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

i just heard about it. A friend had it done, he was over 400 lbs.

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

Be patient. If you have medical problems you usually will get APPROVED.

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

HAVE a list of questions. write down the answers. ask anything and everything u are concerned about.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

i wanted to do things with my kids again

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

the doctor basically decided for me. because i like to drink soda

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 have very bad luck so i was very nervous. i just took it with stride everything went fine

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?

they were very supportive and they still are.

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

My employer is strange. I had no problem going back to work. She hasn't given me my 40 hrs but i go back to work on the 1st of August.

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

my stay was pretty comfortable. the day shift nurses were not very friendly. bring a change of clothes ur not going to need much else.

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

i had no problems what so ever. i do suggest the epederal.

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

for a few weeks i felt like my brain didn't want to cooperate with me. this i tried to say came out wrong. i just seemed confused. i slept on the couch for a couple of weeks because i couldn't get in and out of bed.

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

this period is very tiredsome. u can't yell at ur kids, you have no energy to do anything.

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

i only traveled across town.

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.

i ate alot of soft foods. i started eating chicken and pork chops after the first month. i don't like steak because it doesn't digest well. i eat basically anything i want i just eat in small amounts. i know when to stop. i don't eat icecream anymore and certain other things but that is not because i can't i just don't have any urges to eat those things

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

very low, i had no energy for the first 3 weeks or so.

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

i have not taken any vitamins like i should have but my blood test have all come back fine except my b12 level which is a little 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?

i lost so very much of my hair it was unbeliavalbe. i had very thick hair. i ended up have a small bald spot. it has now been 13 months since the surgery and i have got my hair back. it started growing back at about 11 months.

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

nothing i would not have traded this for anything. i got my life back. i do miss going to buffet now with my family because it takes me forever to eat but that isn't nothing to stop me from doing it again

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

i just have my family, i have any no problems that's probally why i never got into a support group

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

u can see my scar but it's worth it. i show it and have no problem, i thought it would be alot worst.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

i am stuch at a plateus not but i have lost over 100lbs and am not but 20lbs away fro what i want to be so i don't mind. my doctor said i did not need to loose anymore weight and everyone tells me i don't need to loose anymore weight. i just have a little more

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

yes, i get more men complimenting me and some jeolousy from women