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

I had heard about it but never knew anyone who had had the surgery. Then i met a girl at work who did and she said the Insurance paid for it and then I found out it could assist in getting rid to the diabetics, sleep apnea, high blood pressure, so i thought i would try.

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

My insurance approved after 1 week. I was so happy

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

A Little nervous but it went well.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

For some self confidence, get rid of all the meds i was taking and just to feel better about myself and like looking in the mirror.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

By speaking to several people. I was going to have the open but then I had an issue with the first Dr i picked and decided to go to his associate but he only did the Lapporscopic and after speaking to him I decided to do it his way. Boy was i glad i did. I vertually had not pain at all.

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 pholosaphy is if it is my time to go does it really matter what i am doing? It would of been hard on one of my children but all worked out.

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?

They were pretty much for it. All except for the one child whose is worried about me dying. After a while she said as long as i really checked into it and am sure she will stand by me and she did and not i am almost her size.

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

The hospital was very nice and the people were really great. I had my surgery on Mon and went home on Tues evening.

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

None at all.

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 for the most part felt pretty good. I was a little afraid to try new things but soon got over that.

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

You are a little slow, and not really hungry at all. It is really hard to force yourself to eat or drink as it really is. But the time did go fast.

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

25 miles and it did not affect the aftercare at all

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.

I found I only thing I could not eat was rice. It felt as if it just sat in my stomach and it eventually came back up. But that was the only thing i couldn't eat.

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

I was then and still am sluggish. I swim most days and i really enjoy that but i have to force myself to get in the pool.

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

Started taking flintsone chewables and tums. I am now taking a multi vitiam and b-12.

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 just started loosing hair about 2 months ago, the vomiting only came when i had rice, and i haven't sleep well at night for a long time. I quite eating the rice for a while and found i now can eat rice and it stays down.

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

The process and getting the date for the surgery.

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

I haven't gone to one since i have been out of the hospital

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

just 5 little marks

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I went for about 1 month without loosing but started swimming and started loosing

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Not really