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

My cousin had a WLS and encourage me to look into it.

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

To be honest with you, I did not have any problems. Everything happen so quickly for me. My advice for people who are trying to have a WLS is to do your homework. Do all the required testing, do not wait get right on it.

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

At my first visit I was very confortable and had the oppertunity to ask a lot of questions. I was not rushed with my questions and was given a complete answer.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

After looking at so many successful people and having the insurance that covered this procedure I could not pass up the oppertunity.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Well I really did not have to decide. The hospital that I had my surgery was not equipped for the lypo. So I had to have the open rny.

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 know I was very scared and often would tell friends that I hope I see the light again. They would take me to be joking, but I was dead serious. I told myself that I was going to write a will or a letter to my daughter just incase I did not make it.

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 was not supportive of me at all. Not because they did not want me to lose weight, but because they were scared they were not going to see me again.

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

Well everyone at my job were very supportive and happy for me. I had a few people who were actually upset with me because of the fear of complications. I was out of work from Nov. 17 until Jan 2nd. this was only because of the Holidays.

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

Well my stay in the hospital was nothing like I expected. I did not like the hospital I stayed in. I felt that the staff were not supportive enough and did not encourage me enough to get up and move around. I stayed in the Hospital for 2 days. Thank goodness. My nurse in ICU was Very good. Now she was supportive and did all she could for me. To me I really cannot say what the most important thing to bring is because I was in so much pain I did not have time to think in there.

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

It has been nine months since my surgery and so far things have been very blessing for me. I have not ran into any problems. I hope it stays like this.

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

Nothing seemed to hit me until it was actually time for me to have my surgery.

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

I was in a lot of pain, but had to motivate myself to move around so that I would get better.

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

I traveled about 200 miles. This affected my aftercare because I was unable to attened any meetings.

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.

I bascially can eat whatever I want. The only thing I ate that did not agree with me as tuna.I use to throw it up all the time. I cant drink milk. This occurred for the first 3 months. Now I can eat whatever I like, this is not a good thing because I can gain my weight back.

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

They were very slim. I did not want to do much.

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

I am not on any, but soon will be.

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?

The only thing was Vomiting, nausia, and the dumping. I do not do the first two any more, but if I eat something high in sugar I experiance the dumping.

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

Nothing was too bad, but I will say make sure you get all the request that the insurace wants you to have and get it in quick. Walk alot because the pain will set in on you and it will be hard to get over the pain.

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

There is a aftercare support group, but due to me staying so far I am unable to attend

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

Well my scar is not bad at all. No it is not what I expected, which is a good thing.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

In my sixth month I did experience a plateau. This was scaring me because I thought that my weaght loss success had come to an end. I only had one and hopefully this will be the only one.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Actually I do. That makes me feel that when I was big no one took intrest in me, but now that I am small they do. It upsets me because I am still the same person that they grown to know.