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

I have heard through out the years about stomach stapeling and it was a bad thing and people died and if they didnt die then they always regained their weight back so i wasent to thrilled of the idea, as I got older i relized all the people who said things like that wished they could have the surgery or they where thin and would discourage anyone from being as small as them. A friend of mine I work with had it and she had great results and from that point on there was no stopping me.

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

I was real scared that I wouldent be approved but I started looking into everything in November and went through all the test and found out in early March that i had been approved. The only advice I have is dont give up.

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

The only time i met my surgeon was at a meeting for people who were interested in getting the surgery.I still have not seen my surgeon and when i called to find out when Im to see him again the girl at his office said he really did not need to see me unless i feel like it would make me more comfortable, Im not sure how I feel about that.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

270pds and not being able to breath or tie my shoes or anything that humans are suppose to do.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

The only surgery my surgeon will do is open- I wish I could have lap.

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 sooo many fears- the day i found out that I was approved I did not sleep for four nights I slept 2-3 hrs a night I was so torn up about dying or having complications and not seeing my son grow up. Im right with my lord but Im not ready to be with him yet.Everytime I think about the surgery my heart skips a beat.There is nothing I could tell anybody to calm them I still am very nervious.

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 is very supportive-he is going to have it after I heal up. My mother is not so supportive she weighs 300pds herself and I think she is afraid I will die, Im her only daughter.My 13yr old son doesent care one way or the other, Im not making a issue around him I dont want him to worry about me I just want him to be 13.

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

We have a new Adminastrator and I wasent sure if she would let me take a leave of absence but she has been very supportive and wished me luck.

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

The stay in the hospital was fine, at first I had a private room but for some unknown reason they moved me to a room with a roommate and it was fine. I was in the hospital 4-days Bring to the hospital a toothbrush and P.J's once the take the cath out you will want to freshen up.

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

There has been some complications since surgery. 1)I got a UTI from the cath 2)My incision opened up in 5 areas and now I have to wet to dry it 2 times a day until healed-I also had a horrible drainage from the incision but now it has slowed down but it still drains. 3)Yeast infection from the antibiotics 4)Stomach upset alot and couldnt eat for several days 5)I am one of the one's who got the depression---IT WAS THE WORST THING I HAVE EVER BEEN THROUGH IN MY LIFE--now I'm on anti depressents

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

You will not be hungry but please eat I made the mistake of not eating and now I'm paying for it. You will sleep alot--do so

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

30 miles-no effect to my aftercare

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've been able to eat anything I wanted but CHEW-CHEW-CHEW-

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

I have no energy this is due to the lack of protein I have not taken in

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

multi vit once a day- I tried Flintstones and they made me sick

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?

Nausia has been the worst--I had to get a prescription for compazine to ease it up so I could eat

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

Getting the amout of protein in and getting my energy back

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

I go to the support groups monthly-some of the topics dont intrest me but I get to see other people there that I have met

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

It has opened up in 5 areas and I have to pack it until healed. I never expected that and it makes me sick to look at it

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I have not had any yet

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

not treating me diffrent but saying things like YOU LOOK SO GOOD or I CAN REALLY SEE THE DIFFRENCE IN YOU