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

TV - sounded interesting

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

no problem - advice- have all your ducks in a row. You have got to play their game.

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

A waste of time. He seemed to rushed and did not want to explain or take time with me.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

sick and tired of being sick and tired

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?

had no medical fears

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?

concerned and supportive

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

supportive

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

3 days and the stay was great. Bring a good brush, tooth brush and tooth paste, etc Bring easy slippers or footies, Something to read, very comfy cloths for ride home, someone to sit with you and help you get up and walk.

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

nope

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

felt fine, no complications. excited about my new journey.

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

back to normal in a week and half. Avoid TV with all the damn food commercials. frustrating post op diet. Wanted salty and hard foods.

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

12 miles

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.

liquids for 2 weeks, then soft foods for 2 weeks, then kept trying new things. most I had no problem. Stay away from tough or dry foods. Tend to get stuck. Now, just focus on protein and low fat.

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

at first no energy especially first month. now energy is good

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

calcium, multi vit, biotin, iron, zinc, sub-lingual b-12

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 and stomach aches occaionally. not much else. Don't eat too much or too fast or when you are stressed. Hair loss is happening now- yikes

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

don't know yet

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

very, very, very important. Psych support group, psych therapy, and post-op support group.

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

not bad. 3 have all but dissappeared. 3 are still pretty abvious. no biggie.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

no real plateaues

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

yes, guys are looking again.