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

I FIRST STARTED LOOKING INTO IT AFTER I SAW A SHOW ON TV. I WAS SCARED AT FIRST. MY FAMILY HAD A FIT AND DIDN'T WANT ME TO DO IT SO I WAITED TWO YEARS AND THEN MY MIND WAS MADE UP THAT THIS WAS MY ONLY CHOICE

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

I DIDN'T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS.

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

I REALLY LIKED THE SURGEON. MY HUSBAND HAD A LOT OF QUESTIONS BUT I REALLY DIDN'T BECAUSE I HAD DONE SO MUCH RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I HAD NO OTHER CHOICE. I WANTED MY LIFE BACK

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I WENT WITH THE RNY BECAUSE IT WAS THE MOST EFFECTIVE FOR WEIGHT LOSS

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 WAS NOT AFRAID BECAUSE I HAD PRAYED FOR MONTHS AND I HAD MY TRUST IN MY GOD THAT IF IT WAS HIS WILL THAT I WOULD HAVE THIS DONE HE WOULD MAKE IT EASY AND IT WAS. GOD IS FAITHFUL AND JUST.

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 HUSBAND AND MY MOTHER SUPPORTED ME BUT WERE NOT HAPPY ABOUT IT. MY SISTERS AND THE REST OF MY FAMILY WERE VERY HAPPY AND PRAYERFUL

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

MY BOSS HAD THIS SURGERY DONE YEARS AGO SO SHE WAS VERY SUPPORTIVE. I MISSED WORK FOR TWO WEEKS.

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

THE HOSPITAL WAS FINE. I WAS THERE THREE DAYS. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING I NEEDED WAS SUGAR FREE GUM. THE BREATH IS HORRIBLE

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 FOUND OUT ON MONDAY I WAS APPROVED AND HAD SURGERY THE NEXT THURSDAY. NOT MUCH TIME TO THINK ABOUT IT. I PRAYED ALOT!!!1

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

I WAS VERY WEAK. I ATE VERY LIGHT STUFF. I HAD NO PROBLEMS. SUGAR FREE FUDGESICLES A MUST.

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

ABOUT 45 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.

NOTHING HAS BEEN OFF LIMITS FOR ME. I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO EAT ANYTHING I HAVE TRIED. THE KEY TO SUCESS IS SMALL BITES AND CHEW A GAZILLION TIMES.

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

SINCE I HAD THE OVARY REMOVED AT THE SAME TIME THAT SLOWED ME DOWN A LITTLE BIT. FOR THE FIRST WEEK AND A HALF I DID NOTHING BUT LAY AROUND AND GO TO THE BATHROOM. THE SECOND WEEK I WAS BACK TO MOSTLY NORMAL STUFF BUT I GOT TIRED VERY EASY.

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

FLINSTONES COMPLETE

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?

NO SIDE EFFECTS. THE BAD BREATH WAS THE WORST.

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

NOTHING FOR ME BUT I HAVEN'T HAD ANY PROBLEMS.

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

NONE

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

SIX VERY SMALL PLACES. YES IT IS WHAT I HOPED FOR

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

THE WEEK OF MY PERIOD I DIDN'T LOSE ANY WEIGHT BUT THEN AFTER MY PERIOD I LOST 6 LBS

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

NO, THEY DO ASK ALOT OF QUESTIONS.