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

I was still pretty young, so I honestly don't remember my initial impressions. If anything, I thought it was awesome some people went through it, but it was still pretty dangerous back then.

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

Both times I got approved pretty easily. However I chickened out after the first meeting with the first surgeon I was going to go through. Best advice I can give is call your insurance, each one will have different per-requirements. My plan the second time around didn't require a 6 month medical diet, made getting my approval much faster.

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

The surgeon I finally decided on made anyone interested go to a group seminar. Once I finally did that, it was actually really useful, since no matter how many questions you have cooked up, someone else may have one yo didn't think of. Once I finally met one-on-one with him I felt much more confident.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I couldn't take the pain in my hips, my family and friends always wondering if I was going to die of a heart-attack, or the ridicule of people. I just plain had enough. I didn't like not being able to go to amusement parks, or even just plain not fit into seatbelts. Heck, honestly I was getting to the point I wondered how much longer I could fit behind the wheel of a car.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Not many surgeons around here do much of anything else but RNY or lap-bands and I wanted to be pretty close to my home. The lap-band simply wasn't all that great of an outcome usually with as much weight as I had to lose. My surgeon also agreed with my choice, but made sure I understood the risks and benefits of both types before I could choose.

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?

Probably not near as scared as I should've been. My biggest fear honestly was would it come undone somehow, or would I fail it. If I had to tell anyone feeling those fears, I would say it's possible. I'm about a year and a half out now, and I have had a month or two where I regained about 4 to 5 pounds. With a little diligence though you can take it back off. You will have bad months and good months.

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 family was pretty supportive, except my husband. Sure they did the same thing nearer the surgery that most do, with everyone stating they knew so and so that couldn't eat and died. However I got lucky they also knew people personally that were pretty far out and doing just fine. My husband came around after the surgery, once I proved to him I think that I wasn't going to completely change personality or leave him.

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

Actually they were really happy. Assuming everything went well it could actually only benefit them, as they'd have a healthier, more active employee. I was out for about 1 and 1/2 weeks. I was supposed to be out 2, but things came up where that wasn't possible. Thank goodness my job is mostly a desk job. I admit taking myself of painkillers before leaving the hospital and walking around a lot even in the hospital made it more possible since it didn't hinder the healing process.

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

I really liked the seminar. After the talk about pros or cons, and the slideshows and even the pop-quiz, they gave us a chance to ask questions. Someone in my group even had a failed stapling procedure years before and it gave me a chance to see what was possible to be done.

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

The hospital stay. Counting the day of my surgery I was in for 3 days. I had my surgery first thing in the morning. I remember the first day the worst 2 things were having the worst dry mouth and throat possible and the nausea. The ice chips helped a little, but the gastric tube just made it so bad. Once that was out it was painful, but manageable. What to bring, other then clothes not a whole lot, the first day you'll be wanting to mostly sleep. If your a woman, I swear the best thing I was told to bring was feminine products.

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

Sorry, I didn't have any complications.

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 mainly concentrated on trying to get through a lot of actions, like trying to stay active. The first day out of the hospital I was having to scrub out a microwave that got burnt pureed chicken in it. I concentrated on getting up and down our stairs and getting all the protein shakes in. The worst anxiety I had time to feel is, will I ever be able to eat my favorite foods again. After being around some good tasting protein shakes and interesting pureed foods I realized you can learn to like new foods.

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

You will feel frustrated that you can't seem to get the energy right away and that the weight loss won't be physically apparent right away to you. The itching will also be insane. Be prepared that the people around you may have a complete personality change for the first few weeks, many are just stressed out. Your tastes buds will also change. Some many stay for good, some not so much.

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

Only about 35 miles. I have to take about a half-day off work to follow-up, but the distance made it much easier coming home from the hospital. I can't imagine trying to either fly or ride much further then that the first trip home from the hospital. Bring a pillow to hold against your gut for that trip.

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.

My surgeon moved us to purees 2 days after the surgery. That was a bit of a pain. I couldn't tolerate the more sold textures yet. Then 2 weeks after that it was on to soft foods for 6 weeks. The worst problem I remember is I got sick on chicken pretty early out and couldn't stomach the idea of the smell of chicken for months out. Although carbs are allowed in my program, they recommend limiting them. You'll find what works for you, since it changes. I still find I can tolerate some foods one week and the next I can't, esp. sugar. It sometimes still throws me into a reaction where it actually tanks me pretty badly.

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

I kept myself walking a lot even in the hospital. I wasn't allowed to hit the gym for 2 months, but in reality it took me closer to 4 months before joining. Walking was amazing in itself. I was so impressed the first time I could do 4 blocks so fast and without the horrible hip pain and that was only 2 weeks out. I probably could have done better but I kept forgetting to stay hydrated enough and it wore me out.

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

I change the multivitamin sometimes, but mainly Centrum Silver and Citrate Calcium Petites. The full size Calcium Citrate pills are too big and tend to get stuck. Once in a while after blood work I get stuck having to take iron as well, but I had that before surgery as well.

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 don't really dump per say and didn't really have the hair loss. The worst things that have happened and still happen is food occasionally getting stuck and the occasional bad reaction to hidden sugar. I tend to get very dizzy, disoriented and tired in a row. I tend to only take well known to be ok foods with me if I have to do any driving or working.

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

Not knowing if or when I'll have a bad reaction to sugar. If it's a week I find is ok, I tend to want more and that's just no good. If it's a week where I can't tolerate it, I swear it's hidden in a take-out meal during social lunch day at work.

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

I would have to drive an hour each way every first Wednesday of the month. I honestly don't do this, and find Obesity Help a good place to start. I also have a co-worker who is further out then me and that helps me a lot.

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

I have several small scars. Actually I expected much worse. They would probably actually look better if I hadn't tried to scratch out the dissolving internal stitches that didn't resolve that were coming out of my skin.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

It happens. I won't say they are fun, esp. in the first year. You are constantly wondering if you're done losing. I am coming out of one right now though and I'm at the 1 and 1/2 year mark. I just kind of started feeling comfortable with who I am now, and while I would love to lose a little more, I'm just happy not regaining.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Biggest difference is I can't fly under the radar as much as I used to. I used to love the non-attention as a introvert, but people around me actually now seem to pull me into the action more.