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

A girl here at my job had this surgery and changed so dramatically I instantly decided I had to have it too!

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

it was a hassle (a real run around) you really have to stay on top of them

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

you really need to do a lot of research and ask alot of questions

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

the results that I witnessed from other people having the surgery

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

i didn't my surgeon never gave me a choice

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?

blood clots,complications that are common from any surgery

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?

everyone was very concerned yet supportive

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

they were all very supportive and 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?

it wasn't bad as for pain but I really wasn't attended to as I thought I should have been. But it wasn't the worst experience I have had in a hospital that is for sure

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 didn't have much anxiety

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

I was tired for like a week or two and weak....try not to over do it.

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

not far...right here in town

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.

i could only get down small amounts of gatorade the first week. Then breyers light yogurt after that..maybe a 1/4 of a cup and I do real well with chicken noodle soup with out the noodles. I had to have an endoscopy w/dialation (i wouldn't reccomend it) and after that I could eat mostly anything except for meat.I am not happy with the procedure that I had I am hungry alot now whereas before the procedure I had to really make myself eat. Food wasn't an issue then it was only a necessity so since I didn't have the hunger I didn't over eat or even feel the desire to eat the wrong things but that procedure changed all that.

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

I could do anything but lift my one year old son. But I just had to rest throughout the day for the first month.

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

tums,chewable children's vitamins. pepcid

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?

I am 5 months post-op and losing an extreme amount of hair.

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

hair loss

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

none/just this website and the people I meet on here

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

not too bad....better than i expected

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I had a plateau for a month and 1/2 so far during my 3/4 month.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

yes...I get alot of attention