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

a friend told me about it at work an i said does it work i looked into it an seen a lot of people who did it most of them was happy with it

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

well i tried to get my insuranse to pay my doctor tried an they said no way so i decied to pay for it myself

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

he told me it was a very big surgery but i could lose the weight if i followed his diet he also told me i could work around what he was going to do so to think about it an make sure i wanted to do it for life

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

well i was feeling bad a lot an gettin sick an i was on a lot of med

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

i let the doctor decide i got a 1oz pouch made

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?

well i though it was better to have this an if i died it would be asleep instead of a heart attack or stroke

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 told me it was a lot of money i told them better to spend it on life then have it an die

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

i am still off i used the 12 weeks a year medical leave

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

it was very good i was there 7 days you really only need to bring your self they provide everything you will need

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 happy knowing it was comming

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

well you will be sore so move a lot but dont over do it

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

i went 328 miles to do it

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.

well i eat chicken i pured with milk i eat fruit i pured an carrots i pured i tried baby food yuck-yuck-yuck i also drink glasiroa shakes 1 oz every 15 mins

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

well i walk an thats all for now i am only 2 weeks into it

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

i take flintstones vits 2 a day

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?

well i havnt had any yet

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

waking up after surgery an having to get in the bed wow it hurt

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

i can call the dietian at any time an i can call the doct also

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

its 11.5 inches right down the middle of my stomach

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

none yet

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

no