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

People in the news and friends would mention stuff about it. It sounded hard but it would be the only way to loose the weight in my mind.

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

The getting insurance approved was easy but getting past the 1st person was like pulling teeth my specilist for my chrones had to override that Dr. which made her mad and there fore treated be wrong. I did nothing write in the 1st few weeks and months after surgery even to which when I left her office I would be in tears and she not even apparently cared. So I finally refused to see her anymore and am seeing others and they are very wonderfull and careing.

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

He was wonderfull and his staff were unbelievaby nice. Just ask the questions and then when you leave and have more either write them down for the next appointment or just call his/her office.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

To many medical issues and I would not have a long and healthy life.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

The Dr. decided with 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?

Just every thing. Just take one day at a time and it will get better.

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?

Some were possitive and some negative and ALL were scared.

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

I sell Tupperware so I could decide how long I would need to take off. It took me about 5 months to feel strong and able to carry things. The surgery was every difficult for me to recover from. I had alot of after problems like loosing of hair and dehidrated ended up in the hospital 2 times and then having 2 more bags of fluids at sepereat times. But even now a year latter I had a bag of fluids about 8 weeks ago.

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

Well I first was in ICU for 3 days with full life supports. Then I went into a reg. room for 4 days then went home. I ended back dehitrated 2 weeks later. Patience is the thing to bring to the hospital.

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

I had a hard time eating and not either loosing the food one way or the other way. Just kept trying.

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 just wanted it over so then I could start loosing the weight.

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

HORRIBLE. I thought I would die. Don't think you will just recover like other types of surgerys. But some didn't have the issues like I did. I had heard a few people I knew had freinds and relitives go back to work in 6 weeks.

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

I had the surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester Minnesota which was about 1 1/2 hrs away from my home. I ways it made it good family and friends didn't come and visit that much so I could just rest.

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.

1. Chineese food - no way and even today I still can't eat it. 2. Dairy products were another no no . 3. Wendy's chilli was a big YES for me and my body toloated it very well and that way I was able to get some good protein. 4. Fruits did not agree with my body.

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

NOTHING AT ALL JUST TO THE CHAIR TO THE BATHROOM TO THE CHAIR TO THE BED ECT.

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

Potassium 2x daily, Caltraite D 2x daily, B12 shot once a month, Centrum A-Zinc 2x daily, Vitamin D once a week.

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 had alot of side effects nausea, vomiting, sleep problems, dumping, hair loss, dry heaves. They all were hard to handle but I think the hair loss was the hardest because that was so visual to people around me. Some of these are still a problem at times.

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

The hard and long recovery and so many set backs.

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

None

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

Now after a year it is very light and I had expected the large one.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I would loose very fast then I would not loose any for weeks and then start loosing again.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

They keep saying how good I look. They can't belive how fast the weight came off.