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

on tv, I never thought I would do it until I reached a certain weight and knew i had to.

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

I unlike other had a very positive experice my sugeons office did everything and i was approved and did not have to pay a penny.

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

I think people need to pay atteniton to what is being said. and really make sure get as much and don't be afraid to ask questions.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

My health problems were getting so bad that i was told i would be dead in two years if i did not do something.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I had a proximal gastric bypass.

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?

My fear was not losing enough weight or being misrible with the new way i had to eat and the possible complications.

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 mom was really scared about the whole thing and tried to talk me out of it. My uncle who works in the ER and has seen wls gone bad really did not want me to see it because he has seen the ugly side. My friends were very supportive. Since i have had the surgury everyone has been great. My uncle has now decided to have the surgery as well.

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

I had a really supportive management they worked with me and i with them to minimize the strain of me being out for two to three weeks.

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

My hospital stay was not the best i did not feel the staff really put there best foot forward as far as me having the right diet i was perscribed. I felt like because i was this was and elective surgury i got less help then what i needed. I spent two nights and was released on the third day. The most important thing to bring for me was my own pj's underwear and toothbrush and mabye somthing to read.

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

I was blessed in this regard i did not have any 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?

I became a nervous wreck but really did not have to think much about it as i was moving a day before my surgery and my move occupied so much of my time i will say in those empty moments i went back in fouth on the issue of having the surgery. In my mind i kept thinking God i am voluntarily letting somone go in and rearrange my inside and mess with somthing God build up until the point the anistisia kicked in then i woke up and it was done, even after that i had the same thoughts and even now i look and feel great now but how is all this going to effect me when i am 70 or 80 or will i live that long.

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

The first few weeks were good the liquid diet is the worst especially when you are living with people who can eat normal stuff unfountunatly i still had an appetite most people are discusted by food. I did not have a lot of energy. but it comes back after time.

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

10 min from my house, however all family and friends were about 30 to forty miles away. So when i came home from the hospital I stayed with my aunt for a week or so.

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.

Proccesed foods don't work well with me

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

I was walking the mall two days after returning home i was back to work after three weeks and the gym after six weeks.

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

multi vitams calcium iron biotin

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?

dumping immidiatly, I am still suffering with hair loss , depression

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

the waiting,

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

i have gone to a couple of support group meetings here and there, and the support of my friends and family has helped a great deal

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

My scars keiloded so they are not the most glamourus thing in the world to look at. but it was for a good cause

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

My weight has reciently slowed after the year mark and a little and the nine month mark.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

I have notice this in great abunace men open doors for me and even will look me in the eye and say hello and on a good day they will engage in small talk. Just people in general seem more willing to approach me. I know this is a great deal in part to my weight loss and also the way that i feel about myself.