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

I WAS SCARED AT FIRST BUT AS I EDUCATED MYSELF I FELT BETTER ABOUT IT

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

YOU HAVE TO HAVE PATIENCES,I WAS LUCKY THAT MY DRS OFFICE WAS HELPFUL BUT IT TOOK 6 MONTHS FROM THE 1ST APPT TO SURGERY

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

HE WAS VERY NICE AND HELPED EDUCATE ME ON ALL ASPECTS OF THE PRE OP AND POST OP I WAS VERY HAPPY WITH DR DUNCAN

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I WAS READY TO CHANGE MY LIFE AND HEALTH

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

MY HOSPITAL STAY WAS OK I WAS ONLY IN FOR 24 HOURS.BRING NOTHING JUST GET REST YOU DO NOT NEED ANYTHING IN THE HOSPITAL YOU ARE ONLY THERE FOR 24 HRS AND YOU ARE ASLEEP MOST OF IT

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

NO COMPLICATIONS AT ALL I JUST HAD TO LEARN TO EAT SLOWER

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 SLOWLY STARTED TO GET MORE ENERGY AND FELT GREAT ABOUT LOSING ALL THAT WEIGHT

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

A LITTLE SORE BUT THATS IT!!!!!!!!!!!

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

45MIN

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.

YOU HAVE TO GIVE UP SUGAR AND REDUCE YOUR PORTION SIZES IT IS A LOT BETTER AFTER YOU GET OFF THE LIQUID PART OF YOUR DIET

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

I JUST RESTED ALOT THAT IS INPORTANT TO GIVE YOUR BODY A CHANCE TO HEAL

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

MULTI VITAMIN/IRON/B12

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?

JUST A LITTLE NAUSIA/VOMITING IN THE REAL BEGINNING TO I LEARNED TO SLOW DOWN AND NOT EAT SO FAST BUT IT WAS NOT SO BAD

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

NOTHING WAS BAD AT ALL YOU CHANGE YOUR THINKING FROM LIVING TO EAT TO EAT TO LIVE

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

SOME FOLLOW UP WITH DR DUNCANS OFFICE,BUT I HAD A GREAT SUPPORT SYSTEM WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY

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

THERE IS REALLY NO SIGN OF A SCAR THEY WERE SO SMALL I CANT EVEN SEE THEM ANY MORE

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I FINALLY HIT A PLATEAU IN MY 13 MONTH I HAVE BEEN THE SAME WEIGHT FOR 3/4 WEEKS

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

I GET MORE COMPLIMENTS NOW,AND THEY TELL ME HOW PROUD THE ARE OF ME.BUT BESIDES THAT NO DIFFERENT I HAVE A VERY GREAT FRIENDS AND FAMILY AS A SUPPORT SYSTEM