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

My Pediatrician/Endrocronologist (sp???) first told me about it. I knew it was my last resort, after all the effort I had put into losing weight without any lasting results.

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

I live in Canada, and pretty much anyone with the excess weight of 100 pounds or who had co-morbidities can have it done and it's paid 100%. I had 3 doctors write letters and I was approved with only the first letter received by Medicare. I found out approx. within 5 days of their receiving the letter.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I didn't really have a choice. I'm only 19 and weighed pre-operatively 367lbs. I'm still pretty much healthy and I wanted to take care of it now, so that I could LIVE the rest of my life happily ever after.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

It was the only procedure offered by my doctor and I found it to be the least invasive. And I didn't want RNY because of "dumping". And also I figured that because WLS is strictly a tool, that if I couldn't make it with a less invasive choice then I wouldn't make it with RNY. Also I've found that VBG is totally easy to live with and the only difference post-operatively is that I eat smaller quantities, I don't have any complications nor have I ever.

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?

Everything went way more smoothly than I could have ever imagined. I would just suggest to anyone to research and join yahoo support groups for weight loss surgery which has really helped me and prepared me for what to expect, because as we all know the unknown is the scariest.

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 are so great and supportive, I couldn't be more blessed.

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

I'm a student in Nursing, so I havn't been working. But my fellow students and instructors were great and wanted to research my WLS so they could understand what would be happening to me. And they are in awe of the difference it has made in my life.

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

My stay was good and I'd suggest you bring a fan especially if you have the WLS in the summer like me (Aug. 8th, 2001). My dear father fanned me while my mom and Nanny went to buy me a fan.

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 had about 1000 "last suppers". Also I felt really scared the night before surgery, not because of the surgery but because I was scared that I'd never be able to eat the food that I love so much. And the only thing I can suggest is that you talk to those who are post-op and hear that you can still eat everything you ate before and that you'll find that your tastes even change and you want to eat more healthily.

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

I was only confined to home for a few days after that I was driving and going out with friends and family.

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

I had to travel five hours, So I stayed for an extra day because I wanted to make sure that I was ready.

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'm on full liquids at 3 weeks post-op. And I'm finding it way more easy than I could of ever hoped for. I'm never hungry. (Jan 18th, 2002) Now at 5 months post-op there is not a single food that I cannot eat.

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

I'm now three weeks post-op and my surgery is better than ever. (Jan 18th, 2002) Now I feel the most energetic I've ever felt in my life.

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

I take a sugar free children's chewable vitamin twice daily and also 500m g of calcium with vitamin D.

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?

The only thing that was annoying was that I had to sleep on my back (obviously) and this made me feel restless and gave me some back pain. Now at 3 weeks out I can lay on my side and sometimes on my stomach.

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

Nothing, really sticks out in my mind. But I guess it would be nerves before going into the O.R.. The whole procedure was way more easy than I ever thought it would be. Ans also the feeling the night before when I ate the last thing I was able to before surgery. But, now I realize that fear wasn't necessary.

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

It's from my breast bone to the top of my navel. It's a line a little thicker than a pencil line. It's not that bad.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

None so far. I'm only out 3 weeks. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. (Jan 18th,2002) Over Christams I gained a pound but I was eating really bad... Chocolate and butter cookies. But it took no time and not much effort to get back on track.