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

I saw a late night commercial on television. I was always trying something new.

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

It was hell, I tried for seven years to be approved on Medi-Cal. I finally started writing to Dr Fobi.

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

I was scared I still was not going to get the surgery. And it was cancelled about four times after the first visit, seeing a surgeon doesn't mean your getting surgery. If you want to get a lot out of it, do your home work and know what to ask. Go to Support meeting for weight loss surgery!!!

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

It was that or die.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I liked Dr Fobi's prociedure because of the banding. I knew I needed help with my hunger and the band helps me feel full longer.

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 would have rather died then live another day in the body I was caring around. I told my Dr I was the walking dead. I had a wheel chair for going out, a shower chair in the shower, and a potty chair next to my bed because I couldn't make it to the bathroom at night.

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?

They were worried but at that point everyone was sick and tired of taking care of me. My daughter is now 18 and had a lot of cotrol over the house. She did not handle it well, but I love sharing clothes with her now.

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

I could not work because of my obesity. I also have Grand Maul siezure and can not work now. But I do my art and help out at the local collage.

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

I was really gratful to be in the Fobi wing at Tri-Cities Hospital. I was there five days and my first two days I was in ICU with a hose for breathing, I was glad I had told a friend I usually had hot feet because when I couldn't talk for myself she had them put a fan on my feet.

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

I think I did fine, I was prepared for a lot because I went to support group meetings for two years before 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 seemed to be twice as hungry and my mind set was on "This is my last good meal" That is just not true, now I injoy every bite I get and it doesn't matter what size it is.

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

You can know everything and still not be prepared!! I was tired a lot. After leaving the hospital I realized I couldn't get up and down off my bed so I slept in my recliner but had to holler to have someone help me out of that too. It lasted about a week and then I broke it!!

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

It's about 60 miles to Dr Fobi's office and Hospital. I ended up having a seroma and had to go back every week for months afterwards. At first it didn't seem so far but now I HATE going there!!

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 had asked a lot of people what they ate afterwards and I had a list. I stuck to my list and didn't really try anything else at first. The first six weeks are supposed to be liquids and puree foods. I loved my warm mashed potatoes. Soup was and still is one of my favorite foods now. My worst food is chicken, I still after three years have to be careful. KFC used to be my FAVORITE!! I have tried it more then once and less then five times and I puke my guts out everytime!! THANK GOODNESS!! Old habits are hard to quit, even ones that hurt you!

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

At first I was afraid I would bust the stitches, my stomach felt really tight! I was very tired and darn grouchy too. I could hardly walk so I stood in the kistchen and did leg lifts. One minute at a time, that was how long it took to heat up soup.

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

I think this is a very important part to helping you get better and feeling better too. I take my supplements daily (Fobi has a vitamin pack through Bellflower pharmacy) They desolve in your stomach in ten minutes so you will be able to obsorb them.

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 worst part for me was the seroma and having to go back every week for months after surgery. A lot of fatty fluid leaked from my incision and it would not heal while that was happening. But the Doctor explained it was the fat burning off of me so fast it didn't have any other way of getting out, so for some weird reason I didn't mind it too much, just the trip to the office!

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

WAITING FOR SEVEN YEARS TO BE APPROVED!!

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

Dr Fobi provides support groups all over the united states. I personally think it is very important to attented them before AND afterwards.

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

Not bad I like my scar I feel I earned it. It's less then I expected. I recently have hernia repair and a panneculectomy and I put a piece of my art (tattoo) over the scar now.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I did not weigh myself during the loss except at the Drs. I felt I was going to lose what ever and I needed to hear my body not look at numbers so I never knew when I plateaud. I still don't have scales in my home. I hear too many bad stories about getting obsessed with weighing.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

ALL THE TIME!!