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

I FOUND OUT BY JUST LOOKING TO SEE WHAT WAS ON THE SITE FOR OBESITY. IN THAN I RAN ACROSS THIS SITE IN I HAVE BEEN STICKING WITH THEM EVERY SINCE.

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

MY BATTLE WITH INSURANCE WAS NOT BAD. EVEN THOUGH I HAD MEDICADE IT REALLY WASNT THAT BAD. IN THAT TO ME IS SHOCKING. MY ADVICE TO PEOPLE IS IF YOU REALLY WANT IT BE PATIENT AND IT WILL HAPPEN. I FEEL YOU ALSO HAVE TO WORK AT IT AS WELL AS OTHERS. YOU HAVE TO HAVE FAITH.

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

HE WAS A SWEETHEART FROM THE BEGINING OF IT ALL. IN HE EXPLAINED EVERYTHING FROM THE ROOTER TO THE TOOTER. I HAD A PAPER TO ASK HIM QUESTION IN WHEN HE GOT THROUGH TALKING TO US WE HAD NOTHING LEFT TO ASK HIM HE ALREADY TOLD US WHAT WE NEEDED TO KNOW.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

WELL I WAS TIRED OF BEING DOWN IN OUT, AND THAT WAS PHYSICALLY IN MENTALLY. I WAS JUST BREAKING DOWN.

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

MY STAY IN THE HOPITAL WAS GREAT. THE NURSES WERE GREAT. BUT I HAD MY HUSBAND THERE IN HE DID EVERYTHING. SO I REALLY DID NOT NEED A NURSE. BUT THEY WERE TRYING IN THAT WAS A GOOD EFFORT ON THERE PART.

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

NO I DID NOT HAVE ANY AT ALL, BUT THIS IS ALL BY THE GRACE OF GOD. IN ALSO BECAUSE I HAD THE BEST SURGEON.

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 DIZZY, YET LIGHTER ON MY FEET. BUT THAT ALL LEFT IN TIME. IT IS WHAT I CALL A BODY AJUSTMENT.

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

WELL GET READY TO GET YOUR BODY TO AJUST TO HAVEING SOUP IN NOT ALOT OF JUNK FOODS. ALSO GET READY FOR A WHOLE NEW YOU BECAUSE THAT TAKES PLACE REALLY FAST.

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

I TRAVELED 3 HOURS IN 30 MINUTES AWAY. IT DID NOT EFFECT ME AT ALL.

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.

I COULD EAT ANYTHING I WANTED TO EAT JUST NOT ALOT OF IT. SWEETS HAVE BEEN OFF LIMITS. BUT IF I HAVE FOODS WITH IT LIKE JUST SAY IT WAS MADE IN IT IT DOES NOT HURT ME. WELL IT SEEMS AS THOUGH I COULD NOT EAT SOME DAYS AND SOME DAYS I COULD.

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

WELL I HAVE BEEN WEAK FOR THREE WEEKS BUT I HAVE TO SAY IT IS GETTING BETTER. I AM ABLE TO WALK AROUND THE STORE. I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THIS IS A PROCESS THAT TAKES SOME TIME.

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

I TAKE KIDS VITAMINES, I TAKE CALCIUM CHEWS.

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 SLEEPING HABBITTS WERE BAD FOR A WHILE I KEPT ON WAKEING UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. IN SLEEPING ALL DAY. THIS LASTED FOR TWO WEEKS. I JUST DID, BECAUSE I KNEW IT WAS PART OF IT.

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

I HAVE TO SAY I HAD A PAIN FREE SURGERY. I THINK THE ONLY THING THAT HURTED ME WAS GETTING UP IN DOWN. IN I THINK THAT IS WITH ANYONE BECAUSE OF YOUR CUT ON YOUR STOMACH.

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

MY FAMILY.

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

IT TURNED OUT GOOD. BECAUSE IT JUST LOOK LIKE I GOT SCRATCH BY A SOMETHING IT DOES NOT LOOK LIKE A SURGERY SCAR. NO I EXSPECTED MUCH WORSER LOOKING CUT ON MY STOMACH.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

NONE SO FAR.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

YES BECAUSE EVERYONE ALWAYS WANT TO KNOW HOW MUCH WEIGHT I HAVE LOST AND ALOT OF PEOPLE CAN SEE IT IN MY FACE. THEY SMILE ALOT TOO.