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

This was something I always thought about but had a close friend undergo the procedure and WOW!!! I knew this is what I wanted and needed to do for myself.

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

I have Kaiser and so far I have not had any problems. But I did alot of research. They say they you re approved if your over the BMI of 50 but I think there is more to it. So I got a sleep study and was diagnoised with Sleep Apnea and the doctor said no reason would not be approved. Obviously, it worked because I was approved within 4 weeks after all the forms were completed to recieved approval letter.

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

Dr. Tanaka is very matter of fact and a no non-sence attitude. He will answer all your questions and I felt he was a little impersonal but my surgery was a sucess.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I am definately doing this .. I want my life back and want to enjoy my life to the fullest without having to wonder if I will fit or if I will be tired. I would be able to just go.

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 have a long history of surgery o there is nothing I personally am afraid of. I look at my mother who is litterally dying from the weight and know this is the only choice I can make or I will end up following her footsteps and let the weight kill me slowly too.

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 have a wonderful husband who supports me and also a family that supports me. My husband tells me that he loves me the way I am but I tell him the problem is I don't love me the way I am. He is getting excited for me and is excited that we will be able to do more things and be able to get out of the house more.

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

Fortunately my immediate boss is also overweight so she was real understanding. It helps to know your rights and be with your employer for over 1yr so your entitled to FMLA which is 12 weeks medical leave which this type of procedure also qualifies you for State Disability while your off of work. I am only estimating 4-6 weeks of being off work. As I had my Gallbladder removed in Jan 2003 and via Lap and returned to work after 4 weeks of being off.

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

The hospital was very nice and San Diego is beautiful. I was admitted on 2/23 and was discharged 2/26. Honestly, I did not really need to bring anything because I was so sore and tired all I did was lat around. The hospital make you attend a 1hr excercise like program everyday which was very beneficial. The purpose is to have you move around to avoid DVT.

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

Fortunately praise the lord I had absolutely no complications. Everything went great.

In the weeks after you got your surgery date, how did you feel? How did you cope with any anxiety you might have felt?

Well I am 3 1/2 weeks post op and I have no regrets at all. I am experimenting with what I can and cannot eat. I fell great, it doesn't even feel like I just had major surgery. I feel so good I am going back to work after 3 1/2 weeks. I have no had any anxiety so far.

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

At first I was sore and the hardest thing to do is to walk. Meaning the motivation is sometimes hard to get but you must know it truely helps you and really is very important to do. The hardest thing I have experienced is cooking dinner for my family because I am still on the Liquid/Soft Foods stage and even though I am not hungry food is food and it still looks good. Just because you have this surgery doesn't mean the cravings go away because they do not. I think that has been the hardest thing to cope with. But I always say give me 6 months and I am going to Olive Garden (lol) sometimes just the smell of the food is good enough. I totally understand the temtations and how people fail but thats where your will to accomplish your goals come in. You must stay focused.

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

I live in Modesto CA and was flown to San Diego CA. My aftercare is in Sacramento at the Kaiser Facility.

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.

Well so far I am in the trail and error phase. The first two weeks all I could eat was broth,jello,popsciles and drink water. Three weeks out I am trying eggs, cottage cheese, cheese and seafood. Somedays I cannot eat anything only broth so js because eggs went down fine today tommorrow they may upset my stomach. That has been the hardest part so far. I am going back to work next week and so it will be scary because I don't know how food will go down. You get this horrible pain in your chest if it doesn't go down but you just have to wait it out.

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

The first two weeks I was sore and would make myself walk at least one block. Now I am able to walk 3-4 blocks and I feel fine.

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

I take Childrens Chewable Multi-vitamins, B-12, Iron and drink Pro-Complex Whey Protien drink once a day (8oz)

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 worst thing after surgery was the nausea and vomitting which last the first week and then got better. It is just a matter now of knowing how much to eat and knowing when I am fool. While in the hospital I got IV Meds for the nausea. Now that I am home all I can do is sit with a bucket and wait for the nausea to pass which takes sometimes up to an hour. I have not found any quick fixes.

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

That is a hard questions because when this is something you really want there is no "Worst Part". If there is a bad part it is telling yourself no you cannot have that. Everything is still very appealing and there are days you want things your not suppose to have, thats when you look at yourself and remember why you did this. I know that sounds so basic but it is true, why would you intentionally sabatoge yourself because the only person you hurt is yourself.

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

attend a monthly support group at Memorial and I feel this is very helpful because it is nice to know things your experiencing at normal. Before surgery the group was very helpful because it was a no holds barred type thing meaning there were people who had "Problems" and then there were people who did not. I think it is very important to know all the sides good and bad before going into the surgery because anything could happen. For me I enjoy speaking to others to help support them in there decisions to have the surgery but the actually surgery is a personal decision and I feel the more knowledge you have the more successful you will be.

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

I had laproscopic and my scars are small the only scar I don't like is where the Port was in my stomach. Looks like there is a hole but it is getting better.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Too early to tell

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Not yet because I have only lost 25lbs and so still to early to notice the difference. Some people who hear I had surgery were like oo my thats soo dangerous ... blah blah blah... the issue is this was a personal decision and I would do it again if I had to.