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

a client came into our office and she told me that she had the surgery done and had lost a lot of weight & now was doing much better physically

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

I am a Canadian & OHIP approved it without a fuss - this was due to the fact that I had many physical problems

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

it was very informative & pleasant

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I knew I wanted it even before the initial consult

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Had to have the surgery that OHIP approved

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?

none

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 leary about it at first & now that I have lost so much weight they are very happy that I followed through on it

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

my manager was thoughtful & considerate - I was off 6 wks

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

It was enjoyable - the nurses & doctors were all helpful and pleasant

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

no

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

the first 3 wks were a little rough but after that I felt great

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

I had a lot of cold chills for the first 3 wks - I was also in some discomfort but not any pain

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

5 miles

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.

I still can't eat bread or microwaved foods. I did well with everything else

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

I walked 15 minutes per day - now I can climb 5 flights of stairs & run dow 6

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

Calcium, Vitamin B12 & regular vitamins

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?

nausea I would say was the worse & now I am going through hair loss but I am sure it is only temporary due to the surgery at least that is what my doctor said

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

cant think of any

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

none

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

they are going away nicely

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I have not reached any plateau at this point - I am losing anywhere between 1 to 3 lbs a week

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

yes