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

Found an Add in the newspaper on a tutriol meeting for Weightloss surgery and went to go see it.I was impressed the moment I sah it.

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

Had no problems at the time of my Surgery.

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

The first Visit was good and imformative.Ask a lot of Questions you might have.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I needed to loose the Weight and I tried a lot of different methods. Nothing helped,this was my last chance.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

The Doctor and I decided together at this point.

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 wasn't to affrait and I handled it 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?

They were very supportive and helped me thru it.

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

Well I took my leave and had it done. I was out of work for 2 weeks.

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

The Stay was ok.The Hospital staff was great they knew what they were doing.I was in the Hospital for 4 days.

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

No complications at all.

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 excited and nervous. I talked about it with friends.

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

Sense I had the open Ry it was a bit tuff.I had to sleep in a Recliner chair what wasn't to comftable. But only took the pain medicine for about 1 week.

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

no travel live in 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.

Eat liquids for the first 2 weeks and then went on purieed foods for the next 6 weeks. Then went on semi solids and soilds thereafter.

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

It went up from no excistend to doing good.

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

I only take 2 chewable kids vitamins(Flintstones complete). And Protein bars.

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?

Had the Dumping syndrom for awhile and Hairloss. Dumping went soon but hairloss continues.

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

The Nasaltube and not beable to move to fast after Open-Surgery.

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

We got a support group in Great Falls Montana. In the Old Columbus Hospital ( Benefis West) every 4 th Thursday in the months. from 6:30 - 8:30 pm. Dr.Rohrer's aftercare is great. The support group is good for anyone.(pre-op,post-op or learning about surgery) lots of information there.

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

My scar is from Breastbone to navel.Yes for a open surgery I expected that.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Had some plataues but whenI ate more protein it went away.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes People treat me different now ,they even compliment me on the loss.