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

A friend had it, and she was my inspiration !

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

It was great, except time was lost when my insurance company lost my file.

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

The info meeting was very well planned and informative !

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

The mirror ! And my health

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I wanted something that would work !

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?

People would try to discourage me, but I would not allow it, I said if I die during or directly after the surgery, then it was just my time go, that's it. My daugther is a nurse and she was totally against it! And you know what I told her you are not fat, you don't know what it feels like !

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?

Most of my family was very supportive except my daugther. Everyone else was great and honestly you need that support ! Now my daugther says I look wonderful !

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

They thought I was crazy, but now, they think it was the best thing I did. I was out for 6 weeks

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

The stay was 3 days. It wasn't bad except they would not allow my husband to stay overnite and we live far. Also they were too strict with the visiting hours.

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

The only complication was THRUSH, and I went to the hosptial for treatment of dyhydration and then got medication for Thrush, no problems after 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?

I felt great, I have no problems

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

People kept looking for how many pounds I lost ! It was great, I have so much attention on me now ! Positive attention

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

over 1 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 is off limits I find, but actually I eat pretty much everything and anything, not in big quantities of course, but I love it !

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

I did alot, didn't let surgery hold me down

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

Injecting Vitamin B-12 and vitamins by mouth, and Biotin for the hair loss

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?

THe vomiting when food gets stuck. I cope as best I can, it only lasts about a half hour and not that often anymore

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

the first day of pain

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

Talking to everyone is great, the support groups are great !

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

Hardly anything there anymore I had Lap.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

None

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

oh Yes, more positive, more attention to me, they actually listen to me now..