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

Someone else I knew had an RNY about a year ago and shared all her info with me and took me to the support group meetings.

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

My stay in the hospital was like a blur, I really don't remember too much except that I needed help when I started having bowel movements to clean up afterwards, that was extremely embarassing. I was in the hospital for 4 days. Once the nasal tube got removed on the 2nd day, I started to feel better and didn't want the pain meds anymore, just some Tylenol for a backache. Nothing except my toothbrush, hairbrush, slippers and moist towels to help clean my bottom after going to the bathroom. I used the hospital gowns the whole time and wore the same clothes home that I came to the hospital in.

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

I had severe nauseua for about a month after the surgery. I could not keep anything down and that was getting me very depressed, I was sorry I had the surgery and worried that I was going to be like that forever. I went to my regular doctor and he found out that I was having an allergic reaction to the anti-nauseua meds I was given after the surgery.

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 just slept alot and really didn't do much of anything. I didn't have the energy to do a thing. I never got dressed always stayed in my nightgowns and slippers. That was very comfortable and it helped me to relax and take it easy.

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

To not do anything, I didn't even cook for my family, they fended for themselves for the first 3 weeks. I just couldn't do it. I was too sick and weak.

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

I had to travel 2 hours away for the surgery. So any problems I had after the surgery I tried to deal with by telephone. Finally after 3 weeks I called my regular doctor and went to him. He spotted the problem immediately and I finally started feeling better. It actually felt good to get out for a couple of hours, even though it wiped me out physically.

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.

The only foods I could handle after the surgery were liquid jello, peanut butter and a half an egg. Anything else seemed to make me sick, but then again it was really the meds I was taking. After a month I could eat almost a whole egg for breakfast, a half of a half of sandwich for lunch and some meat/chicken or fish for dinner with maybe a little bit of noodles or potatoes. By the 3rd month I could eat a whole egg or a one egg cheese omelet and the other stuff listed above. I did notice that I had to eat every 2 hours now. So pb crackers were great. By the 4/5th month I could eat a little more and have a snack or dessert if I wanted to try some. I was then and still am drinking only water, no more soda's. I don't want them and don't need them. I can't believe how much I enjoy water, I never did before.

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

There was no activity level the days and weeks after the surgery, it was probably a minus 5. By week 8 I finally started to get energy back and started to feel much better.

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

I take 2 childrens gummy bear vitamins a day plus 2 calcium citrate pills.

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 nauseau was the worse for me since I had it so long (6 weeks after the surgery), it made me depressed and I hated that I did the surgery. I was so worried that it wouldn't stop. I didn't cope with it, I just accepted it and slept all the time.

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

The worst part was the diaherra that just seemed to come on urgently, I had no control of it for the first 2 months. It happened only in the mornings for about 1 hour, but when I had to go I had to go, I could not wait.

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

The greatest support was meeting others that had this surgery. I became good friends with 2 others that had the surgery 2 weeks before me and the other person 2 weeks after me. We all meet on these boards, saw we were in the same area and have become great friends. We called each other a lot the first couple of weeks after each other's surgery and we still keep in touch by email and meet for lunch once in awhile. It is great to have the support of others that are going thru this the same time you are. It helps to compare notes, and makes you feel better if they are experiencing some of the same things you are, and give you advice first hand.

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

Yes, I expected a scar down the middle of my stomach, one surprise is that it is fading and not as bad as I thought it would be. I do use a skin cream on it daily and I believe it has helped.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Since I have hit my year anniversary it seems that I am now on a plateau or I have reached my losing power. I have not lost a pound in the past 3 weeks. But that is okay, because I feel great at this weight and if this is it that is fine. In the beginning I was averaging 20lbs a month and then it slowed down to about half that at 6 months and stayed around 8-10lbs. until recently.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes, people especially men treat me a lot differently. Even most of the guys I work with do. Most are more willing to help me or even flirt with me. I notice men volunteering to help me in the stores carrying heavy stuff even, it is so strange to see this difference. The women all tell me how great I look and want to know my secret. It's funny but some of them will now tell me how worried they were about me.