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

through friends and research and my dr. i was very scared but i thought if something can help change my life, i am all for it

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

i had been approved by insurance to go through btc already but then had to change drs in which case i am glad i did but it took a bit of time to be approved for lap instead of open. have patients and be nice to your drs staff but also if you havent heard nothing call your insurance people.

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

it was very over whelming, he needed me to prove i could lose weight, which i did very little.but i liked his manner.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

when i couldnt help my daughter practice for things and i just wanted to sleep all the time no energy, was sick of feeling half dead and unhealthy.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

by talking to dr and he said he thought i could do the lap, so we went for it

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?

i was very scared to leave my family, alot of people said it can take years from your life, but reality how long would i live being so obese.

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?

they had to do research on it as well, but once they saw this was the only way for me they were all very supportive in every way.

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

they were all very supportive to me and several people were so impressed with me, my boss and friend was there every step of the way, she also had it done 11 months before and was great to see her progress.

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

it was long i wanted to go home and be more comfy, some of the nurse staff was ok but then there were others i wasnt to impressed with, 2 days and i didnt bring much, i slept alot.

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

just minor things like bloating but it all went well.

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 was scared but relieved, i had went through so much to get this and i was getting this done, to think i was saying bye to my family and what if i didnt see them again was the worst but i had gaith in dr gluck.

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

alot of resting but also alot of walking and sipping, dont lay around and think youll get better but dont over do it either.

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

about 2 i/2 hrs, i dont think it affected anything i had home health care here for a week and saw the dr weekly for 4 weeks.

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.

no sugar or fat, but why would i want that when that is what made me fat to begin with. i went from liquids to soft foods to chopped foods and then finally reg food. no soda or alcohol.

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

slowly getting back in to things but not over doing it, by 3 weeks i was back to work and excercising and doing whatever i wanted to do.

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

i was on bugs bunny twice a day now on one a day completes twice a day plus an iron and 2 calcium, was on pepcid but no longer am, i have about 75 g protein a day and alot of water.

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?

my worse is the hair loss i am thin haired and i dont have alot to lose it was very devastating to see the hair come out, i dumped once and that was enough for me.

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

the worse was the healing of the wounds i didnt think the one would ever heal but it did. didnt help i was allergic to tape.

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

i go to a support gropup closer to home and i find it very important because if i am having a bad day, i see i am not the only one and we can discuss how to change it with out having to do it all alone.

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

its cleared up i have 6 little marks some you can barely see now the worse one was where the tools were but it looks good now and yes it is

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

i have not had any yet, some weeks i lose more than other weeks

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

yes in some ways i do , men smile at me instead of looking at me like wow, now it is a good wow you are looking great, my mom saw me 3 months out and about cried said i was half the body i was when she saw me right after surgery. its hard to get rid of the big clothes that have always been your security but i have been and people notice