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

I found about bariatric surgery through Voc Rehab and I was very interested in it

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

I started this on may 6th and it takes alot of time and patients

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

My 1st visit was good I was exploained alot and was very excited

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

Knowing that I would lose weight and get to do things with my son

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 alot of fears

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 family was very supportive and so were my friends

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

n/a

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

It was a plesent stay, I was there for one night...

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

The Doctor was worried about my breathing but it got alot better

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 excited and I dealt with the anxiety by praying

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

The 1st few weeks are pretty easy just rest and do ur exercising. and Get alot of help from your family

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

I had to travel 2 hours

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 could have applesauce,popsicles,jello, I could nt have any solid foods, I was not even hungry so food was not really a problem and I could not smell anything being cooked

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

the 1st few days i just wanted to rest but now i am up and walking

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

taking calicum, mulit vitam, b-12,Iron

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 nausea the 1st few days, and I can not sleep in my bed just yet

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

being scared,

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

I am on the support board on dr.jawads site everyone is very supportive and I have friends and family

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

they are 6 small scares and they are like what i expected

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

i have lost 19lbs

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

everyone is glad I am doing good and they say I look like i have lost weight