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

on the internet. I thought it was out of my reach

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

I didn't have that much trouble

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

i felt ok about myself and my weight problem

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I wanted to be arond for my granddaughter

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

by doctor boyce's seminar

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?

that i would die, but i figured if I did that was God's will. that I think the fears are just part of the whole process

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?

for the most part they were supportive. my dad voiced the most fears, which i couldn't really understand, since he is very morbidly obese.

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

my hr person said are you really sure about it? I was out of work for about 5 weeks, but have missed some days since i am about to lose my job

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

it was great. the staff was nice and very helpful. had surgery on Monday got out on wednesday. your support person

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

no just nausea and vomiting

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 to death. just tried to make light of it

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

its the worst time ever at least for me

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

25 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.

no pickled eggs make me very sick no chicken

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

not much toooooo weak

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

what I bought from doc

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 vomiting dumping still coping with them extreme tiredness

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

the side effects

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

obesity help. com and an internet support group

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

its ok they just itch

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

yes