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

co- worker was 3 years post op. saw her eating "normally" and yet she had been able to lose weight

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

Insurence turned me down. Dr wrote and appeal letter and they turned it down again. I wrote letter of appeal and told them it was affecting my health although I had no real co-morbiditys. approved after 7 months. advice? do not give up- keep writing letters, threaten legal action. tell them how much money you will cost them being fat!

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

visit with surgeon was no problem because you do not have to convince him this operation is a good thing like you might have to do with your primary Dr. who has to refer to surgeaon. write questions down to ask him, don't worry about sounding stupid. ask if he has any patients that would speak to you

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

when I used public restroom and couldn't wipe my butt, when I couldn't get up and walk cause my feet hurt too bad from carrying all the weight

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

this is the procedure that my surgeon does- didn't question it in the least cause I didn't know alot about other procedures

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?

didn't fear dying. wasn't afraid of complications. being fat more risky

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 was great- said it was up to me. no one opposed. told everyone I knew-even strangers on street,cashiers, waitresses, etc. would not have done it different.

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

wonderful as far as being in hosp goes. went in weds Am- out that Sat. pm. bring soap and shampoo to take first shower with.

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

none- I had no complications what so ever

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

one week after surgery- had to fly out of town to attend to ill Mother. recovery included back and forth to mothers hosp, attending her when she was home, etc. had no real anxiety regarding surgery and changes. Too pre-occupied

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

had to attend ill mother post surgery-alot of driving back and forth to hosp and all that ill mothers entail. expect not to sleep on your stomache or sides. pain getting up and down from sitting or lying position. pain coughing. but not unbearable pain. wanting to chew something other then eating (drinking?) liquids and soft diet

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

5 miles

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 2 weeks-scrambled eggs,oatmeal,frozen yougart,new pototoes. 2nd to 3rd week-add broiled fish or crab.3rd thru 10th week, anything but red meat (except drained ground beef), pork or white bread. Not allowed any sugar at all- ever again I think. can tolorate anything really. have been nauseaus or vomited only a dozen times. nothing specific sets me off. pretzels, crackers go down easy. Protein sometimes goes down hard.eat every few hours- not alot but maybe handfull pretzels, apple, ceral, chicken,1/4 sand on toast

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

alot of activity attending to ill mother. no other structured excercise- could have walked from the get go but have bad feet. doing more at 10 weeks but still not enough- toning excercises mostly

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

multi vitimin with iron, calcium pill, vitimin B-12 shot every month. took potassium pills the first 3 weeks

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?

have had no dumping whatso ever. and have eaten little amounts of sugar.little nausea and vomiting and i just stop eating and wait 15 minutes. no hair loss yet. sleep was hard first few weeks that i had to sleep on back

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

scared it won't work. feeling guilty about not excercising. no physical regrets. surgery itself never pleasant. do not crave for anything- do not feel deprived

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

dr has a weekly support group and i do not attend. do not feel comfortable there and don't like the people. use the on line support groups alot. most every day

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

scar is beautiful!! saw some others at a support meeting that were all raised up and uglymine just a thin red line from belly button to between breasts. healed wonderfully. put vitimin e on it every night

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

none yet

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

men talk to me more