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

My primary doctor told me about it and I blew it off thinking I could lose weight on my own and that I wasnt that big for weight loss surgery.

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

Insurance approval for surgery was easy. Advice Id give is call the insurance company get your info and then work side by side with the person who handles all the insurance with your surgeons office. Be your own advacate.

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

My hospital stay was as to be expected. Sore, tired, exciting, and scared. I was there for 3 days. I would bring warm socks of your own, a pillow, comfortable clothes to go home in and maybe a ipod to listen to music sometimes. I listened to music when I would walk around my room gives you a drive.

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?

I was scared and excited. I was afraid my insurance company would back out but I took vacation for a month before surgery and Im glad I did it eased my fustration and I preoccupied myself.

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

People should expect the tiredness, the crankiness, being uncomfortable and dont set high expectations. Just do as your surgeon prescribed for you to do and it will be over before you know it.

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

a hour and half away. It didnt affect my after care I knew what I had to do and did it

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 didnt tolerate dairy, bread, or aspartame very well. As time went on I was able to have dairy again but not the bread or the aspartame. Im 5 months out and I dont go near bread or toast or anything like that I dont go near aspartame, sugar, or anything with a high carb count because they make me sick, but I can have dairy just not alot of it.

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

I was tired after surgery but by the 4th week I was getting my energy back little by little.

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

I take B12 and stool softner once a week, 2 daily chewable vitamins every day with a antacid and thats it for now.

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?

The nausea if I ate something that didnt agree with me or when I had dumping issues. They didnt last long because I learned my lesson but when I would feel this way I would lay down and let it pass or take percocet to help me threw my dumping.

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

I really cant say I had a worse part just I took a antibiotic that didnt agree with me and I got C-Diff disease but that wasnt the surgerys fault.

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

I have my support group meetings once a month and I have my OH family and they are so very important and needed.

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

Its about 12"s long and thing except on the top it stretched alittle but for the most part it looks good. I expected it to be worse.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I hit a plateau 3 times but only lasted about a week and half maybe 2.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes I do people notice me and talk to me like a human being and not just a overweight person who they think sits home in front of the tv with a box of donuts and chips and soda on my side.