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

tv i think. I didn't know enough about it at that time to have develloped an opinion.

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

It was offered, I did not have any hassel at all.

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

It was a information class first, followed by a personal visit with the surgon that would be doing the procidure. It was a lot to digest, interesting, and terrafying I just had one infomation class, some hospitals have more. i think that would have been good for me to have time for things to sink in better,

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I felt that I had no other choice. I could not get the weight off any other way. My health and life was at more risk not haveing it , that the risk that comes with haveing it.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Dr's choice lapiscopic gastric by-pass

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?

My fear was dying. I almost did . I had serious compications. I did it for all the right reasions. It is a SERIOUS decision to make. A person has to decide for themselves if it is worth the risk for themselves My surgery worked, I have not lost all the weight i want to, but after over two yrs post op I am down over 100 lb's and my life is much better now. We are all in Gods hands

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?

supporive, and some were afraid but still supportive

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

N/A

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

Horrifying, Uncincious for 6 weeks, in the hospital for 3 months then the nurseing home from hell for another 3 months. Your own pillow cases or pillows. Timers, grooming items, music

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

YES No choice, one day at a time. Thankfull & Gratefull to be alive

In the weeks after you got your surgery date, how did you feel? How did you cope with any anxiety you might have felt?

Talked to family and friends, and prayed a lot.

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

I am not the one to ask this question

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

30 minutes away from home

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.

By the time I couldn have anything, my stomach had allready healed. except fo a couple of days , i skipped straight to stage 3.I could not keep much down for well over a yr. I could not tollerate any kind of meat, or chicken. Fish ( not breaded or fried ) worked fine and shrimp. I could eat eggs and dairy. Did and still dont tollerate sugar at all, or any thing oily Also Skins on cucumbers apples , potatoes. Skins on most fruits and veggies had to go. no bread, but i could eat crackers.. I could eat fruit. A little over two yrs out I can eat most foods.. I still don't tollirate greasy foods, chips, mayonaise, skins and peals, sugar. I can eat bread but i don't have room for bread and the nutricious things I need + too many empty callories. I do have A half of a mini whole wheat pita once in a while , I eat very little potatoes . Spicy foods don't botther me like some people

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

None, Coul not move at all for months. I was extreamly week and had to learn to walk again. I still have ballance issues and I have not gotten into an exercize ruotine. The YMCA closed that I had been going to for water exercize. I walk as i get the oertunity. Getting into a habit i difficult but i realize is critical

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

something for my gullblatter for a few months, and regular meds that I was on. I am still on BP meds. B12 shoths, Licquid B complex. Licquid Multi, Iron, Call- Mag E I am about to add zink, and C

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?

Nausea, vomiting, and hair loss were all a problem for me for about 1 yr.

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

Coplications , a rs worth of infections, and long recovery.

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

JUST FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND NOW YOU ALL

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

Too many to count and massive NO !!!

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I am haveing a big one NOW

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Not much, I did not have much problem before. Only once in a while. There problem, not mine