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

I followed Carnie Wilsons story, than I meat a friend of my brothers and it all seamed more real to me

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 I was approved the same day of my consalt.

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

My first visit was great, he answered alot of questions. I did alot of reserch on the internet and the Doctor confirmed everything

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I was tired of being fat and my husband was going to have the surgery too.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

My surgen only did the one surgery,

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?

If it was GODS will it was GODS way.

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 did not know, only my husband. He was very supportive because he was going to have the surgery also

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

I do not work I am on disability,

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

NO

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 just had alot of back pain. I felt wonderful

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

I found I was needing things to do so I went for alot of short walks.

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

2 1/2 hours this did not affect my after care at all

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.

The first two weeks I could only have liquids. When I first started to eat food again it was 1/2 of an egg for breakfast, chicken, tuna, cheese, fish (any protine) for lunch and dinner, for snacks I had sugar free freeze pops. Some foods I could tolerate one day and not tolerate it the next day, it is real strange (still learning) I take everything one day at a time and try new things. You have to eat small bites and chew, chew, chew, You do alot of expermenting.

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

Every day I got more active, I was up and walking the same day I had surgery. I now walk 3 miles every other day and go to the Y the day I don not walk.

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

I take a multi vitamin and 1 tums for my calcum.

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?

No sleep disturbance at all, nausia happens once in a while mostely when I eat chicken and pork, vomiting happend along with this. Hair loss is happening but I have alot of it so I only notice it in my brush.

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

The bed I slept on in the hospital

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

My husband and I support each other, its a 2 1/2 hour drive to a support meeting. I have a 12 step program I use with my everyday live that helps also

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

I have 5 little scars that are about 1/2 inch that are faiding or are blending in with my tan.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I just went through a plateau, I went three weeks without loosing anything, than I lost 4 lbs in two days, I was not happy with the three week thing but my doctor didnt mind, I had lost 19lbs in two weeks before that.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

NO