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

I found out about it 5yr ago and went to the clinic in New Jersey but didn't go through with it just wanted information about it.

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

well since my husband is miltary,they paid for it when i 1st tried my doctor said no and I was very sad he said to lose it myself.wow--------then I did more research went back 6 months later and he approve it--

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

My surgeon was so great he told me that I really needed the surgery and what to expect.I did my homework on him before we met.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I knew there was noway I was going ti lose the weight by myself and I knew that I needed help.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

well I didn't want to be cut up and down and now that with the laparoscopic I thought that wasn't so bad you heel alot faster--

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?

My fear was not waking up not seeing my family again listen to what everyone else said trying to tell me not to have it but I realize I had to do this for me I wanted to better myself, eventhough the day of I cried my butt off but they made me feel so relax it was great-

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?

Well my family didn't want me to do it my husband supportive me threw the whole thing and I love him so much for that he didn't try to talk me out of it because he knew how I felt about myself but my family wow that another story,i guess you can say they were worry about me and if somehting goes wrong what about my kids 5 and 12

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

I wasn't working at the time--

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

My stay at the hospital was different I guess you can because I'm in Germany you have to bring all the things that you would normal use at home not like a regular hospital in the states I was there for 8 days

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

none at all I was up in 2hr later--

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 got my date a month after my appt- it was great scared though-

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

my 2nd day home I walk my son to school I felt so great and I needed air that 9 days later but everyone is different though 2weeks later I was walking on a treadmill wow--

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

I travel about hour away and my aftercare wasn't a problem at all--

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.

okay bread for a while,steaks,spaghett,but now I can eat whatever,sometime I do struggle with spaghetti it has to be thin or angel hair--

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

I had more energy to do more things without getting so tried,

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

muti vit,iron ,b-12 ,calcium

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 got nausea when I would eat to fast or not chew my food well,that the only timeI would get like that no hair loss that god for that--

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

drinking that stuff to clean you system out other than that nothing--

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

I join the support group before I had the surgery and we meet once a month they really do help you with great idea support that you need someone to talk to when you feeling blue they are just great--

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

my scars arent't bad and yes they are what I expected--

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

wow I would plateau alot I will get down about it because I would see other people at the meeting and would see how much weight they loss and was losing more than me but in the end I'm glad I lost my weight slow--

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

yes at my job since I work with public.some ladys would talk to all the time now that I lost weight now they just look at me funny and now want speak--