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

TV, thought it was a joke and then I did alot of research on the pc about it.

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

Not a problem, got approval with the first letter.

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

Went in and talked with him, watched a movie, took a list of questions in with me, he helped me with the distance from him , I only had the one visit with him prior to the surgery.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

Success stories and wanting to loss weight safely

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

The Doctor and I talked and he gave me his thoughts

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?

None, it is how much you want it

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?

Had a fit, worried, scared.

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

Well they were supportive, worried also, was off work for 3 weeks

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

Wonderful stay, 3 days, was supposed to be out in 2 days, but I had a problem with the PCA and med pains

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

Yes, vomitting from the pain meds, after they changed me to plain Tylenol, I only had to take one dose, they vomitting went away after 18 hrs, when I convinced them that is was the pain meds, they switched me from the PCA to Demerol IM and it still made me very ill, so we stopped all narcotics and it went away.

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

Anxious, kept busy working

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

Still felt fat, but hopeful, never had any pain, worried that I couldn't eat and drink all I was required to.

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

5 hr drive, now it is 9 hrs, so I changed Doctors, (don't much like that) but no choice.

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.

Carnation Instant Breakfast Sugar Free, baby food without sugar, NO SUGAR, if it is listed as any of the first three ingredients I can't have it. I get nauseated, break out in sweats and get trouble stomach pains with sugar. I pureed reg food that other were eating and could eat a little. Now I made a card that says I have had gastric bypass surgery and can only have childrens portions in restrauants, so I feel like I don't have to waste as much food. I'm sorry but I do eat if I want it things on the lists that I shouldn't, if I want a potato chip I eat one, then I am fine. There isn't much that i can not eat, NO BREAD, NO SUGAR, NO PASTA, makes me sick.

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

Low, and now I am up to walking 2 miles a day.

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

Vit B12, Mutivitamin, 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?

Hair Loss, so I got a wig that looked like my hair, I love it, I cannot get all the protenins in, and that causes hair loss and I cannot eat the 6 meals a day.

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

The effects of the pain meds, making me sick and vomitting blood. So if you are sensitive to medication, be wise and if you get nauseated with them, get off them

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

None, just from my Doctor, I was going thru a divorce and my family lived a long way from me, so I just had myself and my dog.

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

5 small scars from puncture sites and one drain site. Pretty much

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

None, except trying to find foods free of sugar and low in carbs

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

They treat me as if I am tiny, my problem is I still feel like a whale, I look in the mirror and it is not me looking back.