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

I'd heard about in the media and my dad's cousin had the surgery and did very well. She recommended 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 problems

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

My first surgeon visit was good. Short but good. People can get the most of their first meeting by being prepared ask questions and get answers.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I didn't want to die

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Dr recommendation

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?

None

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 surprisingly supportive. They had been trying to figure out how to bring up the subject with me. They have all been very supportive following the surgery.

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

I work for my family. I was away from my job for about 3 1/2 weeks, then started part-time for a couple of weeks, then back to full-time.

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

My stay was short and good. The nurses were very helpful and knowledgeable. I was in the hospital 3 days and 2 nights. Slippers and a hairbrush

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

The only complication I had was a reaction to the tape over the steri-strips where I had the laproscopic insisions

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

Tired but good. I prayed a lot

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

I was tired, but I walked as much as possible. My surgeon told me it didn't matter how far I walked as much as how long I walked every day. He wanted me to walk for a total of one hour a day. So I did. First it was 6 ten-minute walks, then 4 fifteen-minute walks, the 3 twenty-minute walks every day. Finally I could walk for an hour at a time. Gradually I can walk farther and farther during that hour. People should expect to be more tired than they thought

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

212 miles. I've only seen my surgeon twice since the surgery. I was scheduled a couple of other times but he had to cancel because he is a transplant surgeon first. His office staff and nurses have always answered all my questions and have called me to check on everthing

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.

At first I couldn't eat much. I followed the surgeon recommendations, clear liquids first, creamy liquids second, soft foods and gradually began to introduce more variety. I can not eat anything with sugar in it! I didn't eat beef until 6-months after the surgery. It's been 3 years now and I can eat almost anything I want. Just very small portions! I don't eat many sweet things. I don't crave them like I used to, but if I want something I eat a small portion and I'm satisfied. Fried foods still bother my pouch and cause a lot of gas but that's my biggest problem now.

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

Slow but building.

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

Multi vitamin, B-12, Iron, Magnesium, Calcium, Folic Acid, Gluocosimine & Chondroitin, Vit E, Potassium, Protein Shakes & Bars

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?

dumping & fatigue I cope with the dumping by avoiding sugars I cope with the fatigue by eating more protein & resting when I need to.

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

Excess skin

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

This website has been a lifesaver. There is no support group in my little town and I can't drive to SLC every week to attend one.

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

Very little scarring - Less than I expected

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I have had a couple of times that I didn't lose any pounds on the scale for a month, but usually if I increased my protein, I start losing again

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Not really - except I am much happier and outgoing and people around me react to that