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

tried the liquid protein diet lost some weight but knew it wouldn't last. i knew it would work for me.

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

it was horrible. they turned me down after the liquid protein diet. all the medical help at my place said no one had every been denied who had made it this far. i burned the papers giving me the news. i cried for 2 days and learned to live with knowing i would never lose weight. 2 years later after using 2 cains at work one day to get around i decided to call the insurance company and tell someone, anyone what they had done to me by turning me down.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

nothing to decide i had wanted it for 3 years

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

doctor said the band would take to long to save my knees so he told me the RNY was what i would need

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?

the son of a friend had the surgery and died 3 days later. 23 years old. Believe me I KNEW what could happen. Didn't matter i was doing it regardless. i knew if i ever wanted to enjoy the rest of my life I HAD TO DO IT. I knew the odds were low, i sure didn't want it to go bad. But i was tired of being the biggest person in any room i happen to be in.

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?

they were all happy they were all supportive they were all wonderful

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

he was very supportive he knew my knees were shot and was worried about how much time i would miss with surgerys on them. i was only going to take one week but i found i was still napping so i took a second week. really didn't need it. spent my days out on the pontoon floating in the sun. it was great.

What was it like attending your first information seminar on weight loss surgery? Were you glad you attended? if so, why?

information heaven loved hearing all it would entail. listened carefully and knew i could follow the rules they were putting at us

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

i went in at 7am surgery was at 8:30 on a friday i left the next day at 12:00 lose fitting cloths to wear home!

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

none

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 tried to control my eating but i did have some of everything i loved. i was excited and prayed the time would fly till surgery

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

first 2 weeks i went up to our trailer played cards went to casino and out on the boat. sorry i am a bad one to ask i don't like to give up the things i enjoy

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

5 miles had no after care think i saw the doctor at 3 months

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 has been 20 months and i have not found one thing i can't eat. ok so i sure can't eat as much of it but i have a taste of everything again i am very lucky lived on cream of mushroom soup which i love moved on to cottage cheese which i love- on to deli meats and string cheese which i love drank decaff and milk along with all the water i was to have

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

i started exercising at 3 months 3 days a week continued for 5 months summer came and never went back family noticed they didn't have to jump for me i stopped asking for them to get me things got off my butt and did for myself

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

b-12 shots (always did) b complex just started few weeks ago tounge started going numb vit D they said i had a defiency 2 chewable flintstone Vit

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?

never vomited nausea yes but always know it will be gone in 30 minutes tons of hair so yes it was in the sink but no one else knew dumping never

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

eating out it just isn't fun anymore you look forward to a wonderful meal you take 5 bits and your full. yes wait 5 minutes and you can take a few more bites but now the food is cold small price to pay at least the first few bites were warm

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

none

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

lapascopic boy i am sure thats spelled wrong can't barly see and yes what expected knew it would be just like gallblater

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

oh yes i would lose for 3 weeks stop for one this process went on for 12 month (100 pounds) have lost another 35-40 depending on the time of month that i wasn't even paying attention anymore

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

not really treating me different work in credit union and not a day goes by when someone walks into my office I MEAN STILL to tell me how great i look, people i have never served before but appartly they had seen me in the office over the years