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

I heard about it back in 1999 but I was scared and didn;t think I needed it and that I could try to lose on my own again.

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

My insurance United healthcare approved the sugery over the phone. I had no problem with approval.

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

My 1st meeting went well. I was comfortable with him and he treated me as a person not a disease.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I got tired of looking at myself and feeling lost. I knew that I had to help myself for me and my family.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

The surgeon that di dmy surgery only did open rny.

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?

My fears were that I would be very ill or die from it. My advice would be for others is to rememeber that this is on an individual basis and to stay positive as much as youn can. Do not listen to others who have no clue how it is to be obese and suffer within yourself. If this is what you feel you need to do and want to do, Pray and stay around postive people to lift you when you are down.

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 was very supportive and my family was worried more about the actual surgery itself but they love me and knew that this was my decision that I thought of carefully. They were very proud of me that I wanted to help myself.

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

My supervisor and business manager were supprtive and proud of me. I was out 5 1/2 weeks.

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

My stay was ok. The only part that I really hated was the NG tube up my nose. I was there for 4 days. Most important thing ot bring is a loved one to support you because after surgery I felt like I had made a mistake.

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

I had 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?

I felt a little scared but I was excited for my new life I was stepping into. I dealt with the fear by talking with my husband and close friends who supported me.

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

Well to be honest my 1st few weeks I was depressed and I cried alot. my son at the time was only 13mths old and I felt like I took his mommy away because I could not hold him like I wanted to and I had felt alot of regret.

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

It was about 30 minutes away so my aftercare was ok.

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.

I could not eat any solid foods for the 1st 3wks. my 1 month I tried to eat lettuce and got ill. I can eat small amounts of food but no sugar.

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

I walked as much as I could and then after awhile i began to walk about 1 to 2miles about 2 to 3 times a week

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

I am taking iron 4 times a day with vit c once a day and my stomach med that I have to take for the rest of my life along with the others

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?

nausea, sleep disturbance, and vomiting with foods that I am trying for the 1st time that do not agree with me.

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

the NG tube

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

I go to the support group that was started by the surgeon who preformed my surgery.

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

It's about 4 inches long and it doesn't bother me.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Haven't experience that yet.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes, Mostly men