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

My PCP encouraged me to have it done because I had tried EVERYTHING before.

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

I was fortunate and had no problems at all.

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

My first meeting was actually comical; he thought that I had had a breast reduction because someone as large as I was couldn't be an A cup!

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

The mirror

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I had no choice; I had too many medical issues

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!

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 family was very supportive

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

My employer is my best advocate!!!!! I was out of work for 6 weeks.

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

3 days, the hospital forgot to feed me- even though I wasn't hungry, it would have been nice to be asked. Bring something to occupy your mind- TV was boring

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

BG was very high; had to take insulin No concerns

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

Anxious My family

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

I was very tired. Mentally, I wanted to each, but a spoonful filled me up. After the first few days, I was ready to go.....

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

30 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.

My surgeon scared me when he told me that bread could "clump" up and to stay away from it, which I did for 2 yrs. I stuck to the prescribed diet for the first year. The only thing that I had trouble with was the first time I ate beef. I got it stuck in the stoma and had to spend the night at the ED.

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

Very high

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

Trinsicon and a MVI with Iron

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?

Hair loss was the worst Got used to dumping/ still dump on occasion, but it's my oen fault

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

Going home still taking the Glucophage scared me

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

I joined a local support group and during the first year, it was very important

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

Scar has now faded

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I lost 215 pounds in 7 months time; since then I have regained 40 pounds

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Definitely; my friends include me in more things that I am comfortable with doing now