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

2002 Never thought I would do it or get approved

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

Deacones Hospital Was well taken care of. 2 days

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

Depression - Started to disolve all medications in milk with equal so it would get into my system better. Depression went away 1 week after taken my medicine this way.

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

Pain in the back from the hospital bed no energy Possiable depression, don't want to eat or drink Questioning yourself about what the hell did I do? Stressed

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

8 miles each way. no affect of aftercare.

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'm an Excutive Chef and I lost all my pleassure for the foods I loved. I would get sick from smell & taste of certain foods. No desire for sweets or fried foods. Was a big coffee drinker not any more Water & flavor waters tasted bad to me. Started drinking flat Diet Softdrinks able to handle better Milk > Lactose Intolerance Had to force myself to eat again and to learn what to eat again.

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

Walking the neighborhood while on sick leave Went back to work within 3 weeks off Was able to do so much but energy level dropped quick 2 months out I started feeing real good and energetic.

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

chewable vitamins B12 shots All prescribtions dissolved in milk with equal High protein diet with protein powder Sugarfree Instant Breakfast Drinks Fiber supplement Prune juice Cranberry Juice

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?

nausia from smell of food and taste. Still happening learning to eat these items again

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

WHAT DO I WANT TO EAT FOR A MEAL What sounds good? Nothing Put I know it is inprotant to eat and get those Proteins When will I have my next BM May sound awful & scary but it is worth it I feel good and my Labs are very good.

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

WLS Butterfly Network wlsbutterflynetwork.org very helpful and I recommend it

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

No you can barely see them Keeping tem rub down with Vitamin E Oil

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

None yet have concern I'm losing to fast

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes They notice me and see the person that I use to be A nicer healthier person