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

I HAD THE SURGERY THAT IS CLOSE TO THIS 6 YRS AGO AND HAVE HAD SOME PROBLEMS WITH IT; I HAVE BEEN GOING TO MEETINGS THEY HAVE IN OUR AREA AND SEE WHAT THE PEOPLE HAVE DONE AND HOW THEY LIKE DR SPIERS. THEY SEEM ALL TO DOING PRETTY GOOD. I ALSO LIKE THE MEETINGS; WISH THEY COULD HAVE THEM MORE THAN EVERY OTHER MONTH.

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

GET HELP GET HELP I FEEL THEY THINK THEY ARE GOD; THEY CAN SAY YEA OR NAY WITH OUT KNOWING ANYTHING ABOUT US!!!!

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

ROBIN WAS VERY HELPFUL AND GAVE ME SOME SUGGESTIONS ON GETTING MY SURGERY DONE. SINCE I HAD THE OTHER SURGERY BEFORE DR SPIERS REALLY DIDN'T NEED TO EXPLAINE EVERYTHING ONLY HOW HE DID IT.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

LIKE I SAID I HAVE BEEN GOING TO THE MEETINGS: I HAVE TWO COUSINS THAT HAVE HAD IT DONE AND THEY WERE VERY HEAVY AND THEY ARE BOTH DOING GREAT AND THEY ARE SO HAPPY AND I AM VERY HAPPY FOR THEM BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN HEAVY FOR MANY YEARS AND NOW THEY ARE STILL YOUNG AND CAN ENJOY LIFE YET

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?

YOU ALL HAVE THE FEAR -SOMETHING COULD GO WRONG. THAT IS POSIBLE BUT IT SURE WAS WORTH IT TO ME

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 WANTED ME TO HAVE THE SURGERY, THE OTHERS PROUBLY THOUGHT I WOULD FAIL AGAIN. I AM SURE HE DID ALSO

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

I REALLY DIDN'T TELL THEM ANYTHING TILL THE LAST MIN UNTIL I HAD TO TAKE THE TIME OFF. I WAS OFF 6 WEEKS BECAUSE OF THE TYPE OF WORK I HAVE TO DO.

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

I WAS IN MERCY HOSPITAL IN SPRINGFIELD OHIO. IT WAS VERY NICE AND I HAD A GREAT NURSE THAT TOOK VERY GOOD CARE OF ME. I WAS IN THERE 4 DAYS-TUE THR SAT MORNING, BUT THOUGHT I COULD HAVE WENT HOME ON FRIDAY. JUST SLIPPERS AND HOUSECOAT TO WALK. I NEEDED TO HAVE MY HAIR WASH SO MY DAUGHTER BROUGHT ME SOME OF MY SHAMPOO AND WASHED MY HAIR FOR ME. DON'T TAKE TO MUCH YOU WILL NOT NEED IT

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

I AM HAVING TRBL DRINKING ANYTHING, TEA IS ABOUT WHAT I CAN HANDLE I ALSO AM HAVING TRBL EATING BUT TAKE EACH DAY AT A TIME AND TRY DIFFERENT THINGS.

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 WOULD GET VERY TIRED AND COULD NOT DO VERY MUCH SO WOULD JUST HAVE TO SET DOWN FOR AWHILE. THIS IS NOT LIKE ME I AM ALWAYS ON THE GO SO IT WAS VERY HARD FOR ME TO DO THIS

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

WELL I HAD TO GET READY FOR A WEEDING THAT WAS 4 WEEKS AFTER I GOT HOME SO HAD TO DO ALOT OF CLEANING AND GETTING READY FOR IT. WHEN I WOULD GET TIRED I WOULD SET DOWN, BUT IT WAS HARD DOING THIS YOU NEED THE FIRST 2 WEEKS JUST GETTING BACK INTO IT AND NEED TO TAKE IT EASY-=WHICH I COULDN'T DO

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

NOT FAR ONLY ABOUT 20 MILES

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 FIRST 2 WEEKS WERE PUDDINGS, JELLO AND BROTH. THE NEXT 2 WEEKS WERE CRAKERS, BACON, CHIPS AND CRUNCHY THINGS I COULD NOT DO BACON (THAT IS ONE OF MY FAVORIT FOODS) THE ONLY THING I REALLY COULD HANDLE WAS MASHPOTATOES =WAS REALLY GOOD. AFTER THE 5TH WEEK HE SAYS I CAN EAT MOST ANYTHING, BUT I HAVE TRBL WITH ALOT OF FOODS SO AM JUST TAKING IT EASY. I CAN ONLY EAT ABOUT 5-6 BITES OF ANYTHING. FOR BREAK IN THE MORNING I HAVE BEEN EATING 1 PIECE OF TOAST. I TRYED BACON ON IT THE OTHER DAY. LUNCH IS HARD FOR ME (I am back working and eat with 2 other guys) FRIDAY I HAD A VERY SMALL PIZZA AND A SIDE SALAD. I ATE I PIECE OF PIZZA AND A FEW BITES OF THE SALAD (WHICH TASTED GREATTTTT) AND BROUGHT THE REST HOME. I USUALLY HAVE A FEW BITES OF MY LUNCH FOR SUPPER. DON'T EAT MUCH AFTER 7. I HAVE TO MAKE MY SELF DRINK BECAUSE IT IS VERY HARD FOR ME

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

I WOULD STILL GET UP EARLY BUT WAS VERY TIRED BUT DID NOT TAKE ANY NAPS BUT WOULD GO TO BED AT 9PM. IT TOOK A LONG TIME TO GET MY STRENGTH BACK. I HAD TO MAKE MY SELF DO THINGS BECAUSE I HAD THE WEDDING 4 WEEKS AFTER SURGERY AND HAD FRIDAY NIGHT REHERSAL HERE AND THEN A SUNDAY BRUNCH HERE. SO HAD A LOT OF WORK TO DO.

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?

IT HAS BEEN 5 WEEKS AND HAVING VOMITING ATER SOME EATING. TRYING DIFFERENT THINGS

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

NOT HAVING ANY STRENGTH AFTER SURGERY -

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

WE HAVE MEETINGS IN OUR AREA THE LAST THURSDAY OF THE MONTH EVERY OTHER MONTH. I WISH IT WAS EVERY MONTH, I REALLY THINK WE NEED THEM THAT OFTEN.

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

IT LOOKS GREAT ALREADY AND HAS ONLY BEEN 5 WEEKS

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

YES I DID HAVE PLATEAU; I STAYED AT 150 FOR AWHILE AND THEN GOT CLOSE TO 145 AND WAS THERE FOR EVER AND THEN FIANLLY ABOUT THE SAME TIME JERRY WAS LOSING HERS=I STARTED AGAIN TO LOSE AGAIN. NOW I AM 130 LBS. THAT IS SO HARD TO BELIEVE. WHEN I LOOK AT MY SELF -I STILL DON'T THINK I LOOK LIKE 130LBS EVEN WHEN I TRY THOSE SIZE 6 ON.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

YES I DO, ESPECAILLY MEN, THEY DO TREAT YOU DIFFERENT.