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

i know quite a few people who have had the surgery ,with amazing success.. they looked and felt great...(both physically and emotionally)s

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

sometimes you run into bumps along the way, but don't get discouraged...i had to reschedule a couple times,but it all worked out!

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

first visit went well...listen to what dr.says and don't be afraid to ask questions no matter how "dumb"they may seem to you ...you're not gonna surprise him..

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

200 extra pounds.....and a bmi of over 50!!!!!!!!! yikes!!!!! sometimes you have to overcome the denial....

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

dr. picked the one that would give me the best results...

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?

we all gotta die sometime. you're in capable hands.. every surgery is a risk...but the end result outweighs the risk...

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?

my family was very supportive of my decision.. and looking forward to the outcome..

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

am disabled..

What was it like attending your first information seminar on weight loss surgery? Were you glad you attended? if so, why?

very informative...it was like a" fat people club" everyone there was on the same mission....ther was noone to judge...you can always count on your new friends for support..

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

will be there in 2 days:)

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

only thing was rapid heart rate because i have Afib.....other than that just the usual soreness and bloating....

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

great i had 2 dates scheduled before the actual date...so i'm more than ready to go.....a little anxious,after all it's like saying good bye to a very dear friend..but HELLO to a new way of living...

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

be prepared to have loose bowels....you may think it will never end but it does......also never trust a fart...they could be loaded!!!!!

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

couple miles.

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.

if you follow the guidelines you should have no problems...try things a little at a time and don't be afraid to ask questions if you're unsure of something.this is a whole new endeavor there is no shame in wanting to make sure you're doing things properly.....

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

kinda sluggish for the first few weeks... but after you start to get nourishment and vitimans in you ,you'll start to feel better and your strength will increase......

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

chewable sprecrative multi vitiman and b12 sublingual///

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?

was lucky didn't have any....just had to sleep on recliner for a few days because i couldn't lay flat..

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

the YANK of the catheter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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

it helps you share your experiences with others and helps keep you on track......everyone wants to see you succeed.....

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

i was done by robotic surgery......little to no scars...

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

none...

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

not yet..