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

A friend had the surgery a year before mine. My sister encouraged me to have the strenght to have the surgery.

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

There were no problems.

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

He is very compationate. He explained the procedure. He believes in giving quality time to each patient.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

The desire to be healthy and live longer and have a quality life without always being hungry from dieting and feeling like an outcast.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Talked to my physician and researched the subject.

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?

Very supportive.

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

I was in the hospital for 6 days. A radio or walkman, a fan, and a positive attitude!

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

A tremendous amount of vomiting 4 months post op. To deal with it, I reverted to a liquid diet for a month.

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 scared I wouldn't loose weight. I talked to my surgeon, Dr. Sanderfer. He provided encouragement and reassurance that the weight loss will happen.

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

Very difficult. I had home health care daily until the staples were removed. It was hard to remain quiet and rest.

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

My surgeon's office is 100 miles round trip from my house. The hospital is 6 miles. I would have traveled at any lenght for this surgery. The surgeon was the important fact.

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 was on a clear liquid week 2 post op. I was on a soft diet weeks 3-5 post op. I am now 6 months and I still can not tolerate fish and poultry. I have recently tried lettuce. I am not able to eat melons or much fruit; it causes me to vomit.

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

My mind was very active and it tricked my body. I was not able to shower without the use of a shower stool. I was able to walk only 5 minutes at a time. Six months post op I am swimming a mile a day.

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

I take Children's Centrum daily and B12 2x's a wk

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?

The vomiting and nausia are the worse. They have now subsided during the 6 months. They started at month 3 post op.

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

There are no worse parts, except getting up the night of surgery!

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

I depended alot on my surgeon, Dr. Sanderfer and his nurse Debbie. Since I have found WLS. I am using the chat room. VERY HELPFUL.

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

The scar run frm my breast bone to my belly button. It is not too bad, a small price to pay for a new life.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

4 month post hit a plateau. It lasted 6 weeks. VEry discouraging

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

No, except I travel alot and the seats on the planes seem "bigger".