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

I am an RN so I guess I've known about bariatric surgery for a long time. I was pretty leary initially. Had heard a lot of failure stories from years ago.

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 two days. be sure to bring your own night clothes so your backside is covered when you walk.

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?

NO anxiety. some pain but very managable.

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

I had to take som pain med for the first week. It was like having to learn how to eat all over again.. Really have to figure out what works best for yourself and what foods agree with you.

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

30 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.

I'm still pretty fresh pot-op( 6 weeks.) I don't seem to have any real intolerances to foods but I have been pretty careful. Haven't had any candy or concentrated sweets at all. I can eat breads but have been avoiding them as I have really been attempting to do what the dietician told me.

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

Gradually increasing my exercise. Felt pretty good after two weeks.Returned to work(I am an RN in a very large metropolitan E.R.) after 4 weeks. The MD would have let me go back to work after 2 weeks if my job had not been so active. I'm walking 2 miles at least 3 times a week and have just started going to the health club this week.

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

multivitamins and calcium supplements

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?

did have some mild nausea. no dumping. some diarrhea initially but resolved after a couple of weeks.

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

The fear before the surgery.

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

haven't been utilizing a support group. I will if I need to but haven't felt the need

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

Laparoscopic scars- 4 tiny marks.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I am still very fresh postop No plateau's yet.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

No