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

Saw McGrath on news scarey was first impression

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

It took years until I got the right md. He was as excited for me and helped me thru the process once he was on board everything fell into place

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

It was very encouraging

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I had to have help

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I let the dr decide

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 had fears but I did what dr told me and knew she had my best interest so stuck to her plan

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 mostly against it

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

self employed

What was it like attending your first information seminar on weight loss surgery? Were you glad you attended? if so, why?

nervous yes very glad lots of info

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

I was there 4 days A pillow for the ride home

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 was overwhelmed at first I took things one day at a time

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

Learning how and what to eat and take it slow and buy a Magic Bullet and some 1 ounce ramikins

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

38 miles no

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.

Things I could eat in the beginning was baby food and anything I put in the magic bullet I missed salad and weeks after was able to have salads again I can not eat anything with a lot of sugar in it makes me sick to this day no ice cream coke cake anything like that

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

After became so energetic, so much energy I could work from daylight til dark

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

i took flinestones vitamins now take a B12 shot every week

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?

In 2009 lost all the hair in the back of my head and then in spots I am a red head and after a much needed Iron Infusion at the West Clinic hair came back but white as snow

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

the hair loss was traumatic for me had always had such beautiful hair

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

I had no aftercare support

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

no big deal very small

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I gained 20 lbs in 2010 but have taken 11 lbs back off by walking

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

no