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

Internet.

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

Got approved first time.

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

Doctor was a little stiff. I wasn't 100% sure I wanted the operation. I waited a whole year.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I finally accepted the fact I couldn't do it on my own.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

It was the only one around here.

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?

Didn't have any, didn't care if I lived if my weight didn't change.

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

3 days. I couldn't wait to get home so I could get some sleep.

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?

Only a week in between. I wasn't nervous until 5 minutes before they knocked me out.

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

I cheated. I was bored. I am not a good role model.

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

15 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.

Dairy, only a little. Nothing too sweet. Limited pasta & rice. Everything else seems to be ok.

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

I didin't excericise enough before the operation, after & still don't do enough. I HATE excercise.

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

tums, scooby doo, biotine & B12.

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 after sweet stuff. The runs. Worried about hair loss but it hasn't been so bad.

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

The gas in the hospital was awful. I could barely walk & the kept telling me to walk faster.

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

None really. This site a little. Message board is helpful, chat room sucks.

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

It's frm below my breast bone to my belly button. It's longer but thinner than I thought. Can't wait to get it chopped off.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I plateau every 3 weeks it seems.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Definately. It makes me feel good but resentful too. It's just not right. They say I have changed & I just think they have changed towards me. FAT people need love too!