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

i saw Carney Wilson on a talk show

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

BTC handled it for me,

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

I'm not very good at asking qeustions. I took my very inquisative husband with me, so if you can't ask the important questions, take someone with who will

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

the pain in my feet and shoulders. I can hardly stand it some days. Both my podiatrist and my chiropracter say that the pain I'm in is do to my weight. lose the weight , lose the pain.

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?

my husband was supportive until I got a surgery date then he was so oppsed that I almost didn't have the surgery. He said he was afraid of losing me, not just if something were to go wrong, I told him I Knew the surgery would go fine..He was afraid that I would get thin and leave him, I was only 108 pounds when we met, I fell in lovwe with him when I was thin what made him think that if I got thin again I would love him less???

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

My boss was great,about me taking my vacation time all at once. I applied for it as soon as I got a surgery date,,, I was off three weeks and when I went back to work My boss told me she only wanted me back at part time but would pay me full time until my sixth week post-op,,,,

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

the staff was great. I came home on day 4. and the hospital supplied everything but long didtant phone service,,,Bring a phone card,,

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 felt very depressed for about 6 weeks. I would cry at the drop of a hat. It got better when I started tracking my protein intake. The days I drank protein to make my requirements, were better .

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

Make sure you have help. I have alot of animals a dog ,5 cats, 8 birds, 3 rabbits, and I ususally vaccum daily. I needed some one to do that, and litter pans.

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

Belvidere is only about an hour from my home. my family doctor is 45 minutes in the opposite direction. No problem.

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.

12-28-02 I still cannot eat pork... I love bacon and it never bothed me before, but now, horrible cramps and the worst diarrhea. I have not vomitted once. Pork Is the only thing I can't handle. I wish choclate would make me sick.. everyone made fudge for christmas,

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

at first it hurt to walk very much, at 9 weeks I feel like I have more energy, more stamina, I dance when I do my housework, got caught dancing at work last week too, that was embarassing.

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

I take a childrens chewable twicve a day

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

I wanted to sleep right after surgery and no one would let me... my blood pressure kept falling to 70 over 30, and very thing came out at the same consistancy as it went in.

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

I have a great scar it is not very wide ,looks better than my c0-section scar. my only complaint is that because of my gall bladder surgery the year before, it's a little off center at the top.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

12-28-02 I don't think It is a plateau. I think it's the christmas fudge that I haven't been able to resist.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

My husband is soooo attentive, even more than before. tells me about a dozen times a day that he loves me and got me a new wedding band that fits.we won't have my good rings sized until I quit lossing.