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

I foundout about it about 9 yrs ago and I was definitly against it, I would tell my friend who also struggles with her weight that I was not ever going to do it. BOY WAS I WRONG

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

Majority of the staff were real nice and helpful, but you know there are always one bad egg. 3 days. Magazines and your patients.

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

I had no complications

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 excited because in 10 days I had lost 25 pounds. I did ok.

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

I think the hardest think for me was not being able to do things like lifting, sweeping. You will be bored out of your mind, at least I was

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

Not Far the hospital is 3 minutes away from my house I was lucky.

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.

1st 10 days 1oz of jello, chicken broth and crystal light. Then for about 2 weeks it's beans, cottage cheese, crystal light. Then for the next 2 weeks you can have ground beef, tuna, chicken cut up in really small bites. I am now at the point were I can eat whatever my family eats but small portions and this is at almost 3 months out. The only thing that I can't eat are Avacadoes

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

For the 1st couple of weeks I was a little weak but it gets better after that.

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

I take 2 fintstone vitamins, 3 tums for calcium, B-12 once a week and I also take Actigall twice a day for my gallbladder since I still have mine.

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 only have had nausea a couple of times and that is if ate something like avacadoes and it goes away after you lay down.

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

We ahave a support group for the patients who have had the surgery or for those who are interested in getting it.

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

I had it lap so I have 5 little incisions so it's great. I was surprised but happy.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I have had one were I have lost 3 pounds instead of the ususal 6 if you consider that a plateau.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

My peers are still the same, I just don't like the attention of people watching me. Like you are just withering away