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

I knew of a friend who has it done. After much research I felt this was the way for me to go.

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 with insurance. My surgeons office was very good about setting it up for me.

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

Very informative. You will get the most out of it by realizing there are no stupid questions and ask any and all that you have and fears about.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

Not liking myself anymore.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I work in the medical field. After researching all procedures and speaking with the surgeon I felt most comfortable with form he recommended.

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 really had none. My surgeon was very very good. If you have total trust and confidence in his abilities then you will feel no fear.

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 worried originally. They had heard all of the horror stories that everyone has heard. But they respected my decision and were very supportive of me through the whole process.

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

My employer really had no reaction. My boss was supportive of my decision. Because I had the roux en y open I was required to take off 8 weeks as my job requires a lot of lifting.

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

I was in the hospital for total of 4 days. I really only had to stay for 3 but because my hometown was 2 1/2 hrs away from the hospital and it was the middle of winter and a holiday my surgeon really wanted me to stay another day. I had my surgery 12/28/04.

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?

I really had no anxieties. I had felt great throughout my post op period.

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

Well naturally you will be sore. But most importantly you need to walk,walk,walk and make sure you get in all the proein required.

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

110 miles. Really had no affect on my aftercare.

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.

The only things I find I really can not eat with dumping is milk and oj mainly.

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

I would walk minimum 1/2 to 3/4 mile daily then after I went back to work after eight weeks I joined Curves. Now 4yrs post op I have a personal trainer and workout at a gym at least 3x/wk.

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

multivitamin,calcium,iron and b12

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?

I would have infrequent episodes of dumping as I figured out exactly what I could and could not eat. I also found that it was really important to chew you food really well or else it would get stuck at the entrance to the pouch and I would feel really uncomfortable pressure in my chest until it cleared if I ate too fast or didn't chew my food well enough.

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

Probably the first day post op.

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

I haven't attended a support group. I would really recommend people do so though.

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

Its appoximately 6in in length vertically down my abd. Now it is barely visible.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Right now I no longer lose any weight. This is very frustrating to me.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

I have noticed that men now treat me differently.