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

Media, I was hesitant

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

No problems. Find a good program that will advocate for you.

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

He was very supportive. Be prepared to ask questions. If you don't get your questions answered, find another doctor.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

My health deteriorated.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Recommendations from the doctor

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 had no fears of complications. I knew the risks of staying fat were for me, far greater than having the surgery.

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 have been very supportive. I decided earlier on to not keep anything a secret.

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

I told my supervisor before the surgery. I was off work 4 weeks.

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

4 days. I had a lot of pain. The hospital staff was amazingly supportive.

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

Only difficulty with the healing of two of the incisions.

In the weeks after you got your surgery date, how did you feel? How did you cope with any anxiety you might have felt?

No anxiety. My days were very full with other activities. I had little time to worry.

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

It was an adjustment. I believe that people should not expect to be 100% quickly. It takes a few weeks, but soon you will feel far better than you ever thought you would feel.

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

42 miles

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 was told not to drink carbonated beverages. This was my biggest change. The surgery allowed me to break an addiction to caffiene and diet coke. I still have difficulty eating breads. Meat was a problem unless it was ground. It still can be a problem.

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

Slow. I wished I had pushed my activity sooner. Follow the doctor's advise.

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

Calcium, protien, daily multivitamins.

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?

Vomiting every few days. It has now decreased to rarely. I had some hair loss which seems to have stopped.

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

THe pain afterward, and that I didn't do it sooner.

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

There is one available. I have chosen to use it only occasionaly.

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

Small scars. Not a problem.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I plateaued after about 6 months. I am now just losing a pound or so every week.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Other than the compliments, the only difference I see is that I don't feel like a freak anymore.