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

Mr doctor ihad lost 78 punds but my liver was storing fat and it was causing problems so he sugested surgery. I was ready to do anything to help me get healthy and to like myself.

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

Due to the fact I had proff of the many time I had lost enourmous amount of weight and my health issue diabeties and liver problem as well as other I was aproved immediately.

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

Dr Shins is great he tell it like it is and makes sure to test you for any problems before he will do surgery. To me he saved me, now it has been since 2005 and in the last 18 months I have gained weight. I am hoping he can help me I am so afraid I can not face being large again.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

My helth both physical and mental.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I was hoping this would make me stick to what I needed to do to be healthy. Plus I needed to get quit results due to my liver problem.

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 not afraid I knew this was my only chance to get healthy and be there for my family. This will help but you must stick to the rules at all times or you will end up where you started or worst.

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?

MY sons were very supportive and worried. My husband not so much but was their after. I would not change anything about my decision to have the surgery.I just wish I had not stop going to my doctor to get my shoys he kept me on the straight and narrow. I was in a size 8 and weighted 178 in the last 18 months I am in size 12 to 14 and weight 215 that is 37+. I have scheduled an appointment to see my doctor. I do not think I have strecht my stomach out but I am eating the wrong thing. They told me they can help, I pray they can.

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

Not at the beginning but after the weight loss many of my fellow employees have looked into and had either the band or bypass. I do not rememberhow many weeks but then I got phnemonea and spent 3 weeks more weeks in th hospital.

What was it like attending your first information seminar on weight loss surgery? Were you glad you attended? if so, why?

I was confused and felt out of place. I was hoping for help with post operative help because I was lost on how to keep it off and decided I could do it on my own WRONG!!!

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

Not bad, not long, rope slippers.

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

Hospital Pneumonia.

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 ready for my new life, I was going to follow all the direction I was given and I did. I felt like I was going to be alright.

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

Well I only stayed home 2 days and was placed in the hospital with Pneumonia. The home nurse found that I had Pneumonia. I was very weak I did not want to eat or drink anything.

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

30 miles not 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.

I followed the direction Dr Shina gave me to the T until I had lost all the weight he wanted me to. Then I started adding proteins to my diet, V-8 juice, dill pickles, leetuce, fat free refried beans,low fat yougurt, cottage cheese. But in the last 18 months I added things I should not have and I will not list them because it may open the gate to those of you that do not have problems keeping your weight off. Just remeber only add things that your doctor tells you too it is for the best.

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

i walked as much as I could I did not want to just sit and lay around.

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

Unjury twice a day I love it. Multy vitamin, TUMS, Fiber Choice, B complex, Gibko, Iron and I get B12 and B1 shots one a month and one every other month.

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?

Hair loss. Dumping was very rarely and when it did happen it reminded me why I was doing all of this.I still loss hair. I just hope that eventually my hair will be back and I will be helathier then I have ever been.

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

The 2 drainage balls they were always in the way.

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

I have had none for a long time until I found this site I am hoping going back to my surgeon and this site will help me.

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

Not bad at all.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I really did not have one I think because I exercise and followed the rules.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes it is amazing how different I am treated doors are opened for me, men stare and talk to me all the time. It makes me feel good but I still fill like I am the same person they had seen before and just turned away.