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

I was a little scared and a lot intrigued. My roommate is an RN and she attended a seminar about it because her hospital was considering bringing the procedure to their facility.

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

I had a great experience. Be prepared. Find out what your insurance company requires and have it ready beforehand. Dont wait for the Surgeons office to come back and ask for additional information. Provide everything up front and they wont need to ask for more.

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

It was good. I was very informed before my first visit. So I had good questions. I mostly wanted to feel comfortable that Dr. Reinhold was competent, and he was. I believe he is the best in his field.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I saw a lady who was my size before she had surgery and at 14 months post op was the size I had always fantasized about. And she didnt look like she had ever been overweight a day in her life. She was also diabetic and since surgery did not require any meds.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

My roommate recommended open because she had had many abdominal surgeries, both open and laproscopic and found that laproscopic can be risky if a muscle is nicked and causes a bleed.

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 didnt fear complications because Dr. Reinhold has a very low rate of complications. I did fear not waking up because I had never had a major surgery. But I believed that if I didnt get the surgery I would die by age 60 and the possibility of dying during surgery was much less likely to happen. You have to believe and have faith.

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?

Everyone was supportive. If they werent it wouldnt have really mattered, except of course for those I live with, because I was doing this for me and if they were my friends they would support me. Those I live with were great. They took care of me in the hospital and when I got home. They still support me and cheer me on with every pound lost.

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

My employer was NOT supportive. In fact I ended up quitting my job before my surgery because he had made it unbearable at work. I really feel if I hadnt quit and allowed myself the time for surgery and healing, I would not have had such a successful recovery. I was able to work a full day without any discomfort at all within 6 weeks. I had the open surgery

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

My hospital stay was horrible. Due to the hospital. However my roommate came to stay with me most of the time and she made it as easy as possible on me. I was in the hospital for 4 days including the day of surgery and the day I was discharged. The most important things I brought were "Wet Ones" and chap stick and sugar free mints or gum to help with the horrible taste in your mouth.

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

No complications, thankfully.

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 sad and frusterated the first couple of weeks. The inability to move without hurting was hard. I would cry and my roommate would rub my back and tell me it would be ok. As the second week ended I started to see the weight loss and feel much better then it was all worth it. Since then I have been through a period of mouring because I dont have food to comfort me anymore as well as periods adjusting to life that doesnt revolve around food. I have also had to learn to cope with life in other ways because your friend isnt there anymore. "Food".

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

Take care of yourself and expect to be sore. The weight will come off at an amazing amount the first couple of months and then it will start to slow. I dropped 10 pounds a week for the first month. I have lost a total of 70 pounds in 5 1/2 months.

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

10 miles, no effect

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.

In the first month I was very careful to follow the guidelines my Dr had given me. I didnt experience any food intollerance, however it was the time to learn when you were full. During that time I vomited several times because I wanted to take one more bite and there was no room. I had my first bout with dumping syndrome in the second week because I ate a cookie. Each month I have been able to add more foods. Now I can eat pretty much anything I want. Including items with high sugar content, which isnt good. So I have to have more self control because Dumping Syndrome isnt an issue for me.

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

The first couple of weeks were slow going. Moving at all hurt, so I mostly walked around inside my house as much as I could tollerate. Within 2-3 months I could excercise and used a video tape that offered "walking" inside your home. Today I have lots of energy and can walk about 3 miles without even being winded. I actually like excercise now, which is a far cry from how I felt about it at almost 300 pounds.

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

I take a multi vitamin, vitamin B-12 dots and calcium each day. I started lossing my hair at 3 months and up to that point had not been faithful about taking my vitamins. Now that I take them religiously my hairloss has stopped and it is growing back now. My advise, TAKE YOUR VITAMINS!.

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 would say vomiting and hair loss were my worst. The vomiting I would learn. I wouldnt do whatever caused it again. mostly that was eating too fast or too much. The hair loss I started taking my vits and that seemed to work.

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

The hospital stay. St. Rapheals is the worst hospital ever. Other than that everything was as I expected it. It was hard but completely worth it.

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

My biggest support is my family. My roommate and my son. My Dr./hospital offeres a support group which I have been to a couple of times. But I understand the emotional side of eating and work through it with help from my friends. I know that if I get to the point I need more help I can always go back to group or call the psychologist.

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

I have a long scar from my breast bone to about 1 inch above my belly button. I guess it is what I expected, however, it is fading already.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I have had two plateaus. Once at 225 and once at 203. I sat at both weights for about 1 month. I found that mostly it is because I am "cheating" and eating foods higher in calories. I also found that if you are in the habit of exercising, either change the type of excercise for a week or so, or stop exercising all together for a few days and the scale will move again, in the right direction.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes. They offer compliments, men are nicer and I found that I am nicer. I am not as shy so therefore I come off as a much more friendly person. I used to be considered quit the witch because I was ashamed and wouldnt smile or bring attention to myself and this was always misinterpretted. I have even received free or reduced fee services (mostly from men). I got my computer fixed on the spot and for 1/2 price because I sat and flirted with the service guy.