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

I was kinda of pushed into having gastric segmentation back in '86. This caused a bad result 23 yrs. later, where I had to end up having 40% of my stomache cut out, in order to receive the RNY. I would have done anything to be skinny! But having that band placed back then, well no one understood my reasoning for it, and I felt like I had to hide what I had done. Which was the undoing of the surgery, I had bad results eating like a normal person, then excusing myself to the restroom throwing up in secret. There wasn't the support then that is available to us today!

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

I didn't have any trouble both times. 1st time in '86, didn't have any trouble? Second time last month 9'09, they did it because my Dr. stated it was to repair damage from original surgery. I only had to take a stress test.

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

I cried, when I found out I wasn't able to have the lap band!

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I knew I could no longer fake it anymore. I needed help that I couldn't get from anyone else but myself.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I wasn't given a choice because of the old band being absorbed by my stomche, and the hole it had put into it.

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?

Enough that I wrote in my blog here, and sounded like a Drama Queen the night before my surgery!! LOL, I laughed at myself when I was able to get back online and re-read it!

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 all positive!

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

My boss wanted to do it, but she's not heavy enough by any means!!!

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

I was only in hospital overnight, and their bariatric wing was awesome! Rooms were huge, new wing - cream of the crop! I was told not to bring anything, everything I needed was provided to me - toothbrush, toothpaste even!

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

No so far!

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 like most everyone dealing with weight issues like ours (70-100+ lbs), are afraid of not being able to eat like we were use to. I had a problem during my pureed stage, where I had a dumping problem after eating potatoe soup. And this scared me, and I wondered what I had done to myself! I couldn't bare the thought that I would never be able to eat potatoes again - they were MY friends! What a joke, but these are the kinds of things going thru our minds as we go thru something life changing as this! How do we cope with binge eating (if that's what you do), when you've had a hard blow in life, if you can't eat to settle your nerves anymore, those are issues you need to work out before having this type of surgery.

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

WEAK....I was so weak. I didn't know how I was going to do any of the walking my Dr. was so adament about me doing - 30 min.??? Really - you've got to be kidding? I did 1 lap 2x's the day of surgery, the next day I was able to do 2 laps 2 x's. So you build up - right? NO! When I got home, I had to make myself walk, it was hard. And the sip, sip, sip they tell you to do? Well, you have to force yourself, and your almost in tears wondering how the heck and I ever going to get all the protein they are telling me I HAVE to have in? But it gets better each week, and each week your able to take in more and more.

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

About 28 miles across big H-town!!

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.

Nothing really, but I have had a couple of issues with high fat items, potatoes, but change that to eating only the red ones, instead - that helped temendously!

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

Kinda getting around the 1st few weeks. Week 4 I'm up to 1.5 miles.

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

Only Viactiv vitamins and calcium supplements.

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?

None so far, only small amount of dumping with potatoes.

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

Gas pains, and small burning sensation on lower left incision, when I would cough or sneeze.

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

So far there are five little marks, that are still red and somewhat tender, but I am only 4 going on 5 weeks out.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

My 1st week I didn't think I would lose anything - and really didn't! Week 2 I lost 18 lbs.!! Week 3, I lost another 6 lbs., week four I have hit the biggest plateau since this all started. I figured I wasn't eating or drinking enough, and exercising enough either. Which now I have bumped up everything, and have lost another 4 lbs.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes - it's stupid, but people that never spoke to me at work before, have been trying to figure it out I think. Even though I really haven't lost enough weight I think, for it to matter yet, but it's weirdly appearing that way!!