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

I READ ABOUT IT IN THE NEWS PAPER WHERE IT HAD JUST OPENED A CENTER IN MY AREA. I THEN RESEARCHED THE WEB ABOUT IT, AND I WATCHED I LOST IT ON DISCOVERY HEALTH EVERY DAY. I THOUGHT IT SOUNDED GREAT, BUT I WAS A LITTLE FEARFULL TOO.

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

I HAD B.C.B.S. OF ALABAMA, AND REALLY I HAD NO TROUBLE GETTING APPROVED. I HAD A LONG HEALTH HISTORY, AND ALOT OF CO-MORBIDITIES, SO I THINK THE MORE HEALTH HISTORY YOU HAVE THE BETTER.

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

IT WAS VERY WELL. VERY INFORMATIVE. HE WAS VERY UP FRONT WITH ALL THE RISKS AND COMPLICATIONS INVOLVED. MY ADVICE WOULD BE BRING YOUR FAMILY CARE GIVER, SPOUSE ECT.. WITH YOU. AND HAVE ALL YOUR QUESTIONS WRITTEN OUT TO ASK.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I JUST KEPT ON GAINING WEIGHT, AND I COULD NOT GET CONTROL OF IT. I HAD 2 STRESS FRACTURES IN MY FOOT IN 1 YEAR, AND ONE REQUIRED SURGERY, ALL BECAUSE OF MY WEIGHT. I HAVE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AND HIGH CHOLESTERAL, AND LOST MY MOTHER IN 2003 TO BLOCKAGES IN ARTERIES.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

THAT WAS EASY BECAUSE WHERE I WENT THEY ONLY DO THE OPEN ROUX N Y, SO THAT IS WHAT I HAD.

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 VERY WORRIED ABOUT COMPLICATIONS, SO I READ UP ON THEM, AND WHAT I COULD DO TO PREVENT THEM. AND I WALKED THE SAME DAY I HAD SURGERY, AND I KEPT ON MOVING EVEN THOUGH IT HURT. AND I HAD NO PROBLEMS AT ALL.

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 AND FRIENDS WERE CONCERNED AND WORRIED. BUT ALL IN ALL THEY WERE SUPPORTIVE, AND PUT ALL THIER TRUST IN GOD, AND IN HIS COMFORT. THEY ARE ALL VERY SUPPORTIVE AND UNDERSTANDING AFTER MY SURGERY. THEY ARE SO PROUD OF ME.

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

I AM NOT WORKING, SINCE I HAD THE 2 BROKEN FEET IN 1 YEAR. I HOPE TO GO BACK TO WORK AFTER I RECOVER FULLY.

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

IT WAS VERY NICE, THEY TREATED ME LIKE A QUEEN. I WAS THERE 3 DAYS. I THINK YOUR OWN PILLOWS FROM HOME ARE NICE TO BRING.

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

NO I DIDN'T HAVE ANY COMPLICATIONS AT ALL.

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 VERY EXCITED. I WENT TO MY SONS SCHOOL AND VOLUNTEERED MY TIME TO PASS THE DAYS.

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

I WAS SORE, BUT NOT SO BAD THAT I COULDN'T DEAL! IT WAS NOT AS BAD AS I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE. EXPECT TO BE LIMITED, BUT VERY MOBILE, AND ACTIVE.

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

ABOUT AN HOUR AND 10 MINUTES FROM MY HOME. IT HAS NOT AFFECTED MY AFTER CARE.

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

VERY ACTIVE. WALKING EVERY HOUR, IT HELPED THE PAIN AND LESSENS THE BLOOD CLOT RISKS.

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

2 CENTRUM CHEWABLES, AND THE BARIATRIC ADVANTAGE CALCIUM CITRATE 2, AND A B12 SUBLINGUAL TAB, AND PRESCRIPTION IRON SUPPLIMENT, DAILY.

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 HAVEN'T HAD ANY OF THESE PROBLEMS. I DO JUST WAHT THEY TELL ME TO DO, AND TO EAT AND I HAVEN'T HAD ANY TROUBLE.

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

PROBABLY WAITING TO GET IT IN THE OPERATING ROOM. I FELT NERVOUS ONCE I WAS IN THERE AND WAITING ON THE SURGEON TO O.K. THE ANESETHESIOLOGIST TO PUT ME OUT. IT WAS ONLY MINUTES, BUT IT WAS A LITTLE WIERD LYING THERE THINKING OF WHAT THEY WERE GETTING READY TO DO.

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

THERE ARE ACTUALLY TWO THAT I CAN ATTEND IN MY AREA. AND THEY ARE VERY IMPORTANT. I NEED TO BE WITH PEOPLE GOING THROUGH WHAT I AM. OTHERS WHO COULD CARE LESS ABOUT FOOD. AND TO SHARE IDEAS AND HAVE QUESTIONS ANSWERED.

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

IT IS RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE OF MY BELLY, TO MY BELLY BUTTON. IT IS THIN. IT IS ACTUALLY SMALLER THAN I EXPECTED.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I HAVEN'T HAD ANY AS OF YET. I WEIGH EVERY MORNING, AND HAVE EITHER STAYED THE SAME OR LOST.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

YES SOME DO. BUT MOST PEOPLE TREAT ME THE SAME.