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

MY REGULAR PHYSICIAN. FIRST IMPRESSION: IT WAS OUT OF THE QUESTION FOR ME. I WAS TOO SCARED.

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

IT WAS OKAY. I WAS JUST THIRSTY. I STAYED IN FOR 5 DAYS. THEY WERE REALLY GOOD AT MANAGING MY PAIN. THE NURSES WERE GOOD AT HELPING ME GET UP AND WALK AROUND. I GOT UP AND WALKED AROUND 8 HOURS AFTER MY SURGERY- WHILE I WAS STILL IN THE RECOVERY ROOM. THAT HAD A LOT TO DO WITH HELPING ME MENTALLY.

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

I HAVE ALOT OF DIARRHEA. I HAVE IT NUMEROUS TIMES A DAY. I AM THINKING THAT I WILL STOP WORKING FULL TIME UNTIL IT STOPS. WE ARE TRYING TO SEE WHAT IS CAUSING IT. SO FAR WE KNOW IT IS NOT AN INFECTION. WE ARE LOOKING AT MY DIET RIGHT NOW.

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 WAS FOCUSSED ON TRYING TO LOSE SOMETHING ON MY OWN BEFORE THE SURGERY. I KEPT BINGEING, BECUASE I HAD THE "LAST SUPPER" SYNDROME.BUT MY NUTRICIANIST HELPED ME COPE WITH THAT.

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

JUST BE PATIENT WITH THE NEW DIET YOU HAVE, AND "BABY" YOURSELF. EAT ALOT OF SOFT FOODS AND TRY TO BE CONSCIOUS OF WHAT IS WITHIN YOUR PLAN.

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

9 MILES. IT WAS NOT A PROBLEM FOR ME.

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 ANYTTHING I USED TO EAT AT FIRST. NO MORE SPICY FOOD. NO MORE BREAD. I DID NOT EVEN WANT IT. NOW I EAT VERY LITTLE OF THE BREAD. I DO STILL LIKE THE SPICES. I STRUGGLED A LOT WITH THE BLANDNESS OF IT ALL AT FIRST. IT WAS HARD, BECAUSE IT WAS THANKGIVING, AND I WAS THE COOK AND I COULD NOT TASTE AS I COOK LIKE I NORMALLY DO, BECAUSE MY STOMACH WOULD HAVE BEEN FULL LONG BEFORE DINNERTIME. I WAS LUCKY TO GET ON STAGE 5 (SOLID FOOD ) JUST IN TIME!

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

IT PICKED UP AS I LOST MORE AND MORE WEIGHT. IT WAS SLOW GOING AT FIRST.

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

I TAKE ONE MULTI-VITAMIN, TWO ANTACIDS AND FOUR TUMS (FOR CALCIUM) DAILY. I WILL BE DOING THIS FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.

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 AM TOTALLY LACTOSE INTOLERANT NOW, WHEN I NEVER WAS BEFORE. I HAVE DIARRHEA REALLY BAD. THIS IS DAILY, AND IT MAKES MY DAY PRETTY DIFFICULT AT TIMES. I CAN'T WORK SOMETIMES.

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

NOTHING. I AM OVER 100 POUNDS LIGHTER. THAT OVERSHADOWS ALL.

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

WE GO TO THE DOCTOR ALOT AFTER. I SEE MY DOCTOR ALMOST EVERY THREE WEEKS NOW. I SEE MY NUTRICIANIST EVERY MONTH, AND WE HAVE A MONTHLY SUPPORT GROUP. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. IF YOU NEED THE PSYCH, HE'S AVAILABLE ALSO.

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

ABOUT 4 INCHES LONG, AND ABOUT A HALF AN INCH WIDE. VERY ITCHY AT TIMES. I HAVE FELT MY STAPLES, ALSO.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

ONLY WHEN I DID NOT WALK PER MY ROUTINE...USUALLY WHEN I AM HAVING EMOTIONAL TIMES.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

YES, MEN ARE LOOKING AT ME ALOT NOW, AND LOOKING HARD! PEOPLE TREAT ME MUCH DIFFERENTLY NOW.