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

Daughter had surgery and did well

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

Surgeon was respectful of me and was kind and understanding.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

Needed to do something before more chronic health problems developed. Had developed Diabetes and was on two oral medications. Blood pressure was climbing.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

My daughter had had the RNY procedure and had investigated all the options prior to having 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?

Did not have any fears. Took a positive attitude that having surgery would only make my health and life better.

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?

Everyone was supportive. My daughter and husband were the most supportive.

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

Stay in the hospital was no problem excet for one night the second day post op. Stayed 5 days. After the third day was independent.

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

No complications Did well

In the weeks after you got your surgery date, how did you feel? How did you cope with any anxiety you might have felt?

Started feeling well. Took long walks The weight was coming off easily. No anxiety. Energy levels improved.

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

Had a supportivee family who did everything for me. People should not expect you to do more than what your physician tells you to do as far as activity goes. They should expect you to feel better and have more energy.

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

Travelled only 30 miles for surgery.

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.

Initially only about an ounce would be filling. Lack of hunger and not wanting to eat was a new experience for me. It was difficult staying on liquids as long as my physician wanted me to. Even one year aftre surgery I do not tolerate sugar well. Foods with sugar make me shaky. Fatty foods and sugary foods also give me dumping even after one year. I now just set a limit on the amount of food I eat at one time. My husband does not understand why I will not eat larger portions. He was so used to me eating the larger portions that he still expects me to eat them.

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

Within 1 week after surgery I was walking a half mile. Within a month walked 2 miles daily. Now I go to the YMCA and do the nautilus and treadmill. Also work out on the stairmaster. It is wonderful not to be out of breath.

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

A multivitamin, calcium, iron, zinc

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?

Hair loss was the worst for me about 7 months after surgery. I always had beautiful thick hair which became thin and lifeless. The hair is growing back and is curly. Never had the vomiting but still have dumping after one year.

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

I looked at the whole process as a positive step in my life and was fortunate that my insurance covered the sugery and my daughter who had also had the surgery had conducted a lot of research.

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

Did not attend any aftercare support group.

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

It is a midline scar It is what I expected.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Am now in a plateau. Lost 95 lbs. since surgery. Work out at the YMA 4-5 time per week and am not losing weight. Still need to lose 35lbs. HAve been here for 3 months.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

No