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

A frinds brother had it, and I was intreagued as to what was the actual need to go through such an invasive and life threathening surgury...so I decided to research it and become familiarized with it....so when I started to have the possible thought of ...hmmm...maybe thats something that I might do...if I CHOOSE TO DO IT....

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

It was....A LOONNGG WAIT....MAKE SURE YOU FALLOW THROUGH WITH YOUR PROGRAM AND YOU GO TO YOUR APPOINTMENTS AND DO EVERYTHING YOU ARE ASKED TO DO AND THEN DO MORE....because once your done and sitting there waiting for the insurance people to finish LOOKING INTO YOUR MEDICAL RECORDS to find out IF YOU FALLOWED THROUGH in completing everything to were supposed to

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

I LOVED IT, I LOVE MY SURGEON, YOU HAVE TO FEEL CONFORTABLE WITH HIM OR HER, ASK 1001 QUESTIONS IF HE OR SHE CAN NOT OR WONT GIVE YOU THE ANSWERS THAT YOU NEED THEN YOU NEED TO LOOK FOR ANOTHER SURGEON...YOU SHOULD GO TO EVERY SUPPORT GROUP MEETING THAT YOU CAN HANDLE THE MORE THE BETTER...GO IN WITH PEN AND PAPER READY AND ASK QUESTIONS AND TAKE NOTES...AND AS YOUR OWN QUESTIONS ARRISE, WRITE THEM DOWN AND ASK YOUR SURGEON AS WELL....

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I suffer from Fibromialgia, and Rheumatoid Arthritis...the pain that I have been feeling made it a deciding factor....even after infussion treatments and physical therapy appointments, I needed to have and do more in order to aliviate that pain and make it less ....less is sooo much better....lol

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

RESEARCH.....

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 went into this wanting to know EVERYTHING ABOUT THE CONS AND NOT THE PROS....THE PROS YOU WILL NOW....THE CONS WILL SURPRISE THE LIVING HELL OUT OF YOU...YOU WILL LEARN FROM THEM....BUT YOU NEEN TO FAMILIARIZE YOURDELF WITH OTHER PEOPLES EXPERIENCES WITH THE COMPLICATIONS THAT YOU COULD HAVE AND WRITE THEM DOWM....DO WHAT YOU MUST DO BEFORE SURGERY TO HELP YOUR SURGEON AND YOURSELF HAVE A POSSITIVE OUTCOME...ONCE YOU HAVE YOUR SURGEY, DONT DO ANYTHING TO GEAPORDIZE YOURSELF AND YOUR LIFE....FALLOW THE ADVICE OF YOUR DOCTOR AND FALLOW THE ADVICE OF YOUR SUPPORT GROUP AND MOST IMPORTANTLY BE CAREFULL....

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 was a last componant as to why I made the desission to have this procedure done, they werent happy about my decission to have it done, they didnt think I need to have it done, they were worried, BUT, I did this for me, not for anyone else, I knew that I would have some opposition but that I would have for the most part their help when I needed them, and they were very helpful...and encouraging....especially after them knowing that my mind was made up and I was doing this for me and that it was all about me..and Im happy

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

He was very supportive, I took a month off of work and he matched it....

What was it like attending your first information seminar on weight loss surgery? Were you glad you attended? if so, why?

ABSOLUTELY, THE SUPPORT GROUPS ARE A GODSENT....EVERYONE SHOULD AND NEED TO ATTENT AS MANY AS THEY CAN BEFORE SURGERY AND AFTER

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

My hospital stay was pleasant, everyone was very helpful and attentive to my deeds....I WAS IN PAIN!!!!! every chance I had I thanked the nurses, and doctors on call that took care of me they were sooo nice....answered all my questions and made me feel very confortable, My surgeon came to see me every day that I was there...I went in on a tuesday and was out by that thursday...so in total I was there a total of 3 days....when I was discharged I was given everything needed to help in my recovery, at home I had everything that I needed to take after the surgery like multivitamins, etc...

