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

MY COUSIN HAD THE SURGERY. AT FRIES I WANTED TO LOOSE WEIGHT ON MY OWN. I TRIED AND FAILED SEVERAL TIMES, GOT TIRED OF THE FIGHT AND DECIDED TO HAVE THE SURGERY!

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

GETTING THE APPROVAL WAS SCARY. NOT KNOWING IF THEY WOULD SAY YES OR NO IS THE HARD PART. DO YOUR HOMEWORK ON YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY. MAKE SURE YOU DO EVERYTHING THEY WILL NEED BEFORE YOUR REQUEST FOR APPROVAL.

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

MY FIRST VISIT WAS GOOD. I WAS TOLD HOW THE SURGERY WORKS AND MAY NOT WORK, WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER THE SURGERY, AND ALL THE SIDE EFFECTS OF THE SURGERY. DO RESEARCH ON THE SURGERY AND MAKE A LIST OF QUESTIONS TO ASK.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I DECIDED TO HAVE THE SURGERY BECAUSE I WAS TIRED OF THE FIGHT TO LOOSE WEIGHT AND KEEP IT OFF.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I WOULD ONLY HAVE THE OPEN SURGERY! LIKE ONE LADY SAID HOW CAN A MECHANIC WORK ON A CAR IF HE DOSEN'T OPEN THE HOOD?

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?

MY WORST FEAR WAS LEAKING. WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THE POUCH LEAKED? WOULD I DYE? WOULD I MAKE IT THROUGH THE SURGERY? I WAS VERY SCARED. THAT DOES NOT GO AWAY UNTIL THE SURGERY IS OVER AND YOU WAKE UP! I WOULD SAY KNOW ALL THE RISKS BEFORE YOU HAVE THE SURGERY AND IF YOU CAN'T DEAL WITH THEM YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE THE SURGERY. MY WAY TO DEAL WITH IT WAS TO HOPE FOR THE BEST, BUT EXPECT THE WORST. ALL THE GOOD THINGS THAT WERE TO COME HEPLED ME MAKE MY DECISION TO HAVE THE SURGERY. THERE ARE RISKS WITH ALL SURGERY. HOW BAD DO YOU WANT IT?

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 NOT VERY SUPPORTIVE, BUT MY FRIENDS WERE. EVERYONE WILL BE SCARED THAT SOMETHING BAD WILL HAPPEN. ASK THEM WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE SURGERY. NOW THAT THE SURGERY IS OVER AND I'M OK EVERYONE IS OK WITH ME HAVING THE SURGERY AND THEY ARE HAPPY THAT I DID IT BECAUSE I'M SO HAPPY.

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

I HAVE THE GREATEST BOSS AND CO-WORKERS! THEY WERE/ARE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF MY DECISION TO HAVE THE SURGERY. MY BOSS TOLD ME TO TAKE OFF AS LONG AS I NEEDED TO. I WAS ONLY OFF FOR 10 DAYS!

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

MY HOPS. STAY WAS GREAT FOR A STAY! I HAD THE SURGERY AT HOUSTON COMMUNITY HOSP. THE STAFF THERE IS GREAT! I WAS THERE 2 NIGHTS AND 3 DAYS! I WOULD SAY BRING A BRUSH AND CHAPSTICK!

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

I DID NOT HAVE ANY COMPLICATIONS WITH THE SURGERY!

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 REALLY SCARED WHEN THEY SET THE DATE. MY TOUGHT WAS I CAN'T WAIT FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. TO COPE WITH THE ANXIETY I LOOKED FOR ALL THE GOOD THINGS THAT WERE TO COME!

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

THE FIRST 3 DAYS ARE THE HARDEST. YOUR BELLY WILL HURT PRETTY BAD. AFTER 3 DAYS I FELT PRETTY GOOD!

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

ABOUT 20 MILES FROM MY HOUSE.

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.

FOR THE FIRST 2 WEEKS I WAS ON A LIQ. DIET. AT 3 WEEKS I WENT TO THE SOFT FOODS AT 6 WEEKS I WENT BACK TO REG. DIET. YOUR EATING HABITS CHG A LOT. I CAN EAT EVERYTHING I USE TO EAT EXCEPT SWEETS AND COKE. ITS ONLY BEEN 6 WEEKS SINCE THE SURGERY.

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

AFTER 3 WEEKS I STARTED WALKING 30 MIN 3 TIMES A WEEK AND NOW I'M UP TO 5 DAYS A WEEK 30 TO 40 MIN AT A TIME. I SHOULD BE WALKING EVERYDAY BUT I DONT HAVE TIME!

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

I TAKE THE B12 SHOT EVERY 2 WEEKS 2 FLINSTONE CHEWABLE WOTH IRON EVERYDAY, AND 2 CALCUIM CITRATE CHEWABLES A DAY. I'M ALSO GOING TO START TAKING BIOTIN BY BLUEBONNET TO TRY TO REDUCE HAIR LOSS

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?

NONE OF THESE YEAT!

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

THE RIDE HOME FROM THE HOSP!

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

I DON'T!

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

MY SCAR IS NOT BAD. I THINK IT LOOKS GREAT. I HAD THE OPEN SURGERY SO ITS PRETTY LONG, BUT IT STILL LOOKS OK!

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

NONE YEAT

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

NOT YEAT!