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

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

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

short I would tell people to have lots of questions written down and write the answers the dr gives you

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

30 years of being over weight and my xrays were bad

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

The Open I did not want to be under longer than 2 hours and the lap is too long

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?

My fears were from xrays they showed Fat on my liver and spleen.Nit from surgery

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?

Famiky was not told. Yes I would have papers all about surgery in their hands. Very supportive

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

Was none of their business. 2 1/2 weeks sit at computer. I think 3 weeks would have been better

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 3 days wanted to go home on 2nd day, bring your own shampoo/toothbrush/hairbrush/wipes.

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 so happy I had carried this weight for 30 years

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

There is pain when you get home, mostly I think because you are doing more at home. Have someone there with you when you get out of the shower. Have all of your sugar free stuff bought before surgery, I was happy to be in my own bed. I was tired alot and did not want to eat anything, I had to force myself to eat.

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

15 miles I was lucky.

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.

In the first weks from surgery I could not eat any veggies or fruit, I can not tolerate any beef, but as the weeks pasted and months I can eat more and eat healthier

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

I walk and walk and walked some more

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

pre-natal 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 started to lose my hair the 3rd month and it stopped about the 7th month, I would vomit if I ate to fast. Lasted about 6 months

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

my brain could not cope with the not eating in the first 3 weeks

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

We have a support group every first tueday and second tuesday of the month. This helped me to realize how important it is to talk about the surgery.

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

Yes and it is almost gone. From breast bone to bellie button

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Having one now at 8 months/ I need to increase my excerise. Having one at 9 months to a year now

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Sometimes