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

I have researched bariatric surgery since the mid 1990s. I knew it was my only option even then.

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

BCBS of MA is wonderful. I had not one single problem in this process.

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

My first visit was awesome. My surgeon answered all questions and explained everything so well.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

My decision was made more than 10 years ago. It was a matter of having the insurance to cover it.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Gastric Bypass and gallbladder removal.

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?

The fears are NORMAL. I was very scared to go under the knife for 3 hours.

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 father was skeptical. He thought I had not tried hard enough to control portions. He wanted me to diet the way he did, which of course I had tried a gazillion times. He eventually was supportive. I have other family members and my children all behind me 100%!

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

My employer was VERY supportive. I work for a large hospital so they knew how important it was for me to get healthy.

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

I was glad to attend. They gave me a checklist of all appointments necessary...and when to make them. Everything was laid out step by step.

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

My hospital stay was ok. I went in on day of surgery (Wed) - surgery was at 2pm...I went home Fri evening at 8pm.

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

No complications whatsoever

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 nervous but the excitement overshadowed that feeling.

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

14 miles...not fat at all.

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 am only 3 months post op. The only things I have a hard time with are chicken (if too dry) and bread.

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

I felt pretty good a week after surgery. I started exercising 4 weeks post op.

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

B12, Multi-vitamin, Vitamin D, Calcium Citrate, Vitamin C, Biotin, Silica, Vitamin E.

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?

Right now I am experiencing some hair loss...that is troublesome. I am taking silica and biotin to try and regrow what I lose.

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

Pain meds making me nauseous after surgery.

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

I have a support group through North Shore Medical Center. They have an awesome heart and wellness program post-op (I just graduated yesterday) and monthly support group meetings. This is very important for me as I need that support to help ensure I am on the correct path.

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

I have 5 scars...right now they are dark but will fade over time. These do not bother me and are not as bad as I expected.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

As I weigh in weekly I notice that 2 weeks out of each month my weight loss is about 1-2 lbs per week. The other 2 weeks in the month my weight loss is 3-5 lbs per week. I truly think this is in correlation to my menstrual cycle.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

A little. Some friends at work call me "skinny". Some people at work kind of look at me like I took the easy way out. This will become interesting as I lose more weight.