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

My mother was the 7th person in the world to have this done..so I knew of it before...It was my doctor that told me about it and thought it would be a good idea for my and my health proublems

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

My Doctors office took care of everything. the staff at stanford has been great to me!!!

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

For me I was more then ready. And I had looked into almost everything before I desided to do this. So I went in with alot of info. The first meeting was great and she said everything I knew she would. She made my family feel better about all of this. By telling them things I had already told them. My daughter who is also over weight is thinking about having this too.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

My health, my love for my family and my love for life. I'm tired of being fat tired of people looking at me I was to be like other people and for once in my life I want to be healthy

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I just looked into everything I could find and witch one was safer.

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 really didn't listen to other. I looked things up for myself and knew this was the one and only way to save my life. I'm really not afaird of any of this I know what I'm getting into. What would I say to someone thinking about having this. I Guess, what I would do is ask them Do they really want to live a long full life. Get started Now then save yourself cause noone else can.

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 Family is great they want me around longer. All of them are behide me in what i want.

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

I was on SSI, because of other health proublems, Witch the weight didn't help at all.

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

I was there not even 48 hours...the stay was ok but I was just ready to start on my new lifes joruney, Depends on how long you want to stay. I wanted to go home asap so I only brought what I needed for 24 hours

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

Everything when great. No trouble at all.

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 ok till the night before. Then I just cried alot.

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

This is a hard time, Your learning how to eat all over again and to do it slow, This is hard for a lot of us. Getting pass the liquid diet is to die for and the wrose part of all of this. Going onto pureed foods is the greatest. Plan to be tried a lot and alot of changes in your body!! But the best part is you will be changing yourself for the better

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

I had an hour and a half drive when i got out it was the wrose drive I ever took in my life and I think some one put wholes down just for me.

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.

It all depends on you! And how much you really look for things! Like You can't have corn But I found a great cream of corn soup and that was fine cause it had no skins! Things change from day to day! So its really hard to say! Take it one day at a time and see what is best for you!!

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

The these frist couple of days I've been high!!! I've really only had one bad time and that was my second night home I went to sleep on rolled over and tore a sitch.

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

to many to say at this time but will tell you soon in an update.

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 think the gas is the worse and the dumping isn't the best. Vomiting is here and I need to work on eating slower!

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

there is nothing about it that I would say is the worse part.

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

It is really important that you have some one you can turn too! So find someone or a group It is very important!

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

Not bad at all, 5 little 2" scares I'm proud of them cause it means I took the steps to making myself better.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Not yet! As of 12/02 Yes people are starting to treat me diffrent. I'm still the same person I was at 402 why can people see that!!