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

MY BROTHER FIRST TOLD ME ABOUT IT, BUT HE DIDNT HAVE A LOT OF INFO ON IT, SO I WA LIKE "NO WAY". THEN A FEW MONTHS LATER MY AUNT WAS TELLING ME ABOUT IT AND SAID HE BEST FRIEND, HER COUSIN AND NIECE JUST HAD THE SURGERY AND SO I BECAME VERY INTERESTED DID A LOT OF READING ON IT, THEN OUT OF THE BLUE I STARTED MEETING SO MANY PEOPLE WHO HAD IT. AND I JSUT KNEW IT WAS RIGHT FOR ME, MY LAST CHANCE. I WAS VERY POSITIVE ABOUT IT, AND I PRAYED ON IT AND HERE I AM NOW WITH NO REGRETS.

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

I HAD THE EASIEST EXPIRENCE WITH THIS WHOLE PROCESS. NO PROBLEMS AT ALL. I WAS APPROVED THE FIRST TIME.

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

HE WAS SOOO NICE AND TOLD ME EVERYTHING I NEEDED TO HEAR. HE SAID I NEEDED TO LOOSE 40LBS BEOFRE SURGERY (WHICH I DIDNT). BUT HE MADE ME FEEL SOOOO COMFORTABLE.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I WAS GETTING TOOO BIG AND NOTHING WAS WORKING.

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

MY STAY IN THE HOSPITAL WAS VERY COMFORTABLE. THE STAFF WAS AMAZING. THEY WERE THERE FOR ME ANYTIME I NEEDED THEM. IT HELPS WHEN YOU ARE VERY POSITIVE AND GREET THEM WITH SMILES. I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL FOR THREE DAYS. AND THE HOSPITAL WAS PRETTY FAR FROM HOME, SO I DIDNT GET A LOT OF VISITORS, BUT THE STAFF KEPT ME COMPANY. I HAD A GREAT TIME THERE. IMPORTANT THINGS TO BRING OR A LITTLE SOMETHING FROM HOME, TO HELP YOU FEEL SECURE. THE HOSPITAL SUPPLIED EVERYTHING ELSE I NEEDED, YOU MIGHT WANT TO BRING A FAN, BECAUSE I WAS VERY HOT IN THERE, BUT THE FOUND A FAN FOR ME.

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

I AM TRULY BLESSED, I HAVE NOT HAD ONE PROBLEM WITH THE SURGERY. MY MOM TOOK VERY GOOD CARE OF ME. I NEVER FELT SICK, I DID HAVE A COUPLE OF DIZZY SPELLS AND THAT BECAUSE I WAS TRYING TO DO TOO MUCH TOO EARLY. BUT I DIDNT HAVE ANY NASUEA OR ANYTHING ELSE LIKE THAT.

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

AFTER I GOT MY SURGERY DATE, I COULDNT CONCENTRATE ON ANYTHING. I THANK GOD EVERYDAY FOR MY SECOND CHANCE. I COULD NOT GET THIS OFF MY MIND. I DID EVERYTHING THE STAFF TOLD ME TO DO. MY ONLY STRESS FACTOR WAS MAKING SURE I DIDNT GAIN ONE POUND IN THE 4 MONTHS I HAD TO WAIT. THAT WAS HARD.

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

A LOT OF GAS. MY MOM TOOK GOOD CARE OF ME, WAITED ON ME HAND AND FOOT. I JUST RESTED AND RELAX AND LET MY BODY HEAL. DONT TRY TO LIFT ANYTHING AT ALL

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

JSUT TO SAN FRANCISCO, WHICH IS ABOUT 45 MINS FROM MY HOUSE

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.

THERE HAS NOT BEEN A THING THAT I COULD NOT EAT. EVERYTHING HAS GONE DOWN JSUT FINE AND STAYED DOWN. I FEEL I HAVE TO WATCH MYSELF MORE THEN MOST PEOPLE, BECAUSE I DONT WANT TO GET COMFORTABLE WITH THE EATING. I HAVE NO LIMITS ON WHAT I CAN EAT, BUT I CANT NOT EAT A LOT BECAUSE IT HURTS SO BAD.

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

I HAVE FAMILY AND FRIENDS AS MY BIGGEST SUPPORT. I ALSO HAVE SUPPORT GROUPS WITH POST OP PATIENTS IN THE HOSPITAL. I DO THERE ONE SAT. A MONTH. ITS IMPORTANT TO ME BECAUSE I LOVE HEARING PEOPLES STORIES. IT KEEP ME GOING.

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

AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS SOOOO UGLY. IT WENT FROM MY BREAST BONE TO MY BELLY BUTTON. BUT NOW ITS FADING AND NOT AS BAD. I RUB COCCOA BUTTER ON IT DAILY.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

NONE YET. I AM LOSING ABOUT 1-3 POUNDS A WEEK

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

OHH YES. I AM GETTING SO MUCH MORE ATTENTION FROM FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND EVEN CO WORKERS. ITS ALL POSITIVE ATTENTION THOUGH AND I AM LOVING IT EVERYDAY