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

had heard of it for years

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

Very easy to get approval. Approved on first submission

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

I stayed in ICU the entire time. My care was great except for one nurse.

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

Yes, I had major complication. DVT, infections, pulmonary embolism, bleeding ulcers. I statyed in the hospital over 2 months.

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 spoke to people on obesityhelp and asked for the advise and experience.

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

I can not tell people what to expect. I had complications and everyone is different.

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

about 15 miles

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.

I could not eat food for over 2 months. I was on TPN

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

low

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

multivitamin, Iron and calcium

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?

nausea and vomiting were the worst for me

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

the complications

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

I talk to people who have been through and it is helpful to me.

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

Its is ssmaller that I expected

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

have not had any.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

no