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

from a friend.

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

i live in canada,was covered by government healthcare.

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

it was good,he was very nice.he answerd all my questions honestly.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

i wanted to have a full life...

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

the doctor and myself decided..

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 really did,nt have a fear,but i new what to expect from one of my friends already have had it done.just be positive.

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?

they were supporive before.but i was really sick after and it was hard for them as well as me..

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

my stay was good i was in for 3 day,s.i should have stayed longer but i wanted to go home.

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

yes.he wanted to do me lap.but because i had already had a tummy tuck 3 yers ago it was to hard for him to do.and that,s what gave me most of the trouble.he tried to get the air in between my skin and muscles and so i had lot,s of gas 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?

it was rough for me lot,s of pain,and it was all because i had so much gas.that pain is worse than anything.then i became dizzy..well i was like that for 5WEEKS....it was the worst.they thought i might have to go to a uralagist,but my family doctor was right it was a piece of calcium that broke off in my inner ear during surgery and it took 5weeks for it to settle.then i was finally feeling good.the thing that kept me going was my husband.he looked after me and the 2 boy,s the whole time.he had to take all that time off work.THE WORST THING AFTER MY SURGERY WAS ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS THAT WAS HELPING ME DURING THIS TIME HAD THE UNTHINKABLE HAPPEN.12 DAY,S AFTER MY SURGERY HER HUSBAND AND 2OF HER 3 CHILDEREN WERE KILLED IN A CAR ACCIDENT HER IN OWENSOUND.SO THAT SURE TURNED ME FEELING SORRY FOR MYSELF OFF.HER HUSBAND WAS 32 ALEX WAS 9 JUSTIN WAS 6 AND THANK GOD HER BABY MITCHELL SURVIVED HE IS 4...

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

It was a 2 and half hour drive.

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.

BREAD,ROAST BEEF,SOME CHICKEN

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

VERY POOR

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

2 MULTI VITAMINS AND IRON BECAUSE IT WAS LOW

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 HAVE ONLY VOMITED ONCE IM VERY LUCKY

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

THE GAS PAIN AND DIZZYNESS

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

MY FAMILY DOC AND A NUTRISONIST

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

IT,S NOT BAD 18 STAPLES

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

IT,S BEEN 6 MONTHS AND IT,S SLOWING DOWN NOW I HAVE 50 LBS TO GO

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

YES MORE ATTENTION