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

Well I did research on it for about 2 years and I was scared but stoked all at the same time.

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

I was very lucky, my insurance paid first letter, they just wanted proof I had tried to loose weight.

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

LOL well they tell you you are overweight, tell you haw overweight you are, you know all the things you loved to hear.LOL

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I was haveing other health issues with Heart burn and they were wanting me to have surgery to help it so instead I asked about the gastric.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

There was no choice for me I knew what I wanted to do!!

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?

You know that is a good question, because I remember laying on the bed and my parents just kept on and kept on about all the things that could go wrong, and I asked them to shut up or leave. I knew there were risks but either way you have risks.

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 parents hated the idea, My hubby supported mre through it all. 100%. I tell you he was my backbone through it all!!

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

Like 3 days before my surgery I quit my job at a nursing home and I had taken a new job with the state, it just worked out. God was on my side for sure!!

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

It was fine, i was in there for 1day and 1/2.

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

NO thank goodness. I was walking the day I got out of the hospital.

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 excited, but the hospital was tring to over charge me so I almost didn't get to do it.

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

Oh I tried to stay as busy as I could so I would not think about eating. My hubby did the cooking and I would go outside while they ate.

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

about 3 miles, but the next day I drove 2 hours to family for X- mas

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.

NO dairy I get so sick, greasy food I get very sick. I stay away from sodas for the most part. Maybe a diet from time to time.

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

I walked every night. I got up to 3 miles a day and was goin gto the gym also.

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

Multi vitamin, Iron, and B-12. I have had to have Iron injections because it got severly low!

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?

The hole 3 years I have thrown up maybe 2 times, I get real bad diareah though. I did loos hair but it stopped after I hit my goal weight.

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

Well I really can not complain I was very luck in the hole process. I am at a spot now that I have gain about 6-7 pounds and I am stressing out about it.

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

None

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

Very small I wear a 2 piece to the lake and I dont worry about them you can barely see them

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

at about 4 nonth I stopped loosing and I was freaking out then it started slowly coming off and before you knew it the weight was off.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yeah, I get more attention. People take me more serious.