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

A trainer at a gym told me she had had it done and gave me Dr Brewers name.

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

My insurance company said the surgery was cosmetic so it would not cover it.

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

Wonderful, be prepared do your home work have questions.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I was at my wits end and really wanted to die.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

My surgeon decided and I trusted him totally

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 was afraid like I was when I had my tonsils out with surgery there is always death.

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?

I did not tell them I told them I was having my Gall bladder removed.

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

No One Knew

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

I was in the hospital for four days and it was fine. The most important thing to me was having my own bed clothes

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?

anxious

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

I was moody because I was hungry but it quickly went away.

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

15 miles

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.

broth and juices I can't do sugars or carbohydrates.

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

Very High

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

multi 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?

dumping,

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

the pain post op

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

Blending In very well