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

I SAW A COMMERCIAL ON TV

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

I WAS APPROVED RIGHT AWAY THANK GOD

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

HE WAS VERY NICE AND EXPLAINED EVERYTHING TO ME AND THEIR WAS NO SURPRISES

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I DID NOT LIKE ME AND I WAS READY TO DIE

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

MY DOCTOR SAID HE WOULD NOT DO GASTRIC BYPASS ON ME AND THE LAPBAND WAS WHAT HE DECIDED

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 THOUGHT MAYBE IT WOULD NOT WORK I DIDNT HAVE ANY OTHER FEARS

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?

VERY SUPPORTIVE AND STOOD BY ME THE WHOLE TIME.

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

I WAS NOT WORKING I WAS DISABLED PARTLY BECAUSE OF WEIGHT

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

ONE DAY ATY VERY NICE PEOPEL AND HAD GREAT PAIN CONTROL

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

NONE WHAT SO EVER

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 SORE OF COURSE BUT HAD PAIN MEDS SO I WAS OK AND I WAS GUNHO AS SOON AS I GOT HOME TO DO THIS

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

TAKE IT EASY YOU WILL BE SORE AND GETTING USED TO NOT EATING LIKE BEFORE BUT ITS VERY EASY RECOVERY

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

I TRAVELED 3 HOURS AWAY TO HAVE IT DONE AND I HAVE NEVER REGRETTED 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.

ALL LIQUIDS AT FIRST I SAY JUST LISTEN TO YOUR DOCOTR

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

I HAD MORE ENERGY IMMEDIATELY IT SEEMED

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

MULTI VITAMINS AND SOME B-12 CAPLETS

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 HAD ONLY VOMITING WHEN I ATE SOMETHING I WAS NOT SUPPOSE TO BUT NOTHING ELSE

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

THE WORSE PART......I CAN HONESTLY SAY I SEE NO NEGATIVE ASPECTS AT ALL I LOVE MY BAND AND WOULD DO IT ALL AGAIN

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

I HAVE MY OWN LINE FRIENDS ON THIS WEBSITE AND MY FAMILY

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

IT IS ALMOST GONE I AM WEARING A 2 PIECE BIKINI THIS YEAR

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I HAVE HAD 2 FILLS AND I FOUND MY SWEET SPOT AND I AM STICKING TO IT.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

SOME PEOPLE ARE NICER NOW BUT I LOST SOME FEMALE FRIENDS WHO GREW JEALOUS AND LEFT ME.