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

i asked my doctor what I could do to loose the weight. My first doctor told me about it, but was against it.

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

My second doctor, 3 years later, said i was a perfect candidate for it. I have Kaiser, so they approved me and after going to may classes and appointments i got my surgery. it took about 4 months.

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

I love my surgeon. she was very informative and answered any and all questions. I say look up info so you can ask questions and get answers to any of your concerns.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

Wanting to live a better life. I wanted to be active soooo bad, but the weight was preventing me from doing so.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I asked the surgeon. I wanted the sleeve or the RNY and in the end we decided RNY was right 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?

I wasnt scared at all. I think if you think positive, your recovery time is greatly improved.

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?

Everyone was extremly supportive. My husband worriedabout me going into surgery, he was scared for me, and my best friend was also scared for me, but they both backed me up all the way. My dad and mom were both kindas exited for me.

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

I did tell my co-workers, and my boss actually had RNY herself, so she was very informative. I took 3 weeks from work.

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

it was long! but I learned so much and was greatfull that I went

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

I liked the hospital I stayed at. the staff was nice and helpful. I was there for a day and a half. really, a change of clothes and chapstick was all i used. I packed a whole bunch of stuf and used none of it. go figure..

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

nope, no 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 did have anxiety, which I knew was normal, and because I knew that, it was easier to cope. My husband, my mom, my best friend all helped. they'd take turns coming over. i was tired but, oh, so happy!

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

I was very tired, I'd get dizzy, I could hardly eat, but I knew this was normal, and was happy that I was normal. I slept a lot, read magazines, slept some more, and walked, walked, walked, sip,sip, sip... thats all i did every day.

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

We went about an hour and a half from home. it didnt affect my after care, cause I love traveling, so it was a chance to go to San Fransisco since it was close by. I was worried thta the trip home would be painful, but I had very little pain, so I was fine.

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 hated the "cream-o-crap" stage. after that, i did well with the soft foods and the lean meats. the only thing off limits were straws, coffee, sodas, corn, celery and soft doughy breads.

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

i walked a lot, did a little zumba, but not much else. I took it easy.

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

I take 2 centrums, 6 calcium chews and b-12, all spaced two hours apart.

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 had very little nausea adn only at the hospital. I got the foamies about 2 months in, so i had to learn to chew slower and not over do it. i started loosing my hair at month 3, but you know? I;m okay with it all, cause its so worth it.

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

the long wait from the beggining of the process to the actual surgery date. it couldnt happen fast enough. and then the weight coming off slowly... but, it didnt get there overnight, its not gonna go away overnight either!

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

Obesity Help is awesome! i also have friends and family who are all supportive. I also got to 2 different support groups and I get an overload of info at these, which I love!

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

I have 6 small scars, that are hardly noticeable.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I have had one, at 3 weeks amd it lasted 2 weeks, not enough to worry about. Ive maybe had a week when I dont loose, but I never worry about this cause as far as Im concerned, as long as Im loosing inches and eating andmoving, im a success!

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Somewhat... Ive always been well liked, even at my heaviest I had many friends. I think some women are a bit threatend by the weight loss. an example: I went to sit with a lady from my church, who's always liked me and we've talked and laughed and i'd even say she's a friend. but I sat next to her at a party and she kinda huffed, stood up and moved to a different table. I thought it was rude, but I left it alone. Im a lover, not a fighter!