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

I saw a add on TV, Called,Went to a meeting and just new this was for me I was so excited, I new in my heart I found help and I was going to do this no matter what any one said about it.

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

The inc denided my so I just payed for it myself.

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

Go with a open mind listen take notes. Go home and decauss it with your family.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

My kids are very young and I wanted to live to see them grow up, and I wanted to live for myself.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I new right away that I needed to have the GBP distel because you cant chet food with it or you will get sick. This one is totaly perment and relly works 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?

I realy didnt have to many fears because I was eather going to die being fat,or I could try the surgey and pry to God that it would work. I was not scared I new Dr Fox would take care of me.

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 of me having the surgey,and still are very supportive,and love the outcome.

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

I stay at home with my kids so I didnt have to deal with this problem.

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

My hosp. stay was 2 days It went fine and when you go home bring loss clothes to wear.

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

I had 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?

I was so excited when I found out I could go for surgery, I wished I could go that minunt.

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

The first 4 weeks home you can only have a surgerfree/liqued dite. It seems hard but its not your stomach is so small that the liqued fills you up.

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

My surgery was right were I live the hosptile is only 10 min. from my home.

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.

First month Liqued diet. Second month 1 oz of { Runny instet masht potoes,ceam of wheat runny} Therd month still samll amounts of food, 3 protine drinks dayly w/ vitames. I can no longer have suger,or milk ever again.Protine and vitames you have to take for the rest of you life.

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

My energy level just went up and up

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

Vita 4 life vitamins 3 pills 4xs a day Protine Its a powder that makes into a juice you only have to drink 6oz 3 xs a day and it tast awasom.

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?

When I was 6 months post my hair started to fall out but that only lasted a few weeks and you couldent even tell.

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

That i couldent life my kids for 3 months and it hurt to sneez.

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

Right now I souport on my family,but I have just looked in to geting into some local souport groups around home.

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

My scar is from the bottom of my brest bone to the top of my belly button.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

well right now I have platau at 135 and I have been this weight for 2 months now and I would like to lose about 10 more lbs.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Well before when I was over weight people would not give me the time of day now that I am thin people pay attiton to and treat me like a person,its nice but its also kinda sad.