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

I seen a commercial on the television and then I know someone who had the surgery personnally and lost 250lbs. I thought this is for me this is what will help me to get healthy.

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

I let Ginny from weight for life handle everything and I got approved the very first time. I also wrote a suppoting letter with pictures to help her hard work.

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

It was great and fun. I learned all I needed to know about the surgery.they answered all my questions. Take a list of question's with you that you want answed.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

the frustation of being obese and not being able to move around and not able to wash body corretly.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I did my research and I knew people who had the surgery and looked well and healthy.

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 just felt bad for my 8 year old. who thought I was going to die.I just kept telling him I will be fine because he heard the surgeon say that you can die from the surgery and that's what he kept in hei little head. I said look at that other person she is doing fine.but he was still scared. then he got me scared for awhile.

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?

Most of my family was supportive like my husband and mother and a few of my friends. but alot of my friends didn't agree with it. After the surgery all my family and friends was right by my side. and I love them for that.

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

I am a house wife and my husband was fine with it.

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

MY STAY IN THE HOSPITAL WAS GOOD AND THE NURSES WAS NICE TO ME FOR THE MOST PART OF IT. MY DOCTOR'S WAS GREAT TOO. I STAYED IN THE HOSPITAL FOR A MONTH. AS FOR THE THINGS TO BRING WITH YOU #1 IS YOUR OWN SOAP & LOTION BECAUSE THE HOSPITAL STUFF WILL DRY YOUR SKIN OUT, YOUR HOUSESHOES, SOCKS. YOUR FEET MAY GET COLD AND DON'T FORGET THE DENTAL FLOSS. YOUR TELEPHONE BOOK AND DON'T FORGET A PEN AND PAPER TO KEEP NOTE'S DON'T FORGET YOU BIBLR BECAUSE STAYING CLOSE TO JEHOVAH GOD IS IMPORTANT.

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

I HAD MANY COMPLICATIONS. FIRST MY BLOOD LEVELS DROP, THEN MY PALETTES LEVELS DROP,KIDNEY INFECTION,LEAK IN MY STOMACH. I HAD EVERYTHING GO WRONG THEN THEY TRIED TO GIVE ME A BLOOD TRANSFUSION AND I WOULD'NT EXCEPT IT BECAUSE I LOVE JEHOVAH GOD AND I WILL NOT BREAK HIS LAWS FOR THIS WORLD. I AM ON OF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSESS AND I WAS READY TO DIE IF I HAD TO, I KNEW JEHOVAH WAS WITH ME ALL THE WAY.

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 JUST HAPPY AND COULDN'T WAIT.

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

I COULDN'T WALK,I COULDN'T MOVE,I COULD'T DO ANYTHING. SO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE HELP AROUND THE HOUSE. PLEASE TELL YOUR FAMILY YOU NEED PEACE AND QUIET BECAUSE NOISE IS VERY IRRITATING WHENYOU ARE SICK.

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

IT WAS AN HOUR DRIVE FROM MY HOUSE. SO AFTER CARE IS FINE

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 FRIED FOODS, NO SWEET'S, NO POP, NO PIZZA. THAT'S ABOUT IT

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

NONE I WAS STILL IN THE HOSPITAL.

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

MULTI-VITAMINS

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 CAN'T STAND THE SMELL OF FRIEND FOODS

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

THE PAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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

THE HOSPITAL HAS A SUPPORT GROUP EVERY TWO WEEKS. AND IT'S GREAT.

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

IT'S SMALL AND IT DON'T LOOK BAD AT ALL.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

NO I HAVE BEEN LOSING WELL.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

ALOT OF PEOPLE HAVE NOTICE THE WEIGHT LOSS SOME DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHO I WAS.