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

My sister had surgery 30 yrs ago so I have known about it but never thought of it for me. Don't know why I didn't think of it sooner for myself, but recently the way the media has made information available has brought it out to the fore-front.

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 at all with Tri=Care

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

First visit with surgeon was great. He has a great support group system in place that explains everything that you sould be doing.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

After my yearly check-up, my primary physician said that carring my weight was going to shorten my life.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

My doctor decided.

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'm a positive thinking person. I only think in terms that I will be fine.

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 husband has been the greatest supporter! What a man. He has attended every meeting with me and is going to stay on the food plan with me after surgery, not that I have asked him to, he wants to.

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

It was okay, 3 days.

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

None

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

During my waiting period I sold my house and found a new one. I had too many decisions to make at that time to worry about surgery. Just planning around the date.

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

Expect to be very tired and self centered. Do a lot of sleeping. I worried that I did the wrong thing, I should never have done this, what have I done to myself! Will I ever feel normal again. Those feeling pass. I did a lot a walking

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

About 25 minutes away. Since I moved I'm now almost an hour. Hasn't affected aftercare. Wish support group was closer, which recently it has.

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.

Miss eating breads and my favorite POTATOES, potatoes in any form. All starches are on my no-no list. I'm having trouble eating meats. I think I could turn vegetarian easily. I've only had 2 bad reactions and that involved eating chicken, which used to be my favorite. I eat more fish now. I have recently found a couple of dessert recipes that are all protien, and that has helped with the boredom of eating the same things.

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

I had no energy level after surgery. I did do a lot of walking, but it did tire me out. After about the 4th month my old energy level started to come back. I'm in my 5th month now, and I think I'm more active than before surgery.

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

Two vitamins, B12 lozengers, 4 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?

have not had any hair loss to my knowledge. I've vomited 2 x's. Nausia when I eat meats, but have never lost it. Sleeping? I am restless, I'll have to get up and take Tylinol pm's in order to sleep all night. I do wake up early.

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

Getting past the first 4 mnths.

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

Support group with Dr. Tenewitz

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

Don't like my scar, and didn't expect it to be so big. But, well worth it.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

haven't reached on yet.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes, I don't feel their eyes on me when I enter a room, it's like "I'm normal" now.