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

5 years ago when my best friend went throgh this before the Lap Band was available

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

My doctors office did fantastic with this

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

Funny because they looked at me and did not think I was heavy enough until I got on the scale. Those darn things DO NOT lie.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

No matter how hard I tried I was not losing. I was exercising and eating less and better and nothing worked. I was tired of being ashamed of myself.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

My best friend had the opposite and that poor thing has gone thorugh so much and I am good with all that she has had to do and still goes through.

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

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?

I am suprised that did not annouce it to the world as they were more excited then I expected as they were tired of watching me get bigger.

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

None of their business so I had a generic doctors note for being out. Obviously after losing what I have it is noticable so I shared when I was ready and not a minute before. I took 3 weeks and wished I had stayed out the full 6 my doctor wanted me to but that is all behind me now. 8 weeks out I feel great.

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

My stay was great the Nurses treated me great for the one night I was there. I thought the best part was over all they did not bug me nearly as much as most hospitals do so that i could actually rest.

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

None

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

For the first 2 I was in terrible pain and wondered if I did the right things as other friends seemed to bounce back from this surgery much faster then I did. By week 3 however I was a very happy girl with very little pain. As to coping with anxiety, suck it up and deal with it, what other option do you really have AFTER the fact.

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

I walked and walked and walked, the more I sat the more my belly would be sore because you hare hunching when you are sitting. Buy yourself a bed wedge from Bed Bath and Beyond (only place that had them) because then you can sleep more comfortable after the surgery and get out of bed a little easier.

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

40 miles or more. this affected nothing, would do it again.

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.

Well guys basically I was on the same diet as everyone else. Liquids till day 15, baby food consistancy for 14 days, then soft foods for 14 days and then you are off and running and learning to eat smaller amounts. I DO stay away from spaghetti sauce as it seems to cramp my stomach so I am avoiding it for a few more months before I try again. Basically I can eat anything I could before but in very small amounts so I dont feel cheated because I can still enjoy.

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

I think I walked more then then ever in my life. I was dead on my feet most of the 4 weeks after surgery, just could not get enough rest or so it seems. I have a feeling when you go from 2000 calories a day to 300 that is going to happy. hahahaha

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

Flintstone vitamins are my friends.

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

I have my family and friends and I hate crowds so there is no way I would have agreed to them. That is one of the biggest reasons I chose my doctor is because he did not cram the group meetings down my throat. I think they are great if you are into sharing, I am not so dont feel I should be made to do that.

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

I have 4 all in a straight line across my upper stomach and they look great.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I stayed at the same weight the week or 2 before my first fill. The the day of the fill I had lost a pound. That is seriously discouraging to go through this and not lose weight but I am not the only person that has had this happen so I guess it is normal.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Not really. Comments are made to me because of my height I did not look big enough for the surgery and hear it daily.