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

Through friends. Scary.

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

My insurance experience was a good one. No complications at all. Talk with your primary care physician and ask questions and what he'she felt about the procedure and if they feel you are a candidate for the surgery. Help me out a great deal.

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

It was hard and scary. Your conversating on a life changing experience and you are wondering if this is something that you can actually be successful at. Ask questions and listen

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

me being overweight.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I went to different seminars and I weight the pros and cons of each surgery and the initial recovery time. I went with the lap band first but insurance would not cover that procedure.

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 prayed and let Gods will be done.

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 only told my mother and a few people at church. All my co-workers knew and were very supportive.

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

My supervisor was behind me 110%. I was out of work for 2 weeks. Everyone at my job showed shuch great support and was/is very proud of me.

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

Hospital stay was great, staff was wonderful. I was there for three days. Very relaxing. A robe and slippers.

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

NO COMPLICATIONS. YEAHHHHHHHHH

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

Excited, very anxious. You just have to deal with it.

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

Change, adjustment, discomfort(not much)

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

maybe 20 minutes. Didnt affect it.

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.

Ground beef, cornbread with liquid(bean juice)everything else is fine. Some foods I ate on a regular basis before surgery, I dont wont anymore. I food choices are limited. My appetite has really curved.

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

Pretty good for a person who just had surgery. It was better for me to move around thatn to sit still. Heal faster.

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

Liquid multi 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?

I had none. It was a little discomforting for me to sleep in my bed but the couch turned out to be just fine.

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

The tube in my nose and getting the stitches removed.

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

I dont. I refer to people I know who have had the surgery.

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

Its there. Its a pretty scar and you cant see to much of it because my bra covers it. My younger son was scared of it at first. He kept asking if it hurt.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

None.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

No, there proud of me and my accomplishment.