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

A man I worked with had it.

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

When I first woke up I was in so much pain I wasn't sure that I had done the right thing! My back was killing me. I guess it was the epidoral?

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

9 months post-op I had to have my gallbladder removed (after several bad attacks, the worse one being on my birthday!)

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

It was really strange, I didn't have any anxiety once I was approved. I could not wait to get the ball rolling and set my date!

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

I was completely worthless for the first week. I didn't do anything but sleep. I can honestly say that I didn't experience any severe pain after that 1st day in recovery. If I did it must not have bothered me that much because I would do it all again tommorrow.

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

30 minutes at the most!

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 ate alot of cream of wheat, sugar free popsicles and jello. There is not anything that I can't eat. I just to moderate alot. Only 4 or 5 grams of sugar at the most.

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

not much movement at all!

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

I have given myself b12 shots since the beginning, but have just recently started taken my vitamins regularly. Infact this website gave me alot of insight on different vitamins and how our "new" stomachs process them.

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?

The occasional dumping because of something I should not have eaten. As strange as this may sound, my eyes begin to water and I start yawning right before the typical dumping systoms start.(nausea, sweating etc...) I will still have to laydown for 10 or 15 minutes while it passes.

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

The worst part would have to be that I went through all of this and am still not where I would like to be weight wise!

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

I use only this website to motivate me to drink my protein, get all my water in and push myself to take off this last 30#s

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

From my breastbone down to my bellybutton.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

There are several times I have reached a plateau. I am currently at one now.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

I really do. It is sad to say but I think people have a different attitude towards overweight people. It is almost a lack of respect. I also think that I have a better self image than I use to have so I may appear more self confident.