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

I first heard about wls by going to an information seminar about the gastric banding. After that I started to hear about it alot more and my best friend had it done. I was very scared at first and keep telling myself that i could lose the weight myself. I was lying to myself all the time.

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

No Problem getting approved. I am 24 years old with no health issues except for obesity. I was approved in a couple of days. Any advice is to go to the reccommended doctors and send in your paperwork and see what happens. Healthnet was really great!

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

My first visit was great with my surgeon. I didn't have really any questions to ask because I research the surgery so much. I was ready and just wanted it done. If you do have questions; don't be afraid to ask. No question is a dumb question.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I was ready there was nothing that made me finally decide except that i wanted to live a long time to take care of my son and hopefully have more children in the future.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I decided to have the procedure that the doctor recommended to me. what ever he thought was best. my main concern was safety and scarring.

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 biggest fear was not waking up from surgery. I overcame that fear by tellingmyself. "The doctors went through many years of school and have been doing this a very long time and they know what they are doing." I just had to trust them.

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 in my family was very supportive of this surgery. My parents feared it the most. As I think any parent would. My friends were very supportive and helpful during my recovery.

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

My employer was very interested in learning about the procedure. They were very caring and sent me a beautiful flower arrangement while I was in the hospital. I was only out of work for 2 weeks. I probably could have went back after 1 week and 2 days. I felt great. A little sleepy at times but I was taking care of my 2 year old. So I wasn't able to sleep anyway. I probably should have been at work.

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

My hospital stay was long and very boring. I hated getting my vitals done every 4 hours or so. You can't get much sleep in there-The nurses are always bugin you. I was in the hospital 4 nights 5 days. All you really need to bring is someting to go home in and some slippers. I wore the gounds everyday.

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

Yes, My doctor and his team had left a piece of the scope inside of me when they were through with my wls. I was out of recovery when I was told this and had to get put under a second time, so they could recover the piece that was inside of me. My doctor was very upset that this happened and so was I. I had no choice in the matter, but I am doing fine and I am so excited about the weight loss that it outways the complications that I had during surgery

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 was very scared. I was writing letter on my computer to all of my loved ones. In the case that something would happen to me during surgery. I talked alot to my friend that had it done 6 months prior to my date.

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

My first few weeks were pretty easy. You can't really mess up a liquid diet. I wasn't in much pain at all. I stopped taking pain meds 3 days after I came home. Everyone is different and I have youth on my side. Doctors say younger people heal quicker.

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

I travel only 5 minutes to the hospital and to my doctors office. He lives in my hometown.

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 3 weeks were a liquid to full-liquid diet after that soft foods. I really had no problem digesting anything. I have been introducing many things daily to my new stomach and I have not had any problems. I know I need to stay away from High Carbs and need to eat a lot of protein.

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

I was home for 2 weeks after surgery and after that I felt physicaly like nothing was done to me, except when i tried to eat soemthing. you can only eat such a little bit. That was the most amazing thing! I did realize that you have to eat very slow otherwise I get a serious pain in my chest.

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

I take a daily Centrum chewable vitamin (Orange Flavored). Its not too bad.

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 I noticed was bad breath after surgery. From the ketosis.

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

I worst part was the anxiety prior to surgery. The fear of the unknown.

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

I go to my suregons monthly support meetings at the hospital.

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

My scars are very little and slowly disapearing daily. I really didn't know what to expect but It is what it is.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

I see people complimenting me now on the weigh loss. Which makes me feel excellent.