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

i first found out when i was about 13..and i thought oh my god this is wonderful...and wanted it since

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

as far as insurance goes i'd have to say ive had the most wonderful insurance and i hate that it doesnt come that easy for most..i got accepted on the first try..and i didnt have to much my surgen called and the same day i got approved so it went pretty smooth for me...as for how i felt when they told me i was approved i couldnt breath it was such a long wait for to have this because of previous things going on in my personal life so when i got approved it was like what?

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

my frist and only visit went well the doctor he has a partner and i talked with him and did most of my info with him.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

i wanted to just got into a store and it not having to be a specialty place...or just stop worrying about the seats at the movie theater it wears on your brain

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

wanst really a decision for me..

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, blood clots, leaks, and thats its i haven had any so im happy

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 has known how long ive wanted this and has been completly wonderful about it...and all were excited when i got it...all of us have been like wow it actually happend

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

they were completly fine with it..but i gave them for warning 6 months in advance that this could be happening

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

my stay was fine...i was there for 4 days...loger than usualy but because i had surgery on a friday and that monday was a holidayi got stuck there...if it were during the week i probably would have went home sooner

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

nope

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 excited all the way up i tried not to think about the bad things at all once you do that your pretty much setting your brain up for your body to fail

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

well this is my 2nd week home...and things have been good..i'd say the only bad thing is being bored and having to eat the same stuff it kinda makes you crazy

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

i live about 45 min from my surgery place

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.

oddly i cant drink grape crystal like and fat free sugarfree ice cream doesnt sit well with me

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

after the 2nd day of surgery ive been walking since...

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

i take 2 multivitamins a day

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 havent had any side effects really

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

waking up from surgery and not being allowed to have any liquids you get the worst dry mouth but they let you have water swabs so that helps alot

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

i havent joined any yet because its only been2 weeks

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

my scars are good...i think there all healing well plus oh well if i have one i just had major surgery!

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

nothing yet...i just have to keep telling myself its only been 2 weeks im not gonna be skinny yet

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

not yet