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

My daughters and my mother told me about it. At first I was afraid of it, but the more research I did on it, the more hope I had.

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

Mine was horrible. I don't know what someone could do. I did everything I could think of and I was refused. I had weights for years, I had photos, I had diets, I had letters from witnesses of my diets and how I exercise every day. I had letters from every member of my family. I had my Dr saying I needed it, the Psychiatrist saying I was a good candidate, the endrocrinologist. Only the lawyer got me results and with the same information I gave.

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

The surgeon himself was businesslike, but the worst thing was, it had taken me MONTHS to get to see him and he said he would not be the one doing the surgery, and if I didn't like it, I could just walk out and forget it. The shock of that made me forget the list of questions I had brought with me. He described the surgery well, and everything bad that could happen.The nurse went on and on about how it was my fault that I was so fat. "You are what you eat." she said, over and over again.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I am doing less and less because of the embarrassment about being so fat. I want to have my life back before I am too old to enjoy it.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I wanted laproscopic because I felt it was less dangerous. I am still hoping that the dr is able to do it that way. I choose the dr and procedure that the other people my family knew had had success with.

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 am afraid of dying in the surgery. I don't want my children to not have a mother. I am 48 years old now. I don't want to wait any longer. I love my family more then anything except God.

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 haven't had my surgery yet. My brother is obese and I feel that he may go for the surgery if all goes well with me. My husband has been supportive. He has worried about my weight for a long time. My girls have all been wonderful. No one in my family is against me having the surgery at all. Some friends think it is a bit drastic.

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

I am a homemaker

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

I used only the hospital gowns, the baby wipes, tampons, brush and clip for my hair and my slippers.(slip on slippers. I was in the hospital for 3 days. I hated being in the hospital. Some nursing shifts were EXCELLENT and others were poor. Special thanks to RR nurse Ventura and Miltilda on 6H of the Cleveland Clinic (Frankie too)who REALLY did things to make me feel tremendously better.

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

I had nausea a few times, and the nurses gave me something to make it better.

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 read a lot about what other people went through on this web site, I planned meals for afterward, and I prayed with my family a lot. I was afraid, even pre-op, but I was determined to make this change in my life.

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

I haven't been home for a week yet. I still have pain, but it seems less every day. I walked really slow the first few days, today seemed the almost normal pace walk...(6 days post-op) I am more tired, sleepy tired,then usual. Tomorrow I go see the surgeon again.

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

40 minutes. I want to see a nutritionist and other drs other then the surgeon closer to home. (with free parking)

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.

It is hard to eat when you aren't hungry and it seems like I am eating my whole day long.

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

So far I go for a half hour walk each day, at my own speed. Now at 11 months out, I exercise every day for 50/60 minutes. I do aerobic interval training.

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

I take 2 flintstones complete and 2 tums, and one sublingual B-12 and boost and/or protein supplements. I use Vista Vitamins now at 11 months.

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?

I have nausia sometimes when I first wake up. I just wait for it to go away. I have a very positive attitude that really helps me.

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

Seeing the Drs. I hate having so see some many doctors so often.

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

I haven't needed or wanted to go to a support group. I exercise every day and I have had no trouble at all with the diet. I do have an encouaging family, but I am very self-motivated.

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

My scars are pretty small. They are littler then I expected, but thicker and the biggest one still hurts at times

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

My weight loss seems VERY slow. My family noticed me losing weight, but it doesn't show on the scale

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

NO