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

I found out about gastric bypass through a friend who had it and is living a much happier healthier life

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

I have Ohio Medicaid I took all of my medicial documents with me the day of my consult and I waited 3 months to find out I got an approval medicaid will not tell you a thing you may find a letter in your mail or the surgeons office may call as in my case

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

I met wih the insurance lady first I gave her all my medicial history then I met with the dietitian who explained the whole diet and the need for supplements for the rest of my life she also informed me that this is simply a tool not a fix all it is up to me to use the tool to my benefit

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

when my daughter said mommy I don't want to be fat like you

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I allowed my sergeon to decide what he thought was best for me

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 cried the day of surgery for fear of not seeing my babies ever again and who was going to care for them if I did die but other than that I was ready to do what ever I had to, to take the steps to get this excess weight off of me as for fears for others hopeing to have surgery I think it is totally normal to have fears if not I would worry about your sanity

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 entire family was supportive however my dad said he would rather me try something else again I told him the key word there was again I was tired of trying the same things over and over again and getting very little results my sister Billie has been my greatest supporter she is my rock through all of this the only things negitive I have to report are I was informed how my family knows a girl who had the surgery and has abused the tool and gained all and more of her weight back but it is simple abuse of the tool my father told me not to expect to lose a lot of weight because I so large now (that kinda peed me off but he is always kinda negitive)

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

well as for my employer I was on leave due to things beyond my control as soon as I was able to get back to work I was informed that I was no longer needed so I let it go jobs like the one I do are a dime a dozen as a result I found a better paying job making more money and getting full time hours I choose not to inform them I was having gastric bypass because it is none of their business I was out of work for 6 weeks but that was simply because I choose to take that long off

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

I hated being there at the hospitial I was there for about 48 hours a pillow to hold while you cough

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

no complications

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

in the weeks that followed my getting a surgery date I was a little nervous but I was alos moving so I was able to keep my mind off of things until the last 2 or 3 days

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

I felt good as soon as I got home the morning I woke up from sleepin in my own bed I felt good I was tired the first week but after that I have had no real feelings of tiredness I assume all people are different and may expect to feel tired at first and worried that you have done something to damage your new pouch

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

about 45 mintues

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 one thing I have found that I do not tollerate well is ham

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

the first few days it was very little but as time past I went from walking a mile in 45 minutes to a mile in 22 minutes

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

I take to multi vitamins and 2 doses of caltrate 600 dailey I also try to drink protein drinks as I can tolerate them thay sit like a rock on my pouch

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?

sllep disturbance is a nightmare for me I am not able to sleep at this point I hope to get back on track now that I am back to work I cope with this sleeplessness by not taking a nap and getting exercize in as much as I can

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

the drain was the only thing I that ever made me wonder why I did this to myself

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

I got to mid west losers group in cincinnati I like the after care program thus far with the surgeons office both suppoort groups and the after care keep me on track and accountable

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

I have 5 scares that scabed over and itch due to healing I expected much worse I expected to end up having open rny and was lucky enought to have a skilled surgeon and got lap rny

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I am currently experiencing a stall I have not had a loss in a week now it is frusrating but I know it will pass in time and as long as I work my tool

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

I have not lost enough yet to notice anything like this