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

I saw an ad for stomach stapling when I was a teenager and my parents refused to even consider it. Almost 20 years later I saw Carnie Wilson and decided - to hell with what others think.

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

Dr. Herron's office took care of everything.

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

He was very nice, but I felt like he was rushing me to sign. In hindsight, I would have waited until I found a Dr. I was comfortable with.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I decided that enough was enough. I got tired of all the LOOKS, and "advice" about losing weight. Before I snapped and told them all to go to hell, I thought I'd listen to what they were saying and make my own decision.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I read that the RNY is the most common and safest. Also I heard that it was the only one approved by the AMA.

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?

There is risk in EVERYTHING. I was terrified, and wrote letters to my husband and son. I was determined though. I figured if I was going to die, I was going to die trying to save my life.

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?

My husband was WONDERFUL. My mother was excited that I would finally look "normal" and that she would have a shopping buddy. My father is concerned about the risks. My sister had read about it and was supportive. Several of my friends on the other hand, have reacted negatively to the fact that I've lost a considerable amount of weight. In fact, a friendship of almost 20 years recently ended because this "friend" felt threatened by it. It's become rather tring having to constantly remind people that I'm still the same person I was before, I only LOOK different...

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

My supervisor denied my leave, but reconsidered once I raised holy hell. They then fired me while I was out - Whatever. They got stuck paying for the surgery anyway. It took about a month for me to start feeling like myself again.

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

I was in the hospital 4 days. The staff was okay, but JUST okay. I didn't bring anything at all. I didn't want to mess up my pretty nightgowns, and underwear hurt my incision. I was too exhausted to read or even talk to anybody.

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

None at all. Thank God.

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 excited, terrified, eager, and worried all at once. I began to freak out because I had no idea what to do with myself without having my best friend (food) to hang around with. I ate like there was no tomorrow. I made an entire cake and ate it in like, a day. I had to have easily put on ten pounds from when the date was scheduled to the day of surgery.

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

I have the best husband in the world. People should definitely take it easy and not rush getting back into the swing of things.

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

Not far, about 30 minutes

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.

There's not enough room here to go into all of that.

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

I got tired REALLY easily for the first month or two.

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

Every day I take a One a Day Maximum tablet as well as 2 B12 tablets and an iron pill.

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?

Vomiting was hard for the first two months. Now, I get naseous, but rarely vomit any more

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

The head hunger

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

I switched doctors and am very happy with the one I have. He has a suppport group that meets once a week but I don't go as often because it's REALLY crowded and uncomfortable. The discussion is good though.

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

I have 4 1 inch scars on my stomach. No one would know I had surgery at all. I thought it would be MUCH worse.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I go through plateau hell at least once a month. I only lose for about two weeks out of the month and then stay put for like three weeks. It drives me insane! Then just when I'm ready to give in to the "What the fuck?" mentality, I drop like 10 pounds. I think the fates just like messing with my head.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes and no. I get a lot of compliments, which make me feel very weird,almost like I'm naked or something. After getting those pity looks for so long, it's very difficult to get looks (let alone comments) of approval. I didn't expect that.