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

I read about it and saw documentary programs on TV about it, and my impressions were, I should have this done!

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

Getting insurance approval was great. I had no problems.

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

My first visit with my surgeon was OK. He treated me like just another patient.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

My father died from diabetes, and he was not overweight. He was on dialysis, and was blind. I had diabetes, and I didn't want to go down the same road, so I decided to do something, and weight loss surgery was the answer.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

My doctor did laproscopic surgery, and that's what I wanted.

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 really didn't have any fears because I wanted it done so badly.

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 family and friends were behind me 100%, and after surgery, they were still behind me 100%.

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

They were very supportive. I told them the truth, and I was out of work for 5 weeks.

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

The hospital stay was OK. I was in for 4 days. One day longer than I was suppose to be there. I had a fever and had to stay one day longer. I just brought my brush, tooth brush, tooth paste, slippers and eye glasses.

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

The only complication I had was a bladder infection 2 days after I came home. I called the doctor, went to see him and he prescribed medication.

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 couldn't waite for the surgery. I had no anxiety or fears. I just wanted to get it done and be on the road to recovery.

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

My first few weeks at home were filled with naps and taking tylenol. I was very tired for the first two weeks, and one of the incisions really bothered me. It was right on my waste line. By the third week I started to feel like myself, and each week I got stronger. By the time I went back to work, I was fine. Also remember I was 58 years old when I had this done. I wasn't 25 like some of you who can bounce back quickly.

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

Not far. Only about 6 or 7 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.

By the time 3 weeks passed I could eat just about everything, except things with sugar like cakes, pies, ice cream, etc., and I still don't eat them after 5 months!! I tried different foods, and if they sat well in my new stomach, then I went on to the next food. It took a few months before I ate raw carrots, celery and cucumbers. I still haven't tried fresh oranges, or tangerines. I'm afraid they won't digest.

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

My activity level after the surgery was "0". I had to push myself to walk, but by the second week, I was doing much better and walked a lot.

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

The only vitamins I took after surgery was a one a day vitamin and a potassium vitamin, and I had my blood work done a month ago to see if I was lacking vitamins, and I'm not. The doctor told me just to continue with what I was taking.

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?

The only side effects I had was nausia a few times because I ate one mouthfull too much, but it passed in about 15 minutes. I have experienced hair loss. It started at about 4 months post op and I'm still losing hair after 5 months.

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

The worst part was about three weeks after surgery a muscle on the inside of me had to be cut so the doctor could get an instrment in to see what he was doing, started to heal and it was painful for a few days.

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

I went once and all everyone did was argue about different topics, so I never went back.

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

I have 5 tiny scars from the instruments that they have to poke into you, and it is what I expected.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I've had 2 plateaus since surgery. The first one was about a month after surgery and it lasted for 2 weeks the second was about 4 months after surgery and it also lasted for 2 weeks.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

I wasn't treated any differently, except I got a lot of compliments.