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

A FRIEND. I WAS SCARED REAL BAD.

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

THERE WAS NONE FOR ME. JUST KEEP FIGHTING AND HANG IN THERE.

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

IT WAS VERY NICE HE WAS VERY INTERESTING. I LEARNED ALOT.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I NEEDED TO LOSS THE WEIGHT IT WAS THE ONLY WAY I SEEN IT HAPPENING.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

THE SCAR DIDNOT BOTHER ME I WANTED THEM TO SEE EVERYTHING THEY WERE DOING INSIDE THERE.

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?

THEY ONLY FEAR I HAD WAS DYING. BUT DONT LET IT GET TO YOU TO MUCH YOU ARE IN GOOD HANDS.

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?

EVERYONE WAS REAL SUPPORTIVE AND THEY STILL ARE.

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

MY HOSPITAL STAY WAS O.K. THEY WERE VERY NICE AND CARING. I WAS IN THERE FOR 5 DAYS. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO BRING IS SOME LOOSE CLOTHES SO THEY DONT SNUG YOUR STOMACH.

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

I HAD 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 FELT KIND OF HUNGARY. AND KIND OF WEAK. BUT YOU LEARN THAT THIS IS THE PRICE YOU PAY.

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

HUNGARY, TIRED.

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

ABOUT 100 MILES.NO

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 CANT EAT NOTHING. I STILL CANT DO RED MEAT IT HAS BEEN 2 MONTHS.

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

PRETTY ACTIVE.

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

VITAMIN B12 TUMS CHEWABLES

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?

VOMITING AND HAIR LOSS ABOUT 1 MONTH. I KNEW THAT WAS PART OF THE SURGERY.

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

THEY WAITING.

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

I LEARN ALOT OFF THE INTERNET AND MY BEST FRIEND. IT IS PRETTY HELPFUL.

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

WELL IT IS NOT THAT BAD IT KIND OF FITS IN WITH THE STRETCH MARKS.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

HAVE NOT HAD ANY YET.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

NO NOT REALLY.