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

a coworker had it and i saw how it changed his life.

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

i got approved right away. no problems at all

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

i knew him we talked he told i would be a good canidate. i asked a few questions got the ansewers i was looking for.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

i was all out of opptions. i hade tried many time with diet and excersize to loose. so it was time to get a handel on it once and for all.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

reading and seeing the results of other patients.

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?

none. i was more unsure of the unknow. how i would feel would i be sick ect. not fear

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?

good my mom and dad went in to see the doctors as well

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

not a problem it went smooth

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

good all went well. i was their from mon to wed afternoon. a good attuide and cloths and personal items.

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

no not yet

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

good it could not come fast enough.

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

you will sleep a lot take your pain meds. just relax let the sugery due it's work.

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

25 mins to home

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 have been lucky. i am able to eat and keep down all the food recomended by the doc.

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

i walk about 3/4 to 1 mile the week after sugery and am incressing as the weeks move on.

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

one muiltvitamin once 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?

the first week i did not sleep good at all. during the second week i call the center and they told me that after i was off the pain meds i would be able to get back to a normal sleep.

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

i have not found one one yet. but when i do i will post it

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

none right now i can go just dont see the need right now.

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

good on o them opened a little but is starting to close.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

none

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

no