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

FROM A FRIEND WHO WAS CONSIDERING SURGERY, I WAS VERY AFRAID FOR HER AND STARTED REACHING. THROUGH THAT I FOUND THAT IT WAS AN OPPTION FOR ME AS WELL.

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

MY STAY WAS VERY PLEASANT, I HAD GREAT NURSES! I WAS IN FOR 4 DAYS. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO BRING IS YOUR FAITH & THE WILLINGNESS TO GET OUT QUICK !! BESIDES THAT ON PERSONAL ITEMS A CLEAN NIGHTY AND GUM, YOU CAN HAVE GUM JUST DON'T SWOLLOW IT !

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?

I FOUGHT FOR 8 MONTHS FOR THIS SURGERY AND GOT MY APPRONAL THE DAY BEFORE I LEFT SO THE ANXIETY WAS THROUGH THE LAST 8 MONTHS , I WAS CALM AND DETERMINED TO GET THIS DONE , I KNEW IF IT WAS IN GODS PLAN THAT I WOULD BE APPROVED AND I'D GO THROUGH IT JUST FINE AND THAT IS JUST WHAT HAPPENED!

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

I'VE BEEN HOME FOR 9 DAYS, I'VE DONE REAL WELL, BEEN A BIT TIRED BUT THATS NORMAL, THE INSISION LOOKS GREAT AND IS HEALING FINE, I'VE HAD NO PROBLEMS EATING,, LITTLE SLOW ON THE WATER, CAN'T SEEM TO DRINK AS MUCH AS NEEDED BUT I'M WORKING ON IT. IT'S JUST GREAT TO BE HOME WITH MY CHILDREN. LET YOUR LOVED ONES HELP BUT ALSO GET UP AND HELP YOUR SELF, TAKE YOUR SHOWER EVERY DAY PUT YOUR MAKE UP ON TRY TO GET BACK TO NORMAL.

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

IT WAS OVER 300 MILES, WE WENT TO SALT LAKE CITY, WE LIVE IN NV.MY AFTERCARE IS BEING DONE HERE.

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.

AT THIS STAGE THE ONLY THING I CAN'T EAT IS CHICKEN BREAST, IT HURT GOING DOWN. THAT IS THE ONLY THING THAT MY BOOK FROM THE HOPITAL SAY I CAN HAVE THAT I CAN'T EAT.

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

I'VE GONE TO THE STORE EVERYDAY SENCE I'VE BEEN HOME, MY FAMILY KEEPS ME MOVING.

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

FLINTSTONES

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?

AT THIS POINT I HAVE NONE OF THE PROBLEMS.

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

MY GALLBLADDER, THAT HAS BEEN THE ONLY PAIN I'VE HAD.

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

My aftercare was with my regular Dr. I don't belong to a support group but there are alot of people here that have been through this surgery that I communicate with on a regular basis which helps.

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

My scar turned out very nice,It healed nice.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I'm almost 2 years out and I did have plateau but if I went back to lots of water and protien it started comming off again.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

YES, at times it makes me mad, I'm still the same person I was when I was heavy.I think what gets to me is you have people who are almost meaner to you now than before, they would never have said oh your to fat but they think nothing of saying your to skinny.My response to them is well I'm alot healther now and I'm doing just fine thank you.