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

I had no problems with my ins.

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

my first meeting with the surgeon was nerve wracking because I had to get his approval to be reffered to the actual surgeon who did the surgery. The surgeon who did the surgery was a breeze.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

my friend looked so good and was so happy.

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

I was not impressed with the hospital .I was there 6 days. While there I overheard them make a serious mistake with the woman in the next bed and try to cover their butts.

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

yes , I had to have hernias repaired and my lungs collapsed and I had a blood clot and lost my voice due to a paralyzed vocal cord. I delt ok with all except the voice thing am still dealing with it 10 wks. out

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 got my surgery date a week before surgery , I was too busy to think about it.

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

I was depressed , mourning food. I wished I had never done it and I was sick,which compounded everything then I lost my voice and couldn't even talk about it . I was miserable ,but as time went on and the weight started coming off my focus changed. Just know it get's better.

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

I had to travel about 80 miles. I don't think it affected my aftercare at all.

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.

For three weeks all I could eat was liquids. Jello, protein drinks, broth, tea.At 4 weeks I went to soft foods , and could only tolerate yogurt, eggs , cheese, mashed potatoes .At 6wks, I could eat tuna , shrimp , soft cooked carrots , chicken, couldn't tolerate pasta, still can't. at 8wks. , I can have everything except red meat ,grapes, and raisins. I eat mostly chicken fruit and salad. Not much bread , corn tortillas are tolerated well, cheese and dairy products are not tolerated well. If I want cereal I use lactose free milk , which I tolerate well.

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

we have a support group in our town ,and I think this is very important.

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

I have a huge scar from my chest to my abdomen. I also have three little ones where they started to do it lap. No this was not what I expected , but he followed a scar ,I already had ,so it's not that bad.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I am on a plateau now and keep gaining and losing the same two pounds. I need to stay off the scale.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

yes