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

My mom saw an advertisement. My initial impression was to go for it!

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

I was approved after the first letter the first time I was going to have the surgery. Surgery was postponed due to more testing. In the meantime, my insurance was switching to a different carrier. Had to go through the whole approval process again and was denied. I switched to another job who had the same insurance co. that I had before and went through the approval process again and was approved after the first letter.

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

Somewhat informative. The best thing you can do is make a list of questions and have them ready when you get there.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I was fed up with being overweight and trying the diet thing that didn't work and my health was diminishing due to the weight and I knew I needed something "quick".

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

The surgeon recommended it.

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 had a fear of death not so much complications. I had anxiety issues right before going in. Someone turned me on to a book called the daily word. I started to read the days passage over and over and my anxiety slowly went away. As I look back on it now that should have been the least of my worries. NOW is the hard part!!

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 supported me from the beginning. A few were nervous of the idea but still supported me.

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. Reacted as any normal supervisor would act and that was the curiousness of how long I would be out of work. I was out only a month.

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

The hospital stay was ok. Most of the nurses were helpful. The bed was uncomfortable after awhile. I was there for 2 days.

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

just constipation. Taking laxitives.

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

No anxiety until night before. Couldn't sleep. It felt like I was going to my first day of school or it was the night before Christmas.

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

Uncomfortableness. Do not try to rush getting back into the "swing of things"

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

about 20 minutes

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.

To be honest, there wasn't much that I couldn't eat. I rushed too much to try things and didn't have a problem. Only one thing I could tolerate and that was chicken with skin. My advise don't try anything cause if you find that you CAN eat it you will want to eat it. Like sugar, you are suppose to not be able to tolerate it...me NO problems and I don't understand it.

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

I was pretty much bed to couch to chair the first week or so. Then I started walking. First to the mailbox and then further up until I was walking about 1.5 miles at my 2 1/2 week visit.

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

I take a multivitamin 2x a day and a calcium chew 2x 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?

The main side effect I had was when I ate too fast or too much, It would stick in my chest and hurt like crazy!!! I either waited it out or tried to make myself sick to release it. Think it taught me a lesson?

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

NOW!!!!! Trying to eat right and control the cravings and portion sizes and control my head.

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

I went to see a psychiatrist a couple of times and not very helpful. I tried a hypnotist too and that didn't work

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

little scars not very noticible.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Many, Many, Many....and very frustrating. At one right now for about 2 months

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Not really