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

I seen Carnie Wilson talking about her struggle and I was very excited for her.

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

It took over a year and a half to get approval. I was denied 3 times.

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

My surgeon has a wonderful bed side manner. **Make a list of questions before you go, so that you won't forget.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

My inability to lose the weight.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

My surgeon helped me make that decision based on my medical and physical needs.

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 scared that I was going to die during surgery. However, I knew I was not going to live for very long in the shape I was headed.

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?

Some family members were not so supportive. Most were very supportive.

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

My employer was very supportive. I was out for about 4 1/2 weeks.

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

I was in for 6 days. Baptist was okay.

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?

I was very weak.

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

I was very weak. You will need help.

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

20 minutes from 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 could eat chicken. Beef and pork is a little harder to eat. Tough meats make me sick. Hamburger and thin pork chops are okay.

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

Very weak, as the weeks progressed I could walk longer distances.

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

Multi, ADE&K's, Super omegas 3's, Iron, Biotian 600, Calicum

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?

Some hair loss at 4 months

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

Waiting for insurance approval

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

My surgeon provides free support groups and this is extremely important for your success.

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

Its pretty long but healing well.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

At 3 months I only lost 6 pounds. However, this was during the Christmas holidays.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes, some people I have never spoken with are very interested in my progress it seems.