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

I've known about it since before I gained weight, had a friend have surgery around 1989. I thought it was a drastic step to take, still do, but think it is worth it.

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

I didn't have any problems with my insurance company, I went to my previous dr's and had them make copies of my records and I hand delivered them to my surgeon to cut down on the waiting.

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

He wasn't rushed, let you ask what you needed to and explained the surgery along with the risks involved.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

My father died at 49, my mother at 54, I had just been put on medicine for high cholesterol and had to have gallbladder surgery, felt it was my only hope.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I went to what I considered one of the best surgeons and let him decide what he thought would be best for me.

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 concerned about the pain and worried about the chance of having stomach aches, vomit, nauseus, can't stand that, but haven't had to deal with it, thank God.

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?

Half were for it, half were scared for me and tried to talk me out and of course wanted me to try this or that. I talked them through and hopefully, had them understand that this was what needed to be done.

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

housewife/mother

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

The nurses could have been better, I had someone with me at all times or I feel I would have been in trouble. I had surgery Thursday morning and released Saturday afternoon. That first shower will be one of the best you ever had, gowns, slippers, socks, duster, toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, deodorant, brush.

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 was ok until the morning of surgery, while in pre-op, I wanted to snatch everything out and run, very nervous, but hung in there, thank God.

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

I couldn't sleep in my bed for about 2 weeks, had to sleep in recliner, mainly because of my back hurting, I couldn't sleep on side and move around on my own, so was more comfortable in recliner. I started back on full duty, housework, 2 weeks, but ended up pulling on my incision, got an infection and was up for about another 2 weeks, so don't go too fast, too soon, it's hard after being laid up, as soon as you start feeling better, you want to do whatever, but take it slow.

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

Traveled about 40 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.

Had surgery on Thursday, Saturday morning in hospital, they were feeding me scrambled eggs, grits, mashed potatoes, so I wasn't on the clear liquid as long as most. 5 weeks post-op, there are some things I haven't tried, but nothing has disagreed with me, no suger.

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

4 weeks I was back on full duty, housework, but prolonged due to infection in incision.

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

take 2 childrens vitamins daily 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?

None, had hiatal hernia, which was fixed during surgery, so actually, felt better, no heartburn, at times, hard to believe I had surgery, other then not being able to eat much, but the little you do eat, feels you up. Did have hair loss about 4 months, lost a lot but wasn't noticable. It quit on it's on.

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

The initial pain.

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

Right now, the internet groups, but my surgeon and his associates has a group program, once a month, warriors against obesity, haven't attended yet, but plan to.

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

it's thin, but still kind of dark right now, dr told me to put vitamin E on it, it's what I expected. At 8 months, it has faded nicely.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I thought I would loose faster than I am loosing, but loosing is loosing. I would go a couple of weeks without loss, then have a big loss, then go a couple of more, that is the way it was since after the first month.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

No