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

An add in our local paper, at first I thought it was the lazy way out.

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

I had no problem.

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

My surgeon was very friendly. Make sure you take paper and a pen and write everything down.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

My health.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I wanted to lose weight slowly so I have a better chance of keeping the weight.

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?

No fears what so ever.

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

I was in and out of the hospital within 6 hours.

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

I've healed perfectly!

In the weeks after you got your surgery date, how did you feel? How did you cope with any anxiety you might have felt?

If I had anxiety, I had the urge to eat to control the anxiety. Talking out my anxieties as I had them with family was a big help.

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

With lapband, recovery was pretty simple. I was sore, but up and walking the same day.

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

Only about 10 mintues. We have a great center right in our town.

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 can't eat breads or dry meats. Corn and popcorn are out too. They seem to get stuck.

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

I was pretty active right out of surgery with the lapband.

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

Since I can still get the nutrients out of the food I can eat, I've had no need for 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?

The biggest side effect was food getting stuck.

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

It takes months from start to finish.

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

A support group is available to me, but I haven't gone yet.

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

I only have 5 little scares that I'm sure will fade to nothing as time goes on.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

The first month I lost 20 pounds, the 2nd month I only lost 4 pounds.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

No, because I haven't told many people that I had WLS surgery yet.