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

WHEN I FIRST FOUND OUT ABOUT IT I WAS AS THOUGH A WEIGHT WAS LIFTED OFF MY SHOULDER BECAUSE I THOUGHT THAT WOULD HELP MY PROBLEMS WITH OBESITY.

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

WELL MY MOM TOLD ME TO FIND OUT IF AETNA WOULD COVE THE SURGERY. SO I WENT ONLINE TO TRY AND FIND A LIST OF INSURANCE THAT COVERS LAPBAND AND AETNA WASNT ON IT. SO I TOLD MY MOM. THEN SHE STILL CALL HER INSURANCE COMPANY AND THEY SAID THAT THEY WILL COVER IT BUT WE STILL HAVE TO PAY A $500 DEDUCTABLE. IT WAS PERFECT BECAUSE THE SURGERY WAS ABOUT $15,000.

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

I NEVER MET DR. FIELDING. THAT IS THE LAST STEP. I SAW A NURSE, NUTRITIONIST, AND A PSYCHOLOGIST.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I FELT THAT THIS IS THE ONLY WAS I WILL BE ABLE TO CONTROL MY WEIGHT ONCE AND FOR ALL.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I DID THE PROCEDURE THAT WAS THE LEAST DANGEROUS TO ME. THE LAPBAND WAS THE ONLY ONE MY SURGEON WILL ON TEENS ANYWAYS.

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 MAIN FEARS WERE BLOODCLOTS, NOT WAKING UP FROM ANESTESIA AND THE PAIN AFTERWARDS. IT IS WORSE THAN USUAL BECAUSE I NEVER HAD SURGERY BEFORE.

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?

I DIDNT TELL MANY PEOPLE BECAUSE IM A LITTLE ASHAMED THAT I HAVE TO DO THIS. BUT THEY WILL NOTICE EVENTUALLY. FOR THE PEOPLE I DID TELL, THEY WELL EXCITED FOR ME.

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

I DONT WORK. I ATTEND SCHOOL. BUT I CAN EXPECT TO BE OUT OF SCHOOL FOR 3-4 DAYS.

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

I HAVE NOT HAD SURGERY YET. BUT I CAN EXPECT TO STAY FOR 1 DAY. I WILL BRING A BOOK, MUSIC, LOTION, DEODORANT, SLIPPERS, CLOTHES, AND MY CELL. HOPEFULLY EVERYTHING ELSE WILL BE PROVIDED (TOWEL, TOOTHBRUSH,PASTE) ETC.

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

I HAVE NOT HAD SURGERY...YET.

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 DIDNT HAVE MY SURGERY DATE YET. BUT I KNOW I WILL BE VERY EXCITED AND I THINK I WILL ONLY FEEL NERVOUS WHEN I AM IN THE GOWN ON THE DAY OF THE SURGERY OR WHEN I THIN K OF BLOODCLOTS AND PAIN AND ANESTESIA.

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

I PROBABLY WILL BE IN ALOT OF PAIN.

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

I LIVE IN BROOKLYN AND THE HOSPITAL IS IN MANHATTAN SO ITS ABOUT AN HOUR DRIVE.

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 KNOW I HAVE TO BE ON A LIQUID DIET 2 WEEKS POST-OP. PUREED FOOD 3-4 WEEKS POST-OP AND AFTER THAT I CAN EAT NORMALLY IN SMALL AMOUNTS. BUT NO BREAD, READ MEAT, AND SWEETS. I CAN EAT FISH , WHITE MEAT, RICE AND ANYTHING THAT CAN GO THROUGH A STRAW.

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

I WILL MOST LIKEY BE SORE UNTIL ABOUT 4 DAYS.

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

I WAS TOLD IN THE NUTRITIONST PACKET THAT I WILL HAVE TO TAKE FLINTSTONES CHEWABLES THEN PROGRESS TO ANOTHER SUPPLEMENT SUCH AS CENTRUM.

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?

I HOPE I DONT LOSE MY HAIR OR VOMIT. ANYTHING ELSE I CAN DEAL WITH.

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

I THINK THE WORST PART WILL BE WAITING TO GET MY SURGERY DATE.

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

I WAILL HAVE TO GO TO A SUPPORT GROUP BECAUSE I AM AN ADOLESCENT. I THINK IT IS FOR AFTER THE SURGERY THOUGH.

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

WITH THE LAP BAND, THE SCARS ARE USUALLY SEVERL 3-5 INCH INCISIONS.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

SINCE I DIDNT HAVE THE SURGERY YET I DONT KNOW. BUT HOPEFULLY NOT MORE THAN 4.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

PEOPLE WILL MOST LIKELY TREAT ME DIFFERENT BUT I DONT CARE I JUST WANNA LOSE WEIGHT FOR ME AND NO ONE ELSE.