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

someone working with my husband had lost 170lbs and gave the literature to my husband for me

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

got certified with all the prerequisites and my insurance approved, virtually painless!

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

uplifting. ask questions

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

getting older and wanted to do it

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

with my dr

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 no fears

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?

they were supportive

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

out 3 days and everyone at work was supportive

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

very informative and took my mom and husband

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

in and out same day

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

no complications

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

had no anxiety and i felt great

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

sore, but, that's normal

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

10miles

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.

had certain stage restrictions but by day 14 on full bariatriac food.

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

went for a walk the same day of surgery

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

multivitamin and calcium citrate

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?

none

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

knowing that i won't be able to eat like I did

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

have gone to support groups, they are very helpful if you have any questions

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

all healed, better than expected

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

none still losing

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

no