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

A friend of mine had gastric-bypass and then my daughter had it before they were doing it with the laperscope. At the time my daughter had it I didn't like the fact that it was so invasive and the long recovery time.

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

I had been under a doctors care for a good 5 years and was taking three presriptions in addition to working out 3 nights a week, so I had no trouble getting approval

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

I had attended an online seminar and had ehelped my daughter after her surgery, I went with my husband and Our surgeon was very easy to talk to.My husband had the surgery 1 month before I had it.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I'd been changing my eating habits and excercising for 5 years ,but I kept gaining weight.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I chose the lap-band because there is no cutting of the intestine and the incisions are small.Recovery time is less than the 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?

I had orthopedic surgery and have a piece of metal and 6 screws in my arm. After that surgery even the morphine didn't quite stop the pain,so I don't entertain the thought of surgery lightly.There is no comparison with this surgery, when I came out from under the anesthetic I asked the nurses if the surgeon had done anything.I felt no pain. They had trouble getting my blood pressure down before I went home.People should never take any kind of surgery lightly though.

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 very supportive, especially knowing how I've struggled with weight.We really didn't need a lot of help afterwards

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

I had the surgery on a Friday, took the weekend off and was back teaching my lessons on Tuesday, all I have to do is sit, so I was fine. I'm self-employed, I told the owner of the store about it several months ago and she was very supportive.

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

I had outpatient surgery, I got to go home after several hours.

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

No, I was fine and experienced very little 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?

I actually felt very calm and was pleased.

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

We had to follow different stages of the diet during the first few weeks and had to learn to eat at a slower pace.

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

Our hospital was about 30 miles away and I've never been able to attend the support groups and I think they would be very helpful.

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 can't eat bread, pasta, french- fries. I have to eat very slowly and I try to eat 6 small meals each day , sometimes when I'm teaching I have a protein drink instead of eating.I eat very small portions and have been educating myself about good nutrition. I 'm trying to learn how to fix something new every month, like butternut-squash soup, real guacomole dip.I usually have oatmeal with raisins for breakfast or farina. I'm drinking more soymilk or powdered milk. I 'm trying more organic foods, avoiding sugars and fried foods.Portion control is the key and this surgery forces you to eat very slowly.

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

After 2 weeks I started doing the treadmill at the ymca.

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

I take a multi-vitamin, Vit.C. potassium, fish oil, flaxseed oil, niacin, folic acid, b-12, ginger root,

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 had no side-effects.

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

I feel it has been a very positive experience.

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

W e live too far away to go to our surgeons group, I miss this,it would be helpful.

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

It is barely there.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

With the lap band loss is slow,I always lose a little each week and people have really started to ask me about it.This is so comical, I got a haircut in February and the beautician butchered my hair and I was more upset over that haircut than I was over my surgery .

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

They are very interested in my weight loss and want to know how I did it.