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

I worked in the General Surgery Department at the Naval Hospital and got to see pre and post op patients

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

No problem for me I had it done through the Navy

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

Mine was great. I think that people should do their research, really investigate all of their options and ask questions.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

It was my own decision.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I researched all of them and made the choice that was right for 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?

I am in the medical field, so while I know those are real concerns the benefits out weighed the risks.

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 all supportive.

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

I was unemployed at the time.

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

My stay was good. I was at a Naval Hospital so there was no problem with me staying longer which I needed to do. Bring a full packed over night back with all toiletries and a gown. I recommend getting a few gowns for home as well as pj waist bands will rub on suture sites and be very uncomfortable.

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

No. I did not react to the anesthesia very well, but that is just me. I also learned that pain control was key and made sure I had it on board every 6 hours and around meal times.

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 one of the lucky ones. I felt really good in fact, as far as pain I did not feel like I had had surgery. I stopped needing pain meds a couple of days after I got out of the hospital.

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

Get lots of rest, but walk, walk, walk. Drink as much as your body will tolerate in small sips.

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

Two hours.

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 was on clear liquids only. Which meant if you could see through it it was ok.

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

Low, but I did try to walk as much as possible.

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

I am a daily multivitamin and B12 sublingual.

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 followed all of my post op instructions very well and had very little problems. I found that when I did stuff I was not supposed to do is when I had problems.

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

My first post op day.

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

I have this website and will be joining a support group in the community.

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

My scars are getting smaller as they heal. A friend of mine who had her procedure a year ago's look like little scratches.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I plateaud at weeks 4 and 5 because I did not increase my diet and was not excercising. Once I did the weight started coming off again.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Not yet.