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

Still waiting for approval and take all your Medical Records with you to your first visit with your Doctor

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

My first meeting was wonderful. Very informative ask for sample diets start trying them now before surgery

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

Meeting other people who have had the surgery and realize I am not the first to die and the chances of me dying was just as high if i was to stay this weight

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

rny was for me I dont think I could have done the Micro pouch or other things this sounded safer.

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?

My biggest fear is Dying on the table and leaving my family behind. but I hate my self how I am now and the other thing is what if they open me up and I have Cancer.

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?

My hubby is very supportive and my friends are wonderful, My family (Mom,dad and sisters) are against it. and I keep saying to my self if this is my musterd seed then I have faith in it. (If you have Faith as big as a musterd seed anything is possiable. (I beleive that is how it goes)

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

I told my Boss and she who is a registered Dietician told me to go for it because The surgery has improved so much through the years and all the Nurses are cheering me on till my surgery date

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

I took a night and cut the tops and put in velcrow then I took socks and loose comfortablee to come home in.The Hospital bought a big wheelchair for the unit and trainned the nurses alot more.

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

I was in alot of pain and a nurse put a warn blanket under my right shoulder and pain was gone

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 wanted it NOW!!!! I kept busy and excerised.

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

my 3 rd day home I was up and out visiting car rides are hard till about week 3. Take a pillow

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

2 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.

first 1 clear fluid, 2nd week and milk products 3rd week soups 4th week masded potatoes, refried beans 4th week chicken. No Breads or Pasta aand I am on week 7 now

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

1wk energy 2wk so so 3wk reaady to go 4wk same 5th Low Son was in the Hospital 6th Low 7th High

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

oil pill aand childrens nutilite vitamin

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?

noot being able to sleep on my side for 3 weeks

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

3rd week you dont loose your body catahs up to the weight loss

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

Dr.Streeter has his own ssupport group and My hubby and I really eenjoy it

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

first 3 weeks it was puff and now its smooth with little bumps i rub where the stitches didnt disolve. I cleaned mine once a day with Massengal femine cleaning.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

3rd week after loosing 30 pds and then nothing i was upset and then a friend said your body has to catch up

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

no