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

about 20 years ago when a friend had her stomach stapled another banded

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

be patient and persistent

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

research procedure well and be sure you want to risk it and be prepared for complications

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

knee made getting around more difficult

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

one offered - had previous gall bladder scar ineligible for laproscopy

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?

was dying anyway

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?

very, no, very

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

supportive, gave time off and paid for replacement

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

good, 4 days, a good attittude, patience, support and prayers of friends and family

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

no

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

4 weeks still good first week took some naps, moved slowly, fewer naps much attention to diet, protein and schedule - not much anxiety

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

tried to follow instructions, walked 10 mintes every hour, drink 1 oz protein every waking hour advance slowly - glad when staples removed, sleep on stomach, swim and drive!

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

1 1/2 hours

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.

no fat, no sugar, no carbonation, no caffeine, 2 oz. max - feel full to point of cramping if more ingested during third week. no red meat, no nuts, fresh fruit or veggies, liquids to soft - chew well and exercise

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

slowly increasing, swim 1 hour daily walk up to a mile 1/2 hour

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

flintstones complete and calcium chewable 600mg. changed to solotron sugarless multi vitamins from GNC at 2 months

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?

none so far

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

ng tube

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

group in Midalnd and Lansing - helpful when people share how they cope and insights. not helpful when they try to explain how they beat the system ann Arbor group didn't meet first time, heard about local people have not yet connected.

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

railroad track down center of belly yep - getting smaller and lighter all the time

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

all look diferenlty, some concerned about volume and foods eating _ I reassure them I feel fine