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

From my Home Dr. I didn`t think very much aboutitI though it was to ratical for me but when I found out how much I weighed at the Dr. office I began to thinking seriously.

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

Was very easy because of my condition. I would just write to them and explaine to them your condition and keep writing and calling them till they come up with some reason. Have all your medical records in order to send to them and have the dr. send his paper work to them and talk to a surgen that is going to do it and see what what your options are.

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

The first visit was great they all treated me like I had a problem that they were all ready to help me with . Nobody else would help they always would say lose weight thats all and you went home all depressed and started to eat agin.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

The amount of weight I had gained and could hardly get up and down in any chairs and could hardly get out of my own tracks.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Left that up to the Dr. that I trusted very much and he knew what was best for me.

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 have had surgery before and I am not really worried about this. If I die I guess it was my time although I do hope I come out great.

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?

My family was very good about it and said I would feel better to do more things with them and I hope this is true. They are scared but want me to do it.

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

I am not employed as of now have not been up to working .

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

My stay was great and I had my spouse by my side and that helped a great lot to have him get the things for me that I would have had to call a nurse for and they are always bust on the floor with someone sicker than I. Just bring all your personal things from nightgown to toothbrush and you will be fine.

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

I came through the surgery with flying colores and had no pain to speak of just sore and that is to be expected when they do this surgery but just got along great.

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 sure got a lesson in how to eat not much or I would have to vomit but you soon learn not to put that last bit of food in your mouth It is a leson not hard to learn after the first few times.I just felt great i could see how I would lose the weight at this rate of eating.

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

I just took it easy and tried to rest as much as I could and chose the food I was suppose to eat.

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

I had about 120 miles to come home and the ride did not bother me at all unless we hit a rough place and I was tender and also ready to lay down when I got home but not bad a 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.

I was on jello and that breakfast shake and all the soup and liquid thing I could think of andwas not very hungery at all but had to eat something. I can not eat bread good a all just small bits of toast sometimes and not often but i eat crakers and torti chips some not often I try everything and sometimes it dont work and the next time it will but I let time pass and then try it agin I have a little trouble with chicken but still try to eat it at different times. I think I have good and bad days where things go down and then some dayes I dont get much down I dont know why that is but I just dont worry about it because tomorrow is another day and things change everyday and you just change with it and make the most of every day and know that weight is going to come of if you dont put it in your face. So just keep trying new things and not much of it and it will work and if it dont then just find another thing you like and it will go down better.

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

I was not in bed but a few afternoon naps and not to much activity at first but that soon past on and I got back to normal in 4 weeks for sure and was able to go sooner than that.

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

I take a multi and 3 tumes a day and B12 and that is all that is required from my Dr. I have to take them the rest of my life I quess.

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 had some vomiting and some hair lose but I have started to turn that around now I think my hair seames to be getting better and I hardly ever vomit anymore I quess you just learn what not to do and i am about 5and a half months out and have lost about 74 by my scales and I am on a holding pattern as of now Have to catch up with my body a little I quess . This coping thing is all in how you make up your mind to do this it is hard to take some dayes but mostley I just keep on pluging along and hope to get more off soon.

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

Just learning what I could eat and how to prepare it to keep me from getting sick after eating . I still have to watch how much I eat and if i have a lot of fluid in my stomach when I try to eat it does not go down as it should so you learn how to judge that it. The surgery it self is not a problem for most people but I sur e there are exceptions.

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

We have one in Ft Collins where I had the surgery once a month.

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

Great still a little red but very thin.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Yes I am in one now and I dont like it at all it is depressing but I quess everybody has them I am at 5 1/2 months and have stayed for about a month at 74 lbs.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

I think they dont look at me all the time and are a little better to be around most of the time I am kind of a stay at home. My children are proud of me though and thats what counts.