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

My best friend had this done 12 years ago and although she had gained some back she lost it again and now has gain so much back she was the reason for my new life

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

My insurance Company is in another state. I also had a covered surgery along with the staple. This surgery was no covered by my insurance company. It's excluded

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

My surgeon is in Washington State. I liked him from the beginning He's is so wonderful

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

the incident with the ferris wheel

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I had the same as my friend had because I was barely 100 pounds over weight and had no medical problems YET

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?

Of course I was afraid of dying, but I was more afraid of living the way I was for one more second!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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 and friends were supportive with me. They were proud of me for doing this but thought maybe I could have done it with exercise and eating the "right" foods. They are all mostly thin people

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

I was working for my family at that time so taking a short amount of time off was okay. If I would have been working for non family I would have just told them about my hysterectomy nothing else. I didn't share this surgery with every one.

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

I was really unhappy with the stay. There was two of us that week end. We ended up staying in the recovery room one huge room with a curtain. I never got the chance to talk to the lady next to me. There was no TV and it was just a huge lonely room. I was there from surgery day thursday and going home sunday. I tried to read but the meds had my eyes shakey.

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

I didn't really have any but I was just in alot of pain.

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 felt terrific. I followed what I was suppose to do and for the first time in years I was loosing weight

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

I felt like a new person. I stayed home for 3 weeks from work. I did a little work around the house and tried to keep exercizing a little more each day. I enjoyed being a little lazy for a change also.

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

about 20 miles or so. My Dr was only 9 or so miles away from me

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.

the first 6 weeks I could only drink liguids. Sugar free things like jello, juices, pop cycles, and broth and water 64 ounces a day 1 ounce every 10 minutes or slow drinking slowly then I could eat soft things then gradualy more normal foods. I still can't eat fast food hamburgers. It must be prossessed meats. I can eat almost anything and have always been able to tolerate most foods. KFC is fine the night we get it, but if I heat up a piece for the next day It makes me throw up.

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

I could do ANYTHING

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

daily vitamins, zinc for hair lose and I have now started taking Iron for more energy

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 lost alot of hair, but the worst thing I went threw was that I was ALWYS so cold. I thought I would freeze to death. I have stopped feeling like that because it is getting warm in florida and I have stopped losing weight

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

just the pain I quess. but it didn't last forever

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

I went to a once a month support group in Washington State but since we moved to Florida I haven't found any. I also say my Dr every month and was able to keep better tabs on my weight lose. I never gained when I had support behind me. Now I feel like I am doing this all by my self

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

I not only had the stomach staple, and hysterectomy scar I also had a tummy tuck that left scaring down my stomach but also across the tops of my legs. But it doesn't bother me at all

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I have gained weight and feel awful since we moved here and haven't seen my Dr or had a support group to talk to I have gained 25 pounds and can't seem to get it off

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

I don't think people in general treated me differentlt I think my attidute was so out standing that I made people treat me better.