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

My best friends sister had it done a long time ago and she did very well with it and lost alot of weight and managed to keep it off. and she looked realy good.

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

no problems. Good luck!

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

Very good, I got to know him very good and new that he had done lots of these surgeries and he knew what whas best for me.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

It was my last hope

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I let that be my surgeons decision he has done several of these so I trusted he knew what would be best for me.

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?

At that point and time I realy didn't have any fears at all. I just figured what ever happens, happens. Because my health was getting worse and my doctors told me that the risks where nothing compared to what could have happened if I didn't go through the surgery, I was basically a hart attack or stroke looking for a place to happen. What I would tell people knowing what I know now (a year and a half later) is it isn't worth it, it's not what it's all made out to be. It's just another very quick, painfull, and expensive "Fix". wouldn't recomend the surgery to anyone.

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?

Family was nevous and didn't really want me to go through it. after the surgery they were very supotive, sometimes to suportive.

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

My Boss tried to talk me out of it, He always tried to make everyone think that he was a very strong believer and follower in the Attkins diet. He tried to get me to try it and even brought me a book on the diet. he always bragged up this diet. But i had never seen him lose any weight at all infact he gaind, but always followed it up with an excuse, not to mention he also liked his liquor and that is a no no on the attkins diet. But he did suport my decission and after returning to 6 weeks later he was very happy and suportive of me and I never heard another word about the Attkins diet again.

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

Stay in the Hospital was terible very noisy, I was this Hospitals very first gastric by-pass patient, however my surgen has done hundreds of them at another hospital. but the nursing staff didn't have a clue, and they were not prepared for my new way of eating, they brout me sugary FOODS! the first day. The my surgeon and the dietician had to talk to the staff and explain all this to them. so the hospital had to go grocerie shopping right then to go purcase the right stuff for my meals because they never had a patiant like this before so they wern't nutrionaly supplied. I was in the Hospital for four long misserable days. as far as most important thing to bring is someone that will speak up for you and demand a quieter room and what ever else you need because you are deffinitly not in a arguing or complaining mood.

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

Just the scar that wouldn't heal poperly and still have trouble with it a year and a half later.

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

just took it day by day, tryied to focus on other things to keep my mind off of it.

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

FOLLOW YOUR DOCTORS ORDERS! Don't try to do to much to soon, you will feel like you can but you will very quickly be reminded you CAN'T! make sure to get up often to prevent blood clots. Welcome to the world of baby land, your new diet Baby food, ADD SALT! it was the only way I could eat it. you will not be eatting much at all at this time. prepare yourself for bordum and lots of it.

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

I only had to travel 5 miles.

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.

See #14, Baby food! and liquids only very boring and YUK!

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

very low

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

Iron, B 1, Injection, calcium,

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?

VOMIT CITY!! 6-8 months. some hair loss but not bad

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

Not being able to enjoy a good meal anymore.

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

I have NONE. wasn't offered any. MAKE DARN SURE YOU GET SOME YOU WILL NEED IT!!!

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

The scar is big, long, and ugly. definitly not what I expected.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Dropped weight very qickly first 6 months then it slowed way down.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

YA Right! you are still the same person just a little less insulation.