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

From some friends by the name of Lorretta and David Ryeson he had the surgery DS and was loosing weight like crazy, and they told me about Dr.Keshishian in Delano, Ca.

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 problem getting approval as I have Medicare/Medical here in Calif. My problem was getting the program fee.but with the Help of God and good friends I was able to get the money...Don't give up fighting for the DS, it is well worth the wait.

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

I met with Dr.K's nurse first for at least 4 hrs with her telling me what was going to be expected of me after the surgery. She was one of Dr.K's first patients. Take someone with you, the person who is going to be your support person, ask questions, make sure you have a list of questions to ask the nurse and the dr.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I was gainning weight and knew that I would be so fat before long that I knew that I needed to get help as soon as I could

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Because I have no will power, and I knew that I could live with the DS, and no other surgery.

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 had no fears about dying, but did write a letter to my daughter and son...I prayed about this and went into surgery with a peace of mind...You know you have the right surgeon when he lets you pray over his hands before surgery.

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 not happy with me, but knew it was my decision as to what I wanted to do. They have been very supportive to me now that it is all over. My daughter did say if she knew what all I had to go thru she would have stayed at the hospital with me, but i had a good support person.

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

I had no employer, and if I had of I would have told them the truth.

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

the Baratic unit in Delano, Calif. is the greatest...You have a place for your support person to sleep,and the nurses are the greatest also. I had surgery on a Mon. and came home on a Fri. Bring your houseshoes, robe, lip gloss, deortant,shamoop, and your antibacterial soap.

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

Not a bit, it went very smooth.

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 had depression before surgery and had it afterwards a little bit more, When they took the stiches that kept the buttons on I was afraid that I was going to split apart, but of course that didin't happen.Took me about 3 mths before I woke up one day and said "Wow, I feel good".

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

Take care of yourself and WEAR YOUR BINDER AT ALL TIMES. It really helps keep you from thinking everything is going to fall out..lol Take care of yourself, you have to do this for you, as no one is going to take care of you but yourself, be responsibll for yourself.

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

I was about 1hr to 1hr 30 mins away from my home ,and I got to come home after surgery., did not affect my aftercare as I had and still have an 800# for my doctor.

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.

My first food was 2 tsps full of taco bell refired beans and they were like heaven. Of course you are on soft food until your tummy heals some , then you graduate to semi solid food, the to whatever you want to eat. You have to be in control of your food, not it in control of you...I can eat anything I wish to eat...I chose not to eat white flour things as I have terrible smelling gas and bloating. I eat way too much sugar now, so if I want to lose a few pounds I slack off with the sweets and it is gone.

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

Not very much at first , not until the weight started comming off . Now I volunteer everyday of school in a 2nd grade class and love it.

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

You MUST always take your vitimas, and your calcium, no one is going to take care of you so you have to be in control of yourself...Some times I take ADEK's but always the vitiams and calcium

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?

If there is dumping from the DS it is far and few between, I have never dumped with the DS like I did with the vgb. I wear my hair very short so it was hard to see the loss, but I did lose some at about 6 mths out., It did eventually come back in , but I still wear it short.

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

Getting the program fee, at the time it was $2000.00 and with me on a limted income that was very hard to come by.

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

I have my daughter and my friend on the dr.k group and the meetings every month in Delano..Very important to attend a meeting somewhere.. Seems like I learn something everytime

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

scar is fine

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

can't remember any, oh yea had one that I remember,so I ate some steak fat and that kick started the loosing again...lol

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

you bet I do...People don't even know who I am now, and I love it.. It is so true, if you didn't like them before, not to worry as they don't know who you are now..lol How sad that fat people are treated the way they are.