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

I originally saw the t.v. report about carnie wilson abought 1 year ago and i thought wow this is for me controlled behavior whithin reason.I thought hte proceedure sounded very intense but everyone i had heard said they would do it again in a heartbeat.The biggest downfall for me is the scar and incision very long and i do hate it .

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

I had no problem getting approval however they paid less than 50% but i figured why not i would pay for it somehow.I feel if there is a will there is a way.

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

He was very informative , be prepared ask questoins.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

The post-op patients and this web-site.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

No choice open rny was my only option.

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 was pretty scared of death although my dr. stated i was a good canadate for surgery.I feel this should be an informed decision and a very personel soul search.

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 people thought i was crazy, that i should just diet and take off weight the old way.I feel i told people as it was you know it really isn;t anyones business but yours.Most people are surprised at my weightloss ,also infatuated with what i eat?

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

i am self employed i took off 4 weeks as per drs. orders that was pretty good for me .

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

my stay was very short 21/2 days the staff was pretty good overall i would bring a robe , slippers , brush and tooth brush.

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 thrilled at first but then i thought how wonderful it would be to be thin and healthy at that point i could hardly wait.

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

i was pretty sore but about the third day i could get around better, i was very depressed the first two weeks i felt my life as i knew it was over. i was very mad at not being able to eat, it was like a food withdrawl, i did survive . after the two weeks i did adjust much better.

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

15 min.

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.

in the beginning most anything would give me terrible back pains. at8 weeks i began to experiment with different foods some stayed down some did not beef has been extremely hard for me eggs make me vomite, lettuce gives me a stomach ache. at 12 weeks things started to turn for me not as much vomiting, at 3 1/2 months i am not getting sick as often. the diet has gotten easier and i don't care if i eat or not

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

my activity level was very good in fact i was very bored staying at home.

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

1 a day multi vitamin,b-12,4 sugar free tums daily

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 bigest problem is the vomiting i just never know when it will happen, i am starting to notice slight hair loss i'm at 4 months out.

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

the first day of pain the very long scar.

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

in peoria we have a pre-op and a post-op group very very helpful, it makes you more confident about your decision, it allows you to focus on your thoughts and feelings without any judgement being passed because you are all in the same boat.

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

at 4 mos. my scar is very red and very long 10 inches. it is not quite as ugly as i expected, however i do hate it ,i will probably eventually have it removed.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

my weight loss has slowed down the last month 4 mos.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

yes much friendlier more looks from men, most people can't complent me enough.