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

My family doctor recommended it to me do to my medical problems it is hard for me to try alot of diets , exercise, or pills. I was all for the idea of wls I was just worried about the insurance company's approval and the cost to me.

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

Insurance approval was easy approved right away after I met there needs of 6 months medically supervised wl, all of the pre testing and dietican visits. I was very suprised due to being told that cigna was very hard to get approved for.

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

I was very impressed with dr. Burry. I asked alot of questions. There is always more questions that you think of during the pre op visits but you have time to ask them because you visit so often and you can call them at anytime without feeling like you are bugging the staff.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

The insurance approval, insurance covering 90% of the wls whithout that this dream would have not came true

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

The Dr. suggested the ryn and I just trusted he knew what was best for me.

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 was afraid I would die during surgery. I told the dr and everyone in my family to not let me die. I am not ready to die. I cried alot days before surgery. If I needed to be on Life support or needed another surgery than do it. I was scared to death

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 really supportive to the exception of my mother in law she" couldn't believe they would even do the surgery because of my lupus" she is very obese and had checked into wls before me and was upset that I was going ahead and doing it and she was not. But don't tell her that!lol

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

Not working

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

I hated my stay in the hospital after surgery. Before surgery was great. Bad experiences with nurses. They took me to radiology in a very small wheelchair,gave me straws to drink out of, did not help me with anything I was on my own.I was there 2 days. Take comfy slippers, robe, magazines, ask for diaper wipes to help clean yourself,

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

Iron deff. I am on iron supplements and infusions. Lots of fatigue

In the weeks after you got your surgery date, how did you feel? How did you cope with any anxiety you might have felt?

excited, scared,

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

pain in the left of tummy,lots of gas, belly rumbles,sore incisions I heal real slow, I had a stitch poking my belly muscles

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

30 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.

fats, sugar so far .no dumping yet i am sure it will happen though. I have to eat slow or I will have pouch pain

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

none! existant lots of fatigue

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

optisource vitamins, iron supplements

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?

hairloss currently,vomitinf if I eat to fast

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

so far the 1st 6 weeks were not fun

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

obesity help.com is my life support. I cannot attend support group meetings right now my husband has been out of town lately when they meet

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

5 small scars

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

My health has put my wl on hold. I have lupus and am trying to get healthy again due to a lupus set back after wls

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

alot of people ask how much have I lost,