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

For my RNY I had blue cross and blue shield and i was approved immediately.......I am seeing a rny revision and have a ton of pretesting and r equired things to do...I now have Medicare United Healthcare Complete.

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

Please ask questions...I was too shy and then left with all these additional questions and had to call the office to ask things I should have known by then.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

Depression and suicical thoughts....not wanting to live not one more day at over 300, now I feel the same at 240 pounds...I want this revision very badly.....

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Lots of research and patient advice.

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?

When it is my time to go, it is my time to go.

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?

I hardly had any support and I currently do not have much now seeing a revision 13 yrs later.

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

First semianr is very educational and I was glad I attended because knowledge and understanding is power with power I can make my dreams come true.

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

My stay at the hospital was fine. I had excellent care. I was in there 3 days and I think the most important thing to take with you is maybe some family pics and also a nice warm robe to feel safe and comfortable and cuddly.

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

In 13 years I may have told a dozen people this so that is a miracle for me but I flat lined on the operating table.....and i didn't see any tunnel or light i don't remember one thing but my surgeon, Dr. Anez said I gave them all a good scare. I am glad I made it out.....

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 broken up over losing my best friend....food. I had to deal with all my issues without having the option of abusing food....it was extremely tough time for me.....

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

Taking it easy is your very best bet.......u overdo it and u will feel like crap........please let your body heal up before u go do anything too strenerous.

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

I traveled 15 minutes from home.

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 hardly ate anything at all....the shakes i tried made me sick and i ate baby food and just ate and drank very little following my docs orders 100 percent.

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

light activity.

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

Bariatric vitamins...gnc women ultra mega vitamins and even pre natal at times...b12 sublingual.....pills and shots.....

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?

All side effects were troubling at times but u just work through it......the worse is the dumping ....it is horrible.....

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

Nothing really except not knowing u can gain alot of weight back....here i am 13 years later and 80 pounds more then at near goal weight.

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

You should always try to go to your local weight loss surgeons support groups for the surgery u had......support is very very important.

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

My scar is okay....when I go to hospital alot of people are shocked to see it but all and all I love it...it is my battle wound.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I hit a plateau for a few months and then went to Tujiauna Mexico and drank their water from a mango fruit drink and well was sick as a dog for a few days. i went from 190 to like 174 in a week or two....lol....I mean technically it isn't funny but I mean the way I lost it was bad but I am thankful for the new jumpstart.....

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes...and i was a bit mixed in emotions about this......I was mad because why could they not have been nice to me at 324 pounds? I was mad that they ignored me gace funny looks or even made remarks those dumb bastards. I had them making cow and pig noises etc....people are very cruel.............