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

A friend. Perfect - just what i had though i needed, but never knew about it.

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

In Australia - no problem.

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

Very positive.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

DO IT ...

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Did not want seriously invading surgery, and its reversable (NOT that i want it reversed!)

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 - i was very well going into the op.

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?

I have the best family. They were concerned, but very supportive. They now are now very pleased i had it done.

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

no issue

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

Aust - all good

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?

Excited - this is IT

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

a bit scary - i was afraid i'd damage something if i did the wrong thing (that's not a bad thing)

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

4 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.

usual - though i eat nuts (now)

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

I had been doing Aqua arobics for 3 years before surgury. i continued that when the wounds were healed.

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

Supradin

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?

Nothin' really

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

No worse than the loose skin - and that's not too bad. Doing Aqua really helped me resize

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

After 6 months i had lost 40Kg and went to a plateau - and kinda stopped there. But 4 years on i am still 40Kg down on what i was. I SHOULD still drop another 20 - but oh well ....

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

YES that was the worst thing. I didnt realise how badly people (public) treated me...I used to get really shitty that i was no different and people would talk to me and react differently. I am now used to it i spose.