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

my oldest sister had the bi-pass in the 70's and she was sick for the first year after her surgery and i told myself i rather be heavy. it changed your whole eating pattern and you had to learn what you could or couldn't eat and the incision was very long. my sister was house bound for 3 months before she could even walk outside or be some what active.

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

i am diabled and have humana and medicaid and my medacare suppulant insurance had a bi-pass requirement and i met all the requirements. all states are different.i had mine in omaha,ne. i was lucky but alot of people aren't. all i can say is don't stop looking.

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

my doc. was dr. gary anthone and our first visit was good.we talked about the pro's and con's of the surgery and we talked about my past and present and we talked about him and his surgery history. he helped discover this type of bi-pass and it's the safest to have.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

god gave me a second chance to become healthy. i had a heart cath and i found out my heart is in great shape and i have no blocked arteries. i had quit smoking a year prior and it was a blessing and i took it a ran. i am no longer on insulin or diabetic meds and i feel great.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

my step daughter had it and she did great. she was 402.also i seen a news report about the switch bi-pass and they said it was the safest bi-pass to have.

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 put it in gods hands.

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 is great about it and my husband and step daughter have been great about taking care of me.

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

i'm disable so i was not working when i did this

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

my stay in the hospital was 4 days and it wasn't that great.i have a very low tolerence for pain and i decidied on a epaderal for pain control and that was not for me. i should have had a pump for pain control. other than that things were ok.

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 was tired and i sat in my recliner alot. i also had to take pain meds for the first 2 weeks after surgery because it hurts when you stand and walk around your house.i wasn't nervous or nothing. i'm doing what i'm suppose to do and i'm not in a rush to eat alot. if you try and eat alot or eat hard food you will vomit and be in alot of pain.

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

i'm only 2 weeks out from my surgery date and i'm doing great.i eat soft foods still and i'm still trying to get my bowels straighten out. you have either bad diariha or your constapated. i have diarhia. just don't be in a rush to eat alot and be as active as your body allows you.

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

i live 21/2 hrs from my surgeon and it's a hassel but my husband is good about it

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.

all i can eat still is soft foods.jello,mashed potatoes,soups,applesauce,pudding,cottage cheese,soft veggies,milk. i have not went further yet.

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

not much

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

prenatal vits and protein drinks, and iron

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?

i have had no side affects. i have been very lucky.

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

the pain and the tube down my nose.

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

i have my family and support groups on line

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

no. my surgeon went thru my old gallbladder scare. so i don't have a new scare.i thought that was nice of him.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

none yet

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

no.