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

i had a cousin have it done plus my family doctor talked with me about it i was nerves about it a first but i readed about it and talked with the doctors

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

i was approved on the first try just listen to the doctor and follow everything they say and work hard and eerything else will fall into place and say positive even tho at times its hard but at the end it will be all worth it and having family support helps to

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

it s a good idea to take notesu will be given a lot of info dont be scaried to ask the doctor questions even if u think it is dumb still ask just listen to the dr and staff and u will be ok

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

my health was bad and i was slowly dieing

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

i did not the insurance only covered one of them

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?

there just fears nerves u will have a roller coaster of them i thought i was going to die during it i wrote goodbye letters to my family but as u can see i am alive and kicking its a major life change so nerves are going to play a a big part in it

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 happy for me and have supported me all the way they still support me after surgery so having a big support system helps

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

i am on diabeilty due to a back injury

What was it like attending your first information seminar on weight loss surgery? Were you glad you attended? if so, why?

i did it the seminar online i was glade i watched it it answered a lot of questions

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

the hospital stay was great the nurses and doctors were wonderful and keep my family informed as well a pillow for on the way home loose pants and shirt and ipod i was there 2days

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

none from surgery but i did have to get my gallbladder taken out and had to get scoped

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 felt great but also nerves at the same time but i knew on that day i would start a new life a better and healthier life but i had the fear of dieing but it was ok

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

sip sip sip walk walk walk the first few weeks are rough blending everything u eat i was not that sore when i got home they gave me pain meds to take home but never used it

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

i lived over and hour away from hosptail did not affect it at 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.

alot of soft things they give u a list of things u can have and not have and when u can have them i am 7mos out i still have trouble with egg beaters and soft bread or soft things but other then that its good u just have to try things and see if it works or not and hope it works if not it makes u feel crappy its like playing russian roulette but with food

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

at first slow but i started getting a lot of energy but also got tired alot for awhile but it got better

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

muilt vitamin b-12 vitmain d3

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 got nausea for a while when i would eat vomitng started 6weeks after surgery thats why they scoped me

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

getting my gallbladder out i had more pain from that then weight loss surgery

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

my family is my support group

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

well i have more scars then i would like but it was out of my hands

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

people treat me better now then when i was heavy