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

From a customer at my work.

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

I made sure the doctor's office had everything they needed and I left it in God's hands. I prayed and said if God wanted me to have this surgery, then I would get the approval.

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

It was very plesant. He was up front about the risks of the surgery and the benifits. What I could expect and what o do and not to do.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I was tired of suffering from being overweight.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I figured if I was going to go through a major surgry, I was going all the way.

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 greatest fear was leaving my kids without some to care for them. I just had to weigh the benifits and the risks. I put my life in God's hands.

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?

Most everyone was supportive from day one. Everyone was concerned because it was so drastic, but they knew how much it ment to me.

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

My boss was very supportive. They told me to take care of myself. I was out of work for 3 weeks. I went back before my doctor said it was OK, but it was only part-time.

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

My stay in the hospital was very good. The staff was very atentive and caring. I was tere for 4 days. Take your own pillow and some stretchy pants to wear home. You will be swollen.

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

No complications

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

The first week I was regretting it, but as the days passed, I began to feel much better and was able to do more.

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

You will be very tired, sore and just feel like poo! Take it easy. Let people wait on you.

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

I traveled 1 1/2 hours to the doctor and the hospital.

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 was able to tollerate very small amounts of water in the hospital. Once I was home I tried Isopure drinks, soup and natural juice.

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

The first week I was doing nothing. Mostly sleeping and going to the bathroom. During the second week, I started to move around more, and do a little more around the house. By the 3rd week, My friends took me to wal-mart, but I had to ride in the motorized buggy. :)

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

I take 2 children's flintstons complete, a B12 tablet, and liquid protein.

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?

My hair loss has been minimal and thedumping has been minimal. I have noticed though that the longer out I am and the more foods I try, the more episodes of dumping I am likely to have with foods that do not agree with me.

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

The 1st week after surgery. You are so sore and tired and it's a task to even drink.

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

I have no used an aftercare support program.

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

My scaring is minimal. My surgery was don laproscopically, so my scars are small and not very noticable. They have faded well.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I have not plateaued yet, and I hope it doesn't happen for a while yet.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

people that haven't seen me in a while are very surprised at how I look, and people around me tell me they can see changes almost every week.