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

Carnie Wilson. I thought she looked great.

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

If your insurance company does not cover it change insurance company. HMO are the way to go.

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

It was good. Write down all your questions before you go so you don't forget anything.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I went on diet pills and they were not working. I have been overweight for about the last 10 years. I was sick of the yo yo dieting. Lose some gain more back.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Its the only procedure that my Doctor did. And that was the Doctor I was referred to

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?

I was scared about the death rate I'm a single mother with a little girl. But after it was all over I would do it again.

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 supportive. I did not receive any negative comments.

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

My employer was supportive. I was off for 4 weeks. I would have been back in 2 weeks but I got the flu a week after I came home.

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

My stay in the hospital was nice. I was in there for 5 days only because I had fluid in my lung, because I was not walking enough. Any personal belonging you need on a daily basis.

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?

Tired, I got the flu a week after I came home.

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

Just relax have someone there to help you out.

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

1 hour, For follow up its far drive when you need to take time off of work to go there they are only open for appointments M-F 9:00am to 3:30pm.

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.

At first I had a hard time with the solid food. I got sick almost everyday the first few months. But now I'm 6 months post-op and I can almost eat anything in moderation.

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

I started to walk every day about 2 miles in the second month.

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

Flinstones multi vitiamins, Tums, B12, Iron supplement.

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?

Vomiting was the worst at work in the lunch room, for the first couple of months. I was much better If I ate alone so I was not distracted by anything. And was relaxed, when I was in a rush or talking, stressed thats when I would get sick.

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

The wait for the surgery, the fist appointment I had to see the Doctor was in August and my surgery was in December. I know its not that long compared to some people but you want it done and over with.

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

Just this and other web sites. No support group in the area.

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

I had it done Lap. Five little scars not bad

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Sometimes for two weeks I don't lose any but that has been the longest time so far.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes