Wating was the worst.

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

Dr. Liem was incredible. He took all of the time that I needed to completely understand the surgery. He showed me lots of pictures of former patients and the success that they had had with the open RNY. He gave me hope.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I went to a support group meeting, at JFK Hospital, in Lantana, Florida. I met alot of Dr. Liem's former patients and got all of my questions answered and then some. It was the deciding factor for me. I met one of his patients that has lost over 400 pounds. It was to much for me to think that I could lose my 300+ pounds.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Dr. Liem only does the open RNY. He has done hundreds of them and has had zero leaks. That was enough for me.

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?

My biggest fear of having the surgery was of dying and or never being able to eat again. I cried all the way to the operating room. I weighed 469 pounds and I knew this was the only chance I had of reclaiming my life. I am one year post op and I can eat small amounts of absolutely anything I want. I would tell others considering this surgery that no fear that I had can compare to what it feels like to lose 290 pounds and to have my life back. I would do it again in a heartbeat.

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?

Most of my friends were very supportive of me having the surgery. My health had declined in such a way that they were very scared for me. Now my friends are in awe at the changes in me. I have my life back, new and improved.

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

I was off of work for 2 weeks. I am a Kindergarten teacher and I was very tired for a few weeks but it was okay. I have worked with the same people for over 20 years. They helped me in anyway that they could. They took up the slack and did all of the things that I was unable to do.

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

I was in the hospital for 7 days because I weighed 469 pounds on the day of surgery and they not only did the open RNY but they fixed 2 hernias, removed my gallbladder and biopsied my liver. I also didn't get out of bed for a few days. The most important thing that I used in the hospital was chapstick. My lips got so dry. I also used a little clip on fan that I clipped onto the side of my bed. I was so hot natured.

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

I had no complications from surgery.

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 anxious because I just knew that I was going to be the one person that this didn't work for. I felt like I had to be eating to much and gaining weight. My doctor didn't have a scale that would weigh me so I had to wait 7 weeks to find out how much I had lost.

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

I was very tired for a couple of months and it took me awhile to get used to my new tummy and to overcome the desire to clean my plate. Having leftovers is okay. It was overwhelming trying to get in all of the water, food and vitiamin supplements.

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

The hospital where I had surgery is 4 minutes from my house.

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.

The first two weeks after surgery I ate mashed potatoes, oatmeal, grits, cream cheese and crackers, jello and lots of sugar free popsicles. At two weeks I added chicken, spaghetti and all soft foods. At 4 weeks post op I could eat small amounts of absolutely anything. I had swallowed food whole without chewing for so long that I had to learn to chew and now I really enjoy food. Because I can only eat such a small amount I want everything that I eat to be good quality food. I want it to taste wonderful. I love trying new foods now. I think it is because I am chewing and taking the time to taste and enjoy food. I have a whole new relationship with food. I now love going out to eat.

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

For the first two weeks I didn't do much more than walk from the bed to the bathroom and back to the couch. I was very weak and at almost 500 pounds there is only so much that others can do for you. I went back to work at 2 weeks post op and I started pushing myself a little more every day. I didn't start doing any organized exercise but I was moving around more. I was very inactive before the surgery. By 3 months post op I was losing a significant amount of weight and my energy level increased in leaps and bounds. By 6 months post op I had the energy of a teenager. It is incredible

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

I take bugs bunny chewables - 2 a day, chewable calcium -2 a day and I get a b-12 shot once a month. I always drink a hot choc. protein drink called cocoa suprement drink mix. I get about 60 extra grams of protein 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?

I have been very fortunate that I didn't have many side effects. I lost some hair but I started using Nioxin hair care products and it made a huge difference.

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

Waiting was the worst for me. It seemed like it took two lifetimes from the time I decided I wanted to have the surgery until surgery day.

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

I go to all of the support groups at JFK Medical Center in Lantana, Florida. I have made some very good friends and we help and encourage each other. It has been very important to me. It has answered all of my questions and calmed all of my fears.

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

My scar has healed nicely. I am so fair skinned that I actually expected it to look much worse. No scar can compare to what it feels like to be 7 pounds from goal.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I have been very fortunate in that I have never experienced a plateau. I found out very early on that water is the key for me. The more I drink the more I lose.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

My close and dear friends treat me the same but strangers definitely treat me different. Sometimes it hurts my feelings because I am the same person at 142 that I was at 469. I know that some of the difference has to be me too. I am more confident and making eye contact and talking to people that I would have never approached before.