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

I work at a hospital that does alot of these. Thought it was neat but was skeptical

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

I was lucky, I just went to the dr they sent a letter and my insurance approved it no questions asked.

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

Good. Ask ALOT of questions. This is your body

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

Time

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Dr. Warnock only does one type

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?

Scared I will never be able to eat much at all.

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?

At first my husband was against it, but then he came to understand better how I felt once we really talked it out.

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

Fine. Just asked for time off. I only work weekends so I took 3 weekends off work, and for one of those I was in the hospital. I actually went back to work just 2 weeks and 2 days after the surgery.

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

My stay was fine. I stayed on the floor that I work on , so everyone was really great. I stayed thurs-Mon. Take something to do like a book to read or something like that.

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

No complications.

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

It was hard at first because I was on clear liquids for 10 days after I got home and the rest of my family was eating so that was hard, so I went in the other riim from them sometimes.

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

Be patient with yourself learning what you can and cannot tolerate.

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

In town

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.

The only thing I cannot tolerate has been plain milk and ice cream. I can have milk in cereal, but I cannot just drink milk or eat sherbet, but I can tolerate cottage cheese and regular cheese. Also really spicy things tend to make my stomach cramp some. It is defintely trial by fire so to speak.

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

Actually, I felt good right off and went and walked at the mall the day after I got home from the hospital

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

i take 2 chewable Flintstone vitamins with iron and 3 tums with Calcium everyday

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?

The only problems I have is a bit of nausea if I eat too much or too fast. sometimes I do vomit, but not very often, only if I've eaten too much or too fast.

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

Having the NG tube down.

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

None

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

Extens from the xyphoid process to the belly button. Yes

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

At week 3-4 I did not lose any weight, but I also had a period and retained alot of water. The wekks since then I have lost 15 pounds (2 Weeks)

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

No