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

OTHERS WHO HAD IT DONE.

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

THE INSRANCE WE HAD DID NOT COVER ANY WEIGHT LOSS METHOD. AFTER TWO DIFFENT DENIALS , WENT TO LOCAL SOCIAL SERVICES AND GOT A PROGRAME TO PAY FOR THE HOSPITAL. THEN WENT TO THE HOSPITAL AND GOT ON A INDIGENT PROGRAM. LATER AFTER BEING OUT OF WORK FOR OVER THREE MONTHS, SINGED UP FOR MEDICAID. BUT THAT TOOK AWAY THE OTHER PROGRAMS, I DON'T REALLY KNOW HOW MUCH IF ANY THIS WILL COST.

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

THE FIRST VISIT WAS NERVING. BUT AFTER MEATING THE DOCTOR AND STAFF I WAS FINE.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

MY FAMILY DOCTOR SAID THAT IF I DID NOT GET WEIGHT OFF FAST , HE WOULD MAYBE GIVE ME TWO MORE YEARS WITH MY FAMILY.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

THE PROCEEDURE I HAD IS NEW. THE DOCTOR I SEE WENT TO CANADA TO WORK WITH ANOTHER DOCTOR. WHEN HE CAME BACK HE ASKED HIS PATIENTS IF THEY MIND NOT BEING TOLD WHICH THEY WOULD GET UNTIL AFTER SURGERY.

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?

ALOT OF FEARS OF COMPLICATIONS. DYING FROM SURGERY WAS REAL BIG FEAR SCENC I HAD SLEEP APNEA , SUPER OVER WEIGHT.

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?

EVERY ONE WAS AND STILL IS VERY SUPPORTIVE

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

SUPERVISOR VERY SUPPORTIVE. PROBLEMS WITH COMPANY

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

THE HOSPITIAL STAY WAS FAIR. I WAS IN RECOVERY LONGER, BECAUSE WAITING FOR AN OPENED BED IN ICU. WAS IN ICU., ALONGER TIME BECAUSE WAITING FOR AN OPENED BED. BUT OTHER WISE PRETY GOOD STAY

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

NO

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

FIRST FEW DAYS WAS FILLING FINE.

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

PUREED FOOD IS NOT THE BEST STUFF TO EAT. THINGS TAST DIFFERENT TO ME. ABOUT FOUR DAYS AFTER SURGERY IS WHEN THINGS STARTED GOI WRONG FOR ME. THE STAPLES PULLED OUT. DOCTOR WANTED SITE TO HEAL FROM INSIDE OUT SO DID NOT SEW BACK CLOSED.

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

THE DOCTOR AND HOSPITIAL IS A THREE AND HALF HOUR DRIVE

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.

BASCIALLY YOU CAN EAT ALMOST EVERY THING. NO REFINED SUGERS, AND WATH THE GREAS'. THE FIRST MONTH ALL THINGS MUST BE PUREED, TO THE FEEL OF APPLE SAUCE. AFTER EAT REGULOR FOOD. STILL NO REFINED SUGER , WATCH THE GREAS , NO JUNK FOOD ,

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

WITH THE PROBLEM I HAVE , I'VE NOT BEEN VERY ACTIVE.

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

VITAMINS: A, D ,MULTI. , CALTRATE ,

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?

NAUSIA , VOMITING. STILL HAVE IT. SOME PARTS OF THE DAY WORST THAN OTHERS.

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

WHAT I AM GOING TROU NOW.

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

THERE ARE PLENTY OUT THERE I JUST HAVE NOT GONE TO ANY

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

I HAVE ANOTHER SCAR FROM OTHER SURGERY SO MINE LOOKS LIKE A CROSS

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

IN MY CASE I HAVE NOT HIT A PLATEAU. I START VOMITING WHEN I EAT SO I AM STILL LOSING WEIGHT VERY FAST. AVERG. OF 12 LBS. WEEKLY

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

NO. I HAVE NOT BEEN OUT OF THE HOUSE UNLESS I GO TO A DOCTORS VISIT