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

On the internet. I though of the old stomach stappling and I thoght no way, but boy has WLS changed.

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 trouble with Insurance.

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

It was alot of info to take in. Take good notes and ask alot of questions.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I wanted to keep the weight off. and this procedure is the only wiegh to do that. With a diet I only have 5% chance off keeping the weight off. With the BPD/DS I have 85% chance.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

This one had the best life long results and I eat normal size meals and i can eat anything I want.

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 did have some anxiousness about this surgery... What if it doesn't work, what if i die. that kind of thing. I did great!

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?

All are very supportive. I did have one friend who was very upset with me for wanting to have this surgery. Now she is wanting to have it.

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

I'm a stay at home mom.

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

My saty was fine. I did have my hubby with the first 2 nights so I was licky to have him there. I was in 5 days. I didn't use anything I brought. I didn't even wash my hair or comb it.

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

At first like the 2nd day I thought OMG whay have i done to my body. That passed and now I'm so happy with my new body!

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

I couldn't do much. I got very tired very quick. I had my hubby home the first week to take care of me. I didn't do nuch, but watch TV. I slept a lot.

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

1 hour

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 ate eggs, soup, Jell-o, cottage cheese... soft food at first. No foods have been off limit. I eat when I'm hungery and stop when I'm full. I ate very little to start with. I didn't do protein drinks either. I couldn't stand them. some days eggs would be good then other days I couldn't stand them. My taste changed a lot. It still does. I now can eat at 13 months post-op anything I want. I can eat a whole Wendy's bacon mushroom melt.

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

I didn't do anything for the first 3 months. I would take little walks, but that was about it. I slept a lot.

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

Multi vitamin, calcium

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?

Nausia was the only thing that I experanced for a long period of time. I think about 3 months. I just learned to let myself lie down when i didn't feel good.

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

The surgery it's self.

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

I go to Dr. Maguire's the second Tuesday of the month. It is very important. I also get together with other wLS patients.

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

It is great! I dodn't scar bad at all. I had 36 staples. You can even see where the two incesion are that where for the j-tube and the drainage tube.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I had plateaus all the time, but I noticed when I ate well they wouldn't last long. The body has a way of thnking if it is being starved it will not let go of any weight. So you have to feed your body!

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Oh, Yes