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

it was my last resort

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

experience was horrible. took forever to be approved. no one understood my situation including then nutritionist. They were pathetic.

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

my first visit was awesome. he said he could help me.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

i finally got approved and thought what do i have to loose.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

i wanted the point of no return.

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 figured i would be dead in about 2 years - what did i have to loose.

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?

it was none of their business

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

i was out of work for 2 months - they were supportiv

What was it like attending your first information seminar on weight loss surgery? Were you glad you attended? if so, why?

my surgeon never gets back to me about support meetings. i need them badly and need help. where are they when i need them.

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

my stay in the hospital was supposed to be 23 hrs. It was 4 days. i thought i was dying and no one was helping me. staff was terrible except for the last 2 days and no one seemed to care that i had so much pain. i never thought i would make it home alive.

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

Pain was incredible - took oxycodine. Pressure in my stomach was unbearable.

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

it took 4 weeks before i started feeling human. very little weight loss.

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

Pain, just blotted untolerable pain.

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

I traveled over an hour to have my surgery. the hospital and staff was horrible. they fought amonst themselves where to place me and kept moving me. Finally, someone cared and got me in a private room. i was moved twice within 12 hrs.

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.

i stayed on liquids for 3 weeks and then went to a soft diet. it worked for me.

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

tired, always tired.

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

prenatal vitamin, vitamin d, biotin, fish oil, etc.

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 don't sleep and if i do i get about 4 hrs. i take 1 1/2 mg of valium everynight to try to sleep. sleeping is horrible. It's still a horrible problem.

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

post op. it was horrible. no one understood the pain i was having. i thought i was dying. Dr. never understood. Only saw him twice while i was in the hospital. Finally on the 4th day he did more test. Was sent home to cope on my own.

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

i need a support group. i gave the surgeon my email address and they will not suopply the information. i've been trying for 2 years. they are 1 hr away from my home.

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

no problem

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

plateau's are constant and after 2 yrs have gained 13+ lbs

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

women seem to hate me that are my age. i look good and they don't like it. i've lost so many good friends (I thought) that it hurts - including my own sister-in-law. No one seems to want me around. I used to be the biggest person in the room and now i'm not. I haven't changed except for being more outgoing. I'm not the lump sitting at the wall unnoticed.