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

My best friend had the surgery approx. 3 years before me, I had to see how she did with her decision.

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

List all, I mean everything that you have tried, every diet, dr you talked with, pills, thearapy, liquids, and food plans. Give the surgeon the completed list of everything you have tried. My insurance company was great, I did not expect them to pay. I had two insurances at this time, I did not think the primary insurance would pay, but the approved on the first submission.

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

Be confident when you speak with the surgeon, this is a last resort.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

Last resort

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 had a lot of faith in my surgeon, I had no worries. I did not worry about dying, we can not control this issue. If I didnt have the surgery I would die from other health reasons or mental health reasons. Weight problems is a circle that is hard to break, We eat because we are depressed, we get depressed because we eat.

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?

I only thought of myself when I made this decision. My sister was my biggest supporter, and I love her for this.

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

very supportive.

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

Akron General was a great hospital, I was in the hospital for a full week. When the nurses want you up to walk, please do so. Walking helps get you back in the swing of things, I think this helped my recovery.

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

None

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

Positive attitude!!!

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

You have to eat or you will get sick, take things slow and find a great partner to walk with you. My neighbor, who just turned 80, was my partner with walking, if I didnt call her, she would call me and get me going. She was my guarding angel.

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.

First couple of weeks is liquids, then it was suppose to be blended in mixer, I skipped this level. I went to solids and still liquids after a couple of weeks of liquids. I try everything now. The things I have the most problems with are milk products and chicken breast, also dry meats are hard to handle. I added things alittle at a time, if I was sick from it, I would wait and try it later.

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

very limited

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

My surgeon wanted me to take a complete vitamin from CVS. I had a very hard time with them, so I am now on childrens vitamins and chewable calcuim.

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?

Vomiting - I still do if I eat something wrong, too fast. Hair loss - Mine grew back healthier. Talk with you hair dresser they can suggest vitamins for this.

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

Thinking that this is what I had to do to get the weight off.

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

I have moved since my surgery, I do not have a support group. I think a support group is very important from the start to the finish and after. I am trying to get a support group started at my work.

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

I had a very thin scar from my breast bone down to and around my belly button. I just had the tummy tuck and breast reductions, so now I have a new scar and the orig. surgery scar is almost all gone.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I have been at approx. 150 lbs. for apporx. a year. Last year I was at 138-140 and this was way too low of weight for my body structure. Yes I would love to be lighter, but not at the cost of looking sick.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Its hard to find true friends!!! People still can use you if you let them.