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

I have been doing online research for years but was very scared to actually go past it and the insurance headache.

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

My insurance approved the surgery really quickly. The best advice is to find out what they require and have it all together as neat and easy as possible so that they cannot deny you the first time.

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

It was easy he is a very kind and caring man, He actually did my gall bladder surgery in January and that is how I found out he did gastric bypass.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

When my gallbladder came out I had GERD, High bloodpressure, hiatal hernia and other problems associated with my weight and I was offered information on weight loss surgery and followed up right away.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

With the help of the program my surgeon offers they gave us information on the pros and cons of all the different options.

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 was scared, but excited. You really need to find a surgeon that you trust. That will ease the scare and to others please just get as much information as you can it helps relieve that feeling and remember the outcome is greater than the risk.

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?

I gave them all the info and they all were against it. They said I could lose it naturally if I tried. But I did try. Afterwards they tried to do too much. They are all excited now. But at the hospital I only had a girl from our support group that met me once, but that helped alot.

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

They were great. Very supportive they knew everything. I was only off two weeks. By choice they said I could take all the time I needed.

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

The hospital was great. I was there for 4 days. The most important thing to bring is walking shoes because that is what I spent most of my time doing.

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

None

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 am 2 weeks out and I feel great. I have not had any anxiety yet. Really antsy to get moving, but I am always like that.

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

Too much babying. I am very independent and felt great. A little sore yes, but that is all. Starting the protein on the second week was the hardest I am still too full after taking my protein.

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

I am lucky I only had to go less than one mile but I would have drove anywhere for my surgeon. It is the same distance for my aftercare.

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.

of course nothing but fluids for the first week then i added protein supplements the second week. Now i am able to add soft or blended foods. I am still not hungry though. Of course no sugar, fats, caffiene, or carbonated beverages. So far my tolerance is none but i am a newbie.

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

I have had more energy. There have been a couple of days that I didn't but for the most part I am more alert, awake, and energized.

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

I started the multivitamin and b-12 after one week, then calcium and iron were added after the second week.

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 have not really had any yet

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

waiting for the surgery after the approval and all the prerequisites were done

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

We have a meeting the second Thursday of every month. They are very important and a requirement with our surgeons office.

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

I have 6 little ones they look like they will heal up and be very tiny

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

none yet

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

So far not too much they are a little nicer so far.