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

MY DOCTOR,REFERRED ME TO A DOCTOR . I WAS AT FIRST TERRIFIED,IM ALLERGIC TO PAIN!!!!

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

THEY PUT OFF APPROVAL,I HAD TO KEEP CALLING THEM BUT THATS WHAT MY DOCTOR TOLD ME TO DO,,THE PESTERING WORKED

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

VERY INFORMATIVE,HE EXPLAINED THE PROCESS,HOW ITS DONE.THEN HE TOLD ME OF HIS HISTORY OF DOING THE SURGERY THE RISKS THAT ARE INVOLVED. WRITE DOWN YOUR QUESTIONS AND ASK TO SPEAK TO SOME OF HIS POST-OPS

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

MY KIDS,,I WANT TO BE THERE FOR 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?

it was worth the risk,i was extremly obese and at high risk of heart attack or even stroke,i was a living risk,i truely believe, god gave me this option,i prayed about and felt led to go thru with it!!!wow it great to be me!!!!!im lovin life

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?

everyone thought it was a drastic measure but now that they see the results,they are shocked

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

i was in the hospital for 4 days,my stay was great it was at baptist hospital here in pensacola.the staff was courteous and very acomidating.i would definitly bring a laptop,if possible,an extra pillow,and throat med,(halls)

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

none

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 kept praying every day,i realized how much of a blessing god gave me by opening the doors to have this surgery!!!

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

SORE,SORE,SORE,HOWEVER IF U GET UP AND WALK A SHORT DISTANCE,EVERY 2 TO 3 HRS,AND WALK FURTHER EVERY DAY IT HELPS.WHERE YOUR BINDER FOR A MONTH,IT HELPS!!U WILL HAVE NO TASTE,,IT STINKS,YOURE 4 OUNCES WILL NOT TASTE RIGHT,BUT IT GETS BETTER,,U GET DEPRESSED BECAUSE U CANT ENJOY THE EATING,,,BUT IT GETS BETTER,,MY MIRACLE SNACK,MCDONALDS FROZEN YOGERT CONE!!!IT FIXS UPSET STOMACHS

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

MY SURGERY WAS AT A LOCAL HOSPITAL

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.

IVE BEEN ABLE TO EAT ALMOST ANYTHING.THE ONLY PROBLEM FOOD IVE HAD IS BREAKFAST FOOD,WHICH WAS MY FAVORITE MEAL.I LOVED SCRAMBLED EGGS I CANT EAT OR LOOK AT THEM,PANCAKES WITH SYRUP UPSET MY STOMACH ALSO. OTHERWISE IVE BEEN LUCKY,I EAT ALMOST ANYTHING.IVE SUBSTITUTED OSCAR MEYER LUNCHABLES(CHEESE HAM CRACKERS)FOR BREAKFAST.WHITE CHEDDAR CHEESE NIPS AND WHITE CHEDDAR POPCORN ARE MY SNACK FOODS,EXPECIALLY AFTER I GET SICK, THERE GOOD ON A UPSET STOMACH.

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

I FOUND WALKING AND SITTING UP EVERY FEW HRS HELPED.I LOVE TO SHOP SO WE WALKED THE MALL ALL THE TIME!I WAS BACK TO WORK (LIGHT DUTY)IN 3 WEEKS.

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

CHEWABLE FLINTSTONES AND ZANTAC AND MONTHLY B12 SHOTS

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 HAIR LOSS BUT AS SOON AS I STARTED MY B12 SHOTS IT STOPPED.IVE NEVER DUMPED BUT I VOMIT FREQUENTLY,I EITHER EAT TO FAST OR TO MUCH,,IT A LEARNING PROCESS!!!LEARN TO MEASURE YOUR FOOD AND TAKE SLOW BITES.IT AINT EASY,U REALIZE U MESSED UP ALMOST INSTANTLY.

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

THE NG TUBE,THE DRAINAGE,THE STAPLES,BUT I WOULD TO IT ALL OVER AGAIN

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

WE MEET ONCE A MONTH,ITS AWESOME WE HAVE OVER 20 PEOPLE AND ITS GROWING MONTHLY,WEVE GOT A NAME FOR OUR GROUP ,DOWNSIZERS FOR NEW LIFE.I ENJOY GOING,THE PEOPLE ARE GREAT AND WE ALL HAVE THE SAMETHING IN COMMON,THEREFORE WE CAN VENT AND ASK QUESTIONS.

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

ITS BIGGER THAN I EXPECTED,WIDER,LONGER,

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

NO PLATEAUS,HOWEVER MY LOSS SLOWED DOWN IN INCRMENTS

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

YES,THEY ARE EXCITED FOR ME,,THEY CONSTANTLY EXPRESS THEMSELVES SOME PEOPLE SAY I LOOK VERY DIFFRENT,IMAGINE THAT!!!