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

I thought "no not for me" untill I started researching.

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

It just takes along time. You have to be patient.

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

Great, in and out. 3 days. Yourself.

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

no

In the weeks after you got your surgery date, how did you feel? How did you cope with any anxiety you might have felt?

What did I do to myself? It subsided.

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

Have to get used to what you had done. It is not that bad. It takes time to heal. Do what the doc says.

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

3 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.

Pork chops, Beef steak and chicken. I can eat a littlt chicken now. Beef and pork still make me dump. I don't think I chew it up enough. Can eat anything else no problem, just not much.

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

very good.

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

vb12 injection. daily vitiman tabs.

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?

just vomiting. Only when eating pork or beef steak. Just get rid of it and eat something else. Get over it.

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

The drain.

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

once a month. Its good to talk to others who are going thru this.

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

very small. Better than expected.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Just after 3 months has slowed a good bit.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

no, except to say you look good