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

Ad in Facebook. Happy but did not want people to know I was looking in to WLS, just in case could not get it approved. I was happy thinking that I might have it.

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

Scared! I would not let myself think about it all the time. I called a few time to check if it was covered and how much they covered. (80%/20%)

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

Like walking on cloud 9! I went to see the top WLS surgeon for a seminar and was 100% turned off by the way he talked,walked,looked at us. Knew right then and there he was not the one for me. Then I found Dr. Umbach... A nice looking man came walking in to the office wearing blue jeans with a button up shirt and flip flops. Then I found out it was him,lol. He talked so kind to me. Answering all of my questions and telling me about all off the different kinds of surgery.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

My mom is very ill with diabetes and other health issues. I was heading down that same path.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I used Bing and a few different other sites. Then a friend told me to come to this site. I asked a lot of questions. I was going to do the Band and changed to the VSG. I did not want to have to go with the fills and food getting stuck.

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 was never scared of dying. The only complications I was concerned about was having the Band. I know there was some with the VSG but never gave them much thought, just knew I would not have then. Make a list and asks tons of questions foe the doctor and on sites like OH.

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 right off the bat! I started by telling one person at a time then just keep telling more and more. Now I tell every one that I had WLS. I would not change anything.

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

My boss was okay with it she had some questions like what I was having and why. I told her that I was having the VSG and would be off for 3 weeks.

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

A nightmare!! Long story short he as a big jerk! Looked down on us. I did not find out any more info then I did looking on the internet.

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

It was nice, I was scared. I was outpatient. I was there for 7 hours or so hours. I did bring chap stick, cough drops,and gas strips. I did not need any of that stuff.

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

I was given to much pain meds. I was given to pills and a shot before I was even put under and then more after surgery. I stopped breathing because of the pain meds ( I have Sleep Apnea) They had to keep hitting the bottom of my feet to wake me up to breath. When I came home I just put on my CPAP and went to bed.

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 felt great. I was waiting for something to go wrong at the last minute. I fight with my husband more then normal.

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

PAIN!! My doctor said that some people have none and some had a lot. I had I lot but thought I would have none. I alone had pain the first two days but thought it would last forever. Each day got better.

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

The hospital is only 6 miles from the house. The doctor's office is a 25 minute bus ride then a fifteen minute walk. Did not affect my aftercare at all.

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.

First two weeks was liquid diet, jello,pudding, popsicles, and creamed soups. I have not came a crossed anything yet that has been off limits. Each week I add a new food that I used to eat and if I have no pain or not sick then I eat it.

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

The first week I took it very slow. I started with walking around the block.

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

Multi Vit, Iron, D3, B, Calcium, and Probiotic.

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?

It is to early to have this in my surgery. I am going to go with hair loss. I have checked out some wigs and am planing to get a short hair cut when it happens. I will not have the other ones like dumping with the VSG. It will hit around 6 months. I am going to take zinc and Biotin.

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

PAIN!

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

My doctor offers a support group once a month. I have not needed to go yet. I am on OH for help so far.

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

They are very small and not in the same place I thought they would be after watching video.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Have not had any but am not going to get upset abut it, just watch what I eat and ate more shakes when I hit them.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Not yet.