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

Word of mouth and research.

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

I have great insurance. BCBS of ILL. Approved after second attempt.

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

Very informational. My Dr. is the best.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

Health issues and just not feeling good.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

My choice. I like fried and sweet foods. So I felt out of my two choices it was the best suited for me.

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 very nervous that something bad would happen. I still am. But It's been great and I feel so much better.

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?

All were great. My mother was very nervous. She is very glad that I had it done.

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

They were fine with it. I took off 3 weeks.

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

I was there 4 days, three nights. I had alot of pain, the nurses were great. My husband stayed with me the whole time.

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

no

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

nervous..happy...sad....ancious...mad that i had to have it done....Now I am so glad that I had it done.

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

PAIN alot of PAIN

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

2 hours........It hasn't been a problem.

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.

sugars and fried stuff. Some times if something doesn't agree with me I have to go lay down. I get all clamy.

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

Better than normal but still not what I would like.

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

flintstones twice a day. B12 once a week. Calcium 3 times a day.

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.....thank goodness I was blessed with good thick hair.

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

The pain in the beginning and having to take the vitamins

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

twice a month

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

can't even see it. It blended in with the rest of the scars

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

yes especially men