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

Yes I did have some minor complications (compared to the complications that I could have had like internal bleeding, tears, etc. these were minor) I had an obstruction, due to this I could not consume liquids and became very dehidrated so I ended up in the hospital twice, I also had severe excesive abdominal and torso pains and muscle spasms, regurgitation, throwing up, dry hieving, very dry skin, jaundice(trauma to the body due to surgery) weakness, excessive fatigue, fainting spells...I called my surgeon and his team and fallowed their advise to the letter, I went to every appoinment they set up for me, I forced protein intake, had an upper GI, endoscopy to dilate the obstruction

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 excited, I was actually the calming voice to every one that was worried for me or nervous....I felt great and was looking forward to it

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

OHH MY GOD!!!! OK.... 1. its going to be hard, but, DRINK DRINK DRINK..... 2. G2 instead of regular gatoraid 3. WATER WILL TASTE NASTY, FREEZE IT AND CRUSH IT in order to intake it... 4. TAKE YOUR VITAMINS AND SUPPLEMENTS...creamy penut butter will be your friend when taking your B12 5. WALK WALK WALK...WETHER ITS FROM YOUR BED TO THE KITCHEN OR TO THE LIVING ROOM, THEN BACK TO BED....WALK.... 6. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A STRONG SUPPORT TEAM, YOU WILL NEED THEIR HELP... 7. DONT FORCE YOURSELF TO GO TO THE BATHROOM, YOU CAN HURT YOURSELF BY TEARING, it will happend in time, REMEMBER your not eating anthing, you are drinking, so theres nothing there for your body to escrete....dont worry it will happend 8. Certain people come out of surgery in agonizing pain, and some dont....if you do have pain, take your medications and drink plenty of fluids....DONT STAY IN BED, WALK!!, i know its going t be hard, really hard, but you have to keep yourself mobile...have some one help you stand up, sit down, walk...even if its just for a few seconds..... 9. When taking a shower, AND GOING OUT FOR A WALK....DONT DO IT ALONE, HAVE YOUR HUSBAND, BOYFRIEND, MOTHER, SISTER be in the bathroom OR GO OUT with you....FAINTING SPELLS ARE A NORM...after surgery, you have to be VERY CAREFUL NOT TO FALL AND CAUSE YOURSELF MORE HARM THAN GOOD... 10. TAKE YOUR TIME, DONT RUSH....

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

I didnt travel far, my hosptial is whithin the same City

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.

UNBELIEVABLE!!!!! I HAD NO TASTEBUDS....EVERYTHING ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING TASTED DISGUSTING...FROM DAY ONE AFTER SURGERY I COULD NOT DRINK ANYTHING UNLESS IT WAS FROZEN AND CRUSHED IN THE BLENDER....I COULD NOT EAT LIGHT CHEESE, ONLY CHEDDAR, I COULD NOT EAT EGGS, AT ALL, WETHER BOILED, SCRAMBLED SUNNYSIDE...NONE...I COULD NOT EAT COLD CUTS, CHICKEN, FISH, CARROTS PEAS, PEPPER, I COULD ONLY EAT POTATOES, PURES, AND BROTH SOUPS WITH NODDLES WERE MY FRIEND I COULD NOT HAVE TOAST, BUT CAN HAVE CRACKERS, I CANT STAND THE SMELL OF CHOCOLATE OR ANYTING SWEET....OR THE STENCH OF OILS, OR FOOD COOKING OR MEAT COOKING....I BASICALLY BECAME A SORT OF A VEGGETARIAN....I LOVE IT...I DONT CRAVE A LOT OF THINGS THAT I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO CRAVE...

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

It was very low, I was in a lot of pain, and had asome complications so my activity levels were walking around my home and resting resting resting...I became depressed and felt like I was being help hostage by my own home...but I could not afford to have any other complications so I did not try to rush myself I took it easy

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

I take on a daily basis... Levoxyl(thiroid med),Omeprazol(to prevent acid reflux),2 chewable Multivitamins, 1 dose of B12 complex liquid drops, 2tsp of Calcium + vitamin D3 twice a day, 1 Biotin gel capsul

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?

I thought it was going to be the hair loss but it wasnt, I stated to take Biotin before the surgery and using 2% Rogaine twice a day...so my hair loss was very little if any at all.... so for me, it was the Nausea and Vomiting and dizzy spells along with Fatigue that was the worst....they lasted for almost two months,from the day of surgery, and they got so bad that I litterally thought I was going to die...at one point,...I reverted to my 5year old self, I remember how scared I was and I remember criying and asking for "my mommy and daddy", after about a month and ahalf, I found out that I had an obstruction, so once that was fixed"surgical procedure" I instantly felt sooo much better....

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

The worst part for me has been the healing process...the vomiting the pain the nauseasness, the fatigue....and the waiting to get better....