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

i learned about wls through the media watching carnie wilson

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

my dr's staff were wonderful they did all the work i was approved in one week.

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

dr kirkland was very straight forward. he tells it like it is. he was very informative from the first meeting

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

i was tired of fighting a losing (gaining :) battle

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

i had surgery on wed and was released sun morning. i took toiletries and slippers. the hospital gown was the most practical to wear while in the hospital. i also took a robe.

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

only complication was a staph infection which i developed 3 weeks post op. it was a difficult time for me but i got through with the total support of my husband and family

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 used this site to talk to others who had been in my shoes. the support was great. i was comfortable with the decision to have the surgery so i was more excited than anxious.

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

i had a rough time because i really couldn't get up and around. i was literally in a recliner for 4 weeks. i had no appetite at all and ended up losing 30 lbs in 8 days. you have to force yourself to eat and drink. i couldn't tolerate the protein powders and i have lost a good bit of hair but it is finally coming back.

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

30 mins from nj to phila

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.

during the first 3 weeks on lived on clear liquids, after that i moved to soup and yogurt. for me food is no longer pleasurable. i am not depressed over not getting pleaure from food though. i eat to live now not live to eat

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

my activity level for the first 8 weeks was very inactive, now i have an incredible amount of enery, i feel like 25 instead of 45

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

i take two flintstone complete chewables, two iron tabs, two calcium tabs and one b-12 dot sublingual everyday and will do so for the rest of my life. i also drink ensure light. (this contains sugar which will normally make me dump so i drink 1 ounce every hour so i don't get sick from the sugar intake

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 only dumped twice so far and that was from not chewing my food well enough.

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

dealing with a staph infection was the only painful and annoying part of the wls for me

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

we meet the last tues of every month at the hospital. i also have the support of friends from church who have had the surgery it is very important to have the support of those who have gone through the same wls because no one else can fully understand what you are going through

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

not too bad at all. i was told what to expect before surgery therefor i had no surprises

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

i saw my surgeon this past thursday. he told me i will probably only lose another 10lbs. my goal was to lose 100 but a size 8 is good enough for me.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

yes. i believe i am treated differently now. people don't look through me anymore. i also feel so self confident and carry myself in a better manner