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

My doctor suggested this. She felt that with all the symptoms I was experiencing that I could truly benefit from doing this and it would eliminate a lot of my problems by doing so. My initial impression was excitement for changing my life and scared too!

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

My insurance approval couldn't have went smoother! I had all the documents needed to prove I had tried everything possible to lose this weight before. It did not take long at all and I got the word I was approved.

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

My surgeon was the best. He answered any thing and everything that I asked him and didn't rush me through the meeting at all. Don't be afraid to ask him whatever is on your mind. If you need to write down things so you don't forget because this can be a frightening time, do it! They don't care. He was very calming and supportive.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

My HEALTH! Did not want to stay this way forever and ever!

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Was really a no brainer for me. I am one who needs immediate results and the laproscopic was the only way for me to go.

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 really had all the confidence in my surgeon and his team - so truly I had a very positive attitude going into this and did just as they instructed me to do prior to surgery so that I did not contribute to any complications that could arise from this.

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 family was great, especially my husband! I have one daughter now who still feels a little jealous I think about my weight loss...she is heavy and I so wish she could discover this before she gets to my age, so that she can enjoy her life as I am doing now.

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

My immediate manager is heavy and really was not that supportive of my decision. She struggles with weight loss all the time and I had hoped she would be more understanding than she was...but that is her. She was fine with it once it sunk in and has been supportive throughout this journey. I was out of work a total of 4 weeks!

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 for 4 days. My stay there was fantastic. I had the best nurse team ever! The most important things to bring are comfy pajamas.

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

Not really from the surgery but I was given a diuretic after I came home to eliminate the water weight I had put on in the hospital which gave me gout! This was more painful than the surgery. I was re-hospitalized for 4 days with this.

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 very excited and scared. Couldn't wait for it to be over.

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

Well, the first week was hell. You feel like crap! I remember looking at my husband and saying why did I do this to myself. But that quickly vanished. Get through it a day at a time and you won't even remember the tough days!

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

Oh it was local so only 10 miles or so.

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.

Well one thing I loved before was diet coke...and it felt like it was burning all the way down me for quite some time. I have just recently 1 year out began to tolerate it. Other foods that continue to bother me and I just stay away from are, breads, pasta and fried foods. The softness of the bread and pasta just get stuck and make me ill. The smell of the grease from fried foods bothers me immediately.

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

Good! Increased all the time which made this totally worth it!

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

I take a vitamin c, b12 and iron along with a multi vitamin every day!

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 don't really have any problems with anything if I stay away from bread, pasta and fried foods. I know if I eat these things I will feel awful and eventually throw them up. So I stay away from them. I had hair loss around the 6 month time frame, it is growing back now and that takes some time to get use to. The hair loss was not noticeable to others but very noticeable to me.

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

Worst part? I really don't have anything that I would change at all!! This has been the BEST experience for me and I would do it all over again if I had to! BUT I WON'T!!!

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

None....other than this website. Which is GREAT!

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

I really don't even have one anymore. After 1 year out, it is not visible.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Oh I lost in intervals. I would go a couple of weeks and not lose anything and then the next two weeks drop a lot of weight. This has been my pattern all along.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Oh yes! they smile more at me, they look at me differently! It is very strange how more polite they are to me now than before.