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

My dad had the surgery

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

Ths was easy!

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

It's been three years and not sure how I could help other. I remember being very nervous for the first visit.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

It was the best move for me/

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

It was the type I thought was the best and still do. Had RnY

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?

Didn't have any.

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?

Very supportive

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

I am a stay at home mom, so, my supervisors, (my 3 and 4 year old) weren't too happy because mommy was weird and didn't pick them up or suff like that.

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

4 days, Not bad at all, except I got a fever.

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

None

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, only excitement for what may come

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

I had laproscopic, but was very sore for the first couple of weeks. And very tired, but that passed with any hiccops

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

8 1/2 hours

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 stay away from pasta, rice, broccoli, raw carrots. These foods cause me to dump. I have to watch the beef that I eat, if to fatty or marbly before cooking, the oils from the meat caue me to dump as well/

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

I was slow, but as soon as I got to my 6 week post op, I was ready to roll. I started with walking 3 to 4 miles a day (4 to 5 days a week) and later moved in with the other workout equipment

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

I take a prenatal, calcium, Iron and a hair vitiman

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?

hair loss was terrible, but the vitimans from GNC really helped, that and keeping better track of what I ate and getting enough protien

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

I didn't have any

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

I didn't participate in one. The group was too far so I went at it alone, which was hard.

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

Very tiny, and faded

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

My latest is after having another child in April 2007. I am slowly going down and have 18 pounds to go. Wish me luck.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

No