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

I found out about the surgery through my daughters ex boyfriends mother she had had it done and told me about it and gave me the WLS site to check out and I was impressed by all the great sucess.

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

The stay in the hospital was great I was happy to have such a wonderful staff helping me out that knew about bariactrics. I was only in the hospital 3 days and I would say the most important thing to bring with you is a book or something to keep you busy while you are not walking around.

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

I didn't have have any complications with the surgery, my doctor said everything went so well and that made me very happy to hear.

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 got very anxious about the surgery and the closer it got the worse I felt and the first time I had a date I chickened out on the operating table but I knew I had to over come my fears and I did go back and had it done, the worse fear of all is the fear of dying but we all are in Gods hands and only he knows what is coming.

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

The first week home is the worse I swore I was dying because you get pains in your chest and all over and you are so miserable but by the 8th day you are feeling so much better and feeling glad you had it done.

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

I drove 2 hours to Grand Haven, MI to have my surgery which was not bad at all and after that all my appointments are in Holland and it is a great drive exspecially if you like to travel and I love to drive around.

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.

First you start off with clear fluids then the fulls and then pureed foods which I didn't like much and then the softs I had trouble with vanilla shakes in the first weeks and I still can't have them and then by the time you can move to regular food you try a little of everything to see what you can have, I haven't had any trouble with the foods I have eaten except ravioli and I don't touch it now.

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

The energy level kept going up and I started doing alot more things thena i use to do and I just felt so much happier and full of life.

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

I take my bugs bunny chewables (sugar free) multivitamins everyday and I will continue to take them for the rest of my life.

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?

My main problem was the hair loss and I am 8 months post op and it still hasn't stopped and my hair is thin to begin with and I have been getting enough protien so I am hoping it stops soon but that was the only thing that has bothered me the most.

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

The worse process about it all was not having it done sooner, other than that everything was great.

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

I have not gone to any support groups but I have people that I have called that have had it done to ask questions and they were very supportive and great about answering things. It is good to go to support meetings but I couldn't due to my work schedule.

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

I don't think my scar is to bad, I had already had a scar going across from gallbladder surgery so I joke and say I have the number 7 on my belly now and the scars fade some so they aren't that bad unless you plan on wearing a bikini which I do not so it is no big deal.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I had one plateau in the ebginning of the recovery and it really bothered me but since then I haven't had any and the weight just keeps coming off.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

No one treats me any different my in laws don't even notice since they do not know I had the surgery and will never know, I noticed that since I don't weigh 310 lbs now when I go to the store or gas station guys hold the door for me and that is sad I am still the same person just smaller that tells you people are judged by size.