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

Doc.First response.Where & When

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

It was easy for me.My personal doc.has a friend in the ins.business and he wrote a letter(he said she had told him what they are looking for)It also helped very much having the surgical group I had . They have a Bariatric Ins.Specialist that knows her stuff.Once submitted it took 3 days for Ins.approvalJust remember to go back a few years and show this has been a problem for several years,trying many attempts.I'mm not saying other methods didn't work for me.They just didn't last.My Ins.(Humana Gold Choice)was aware of my past attemps & overall results.Always back to gaining more than I had lost.

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

Very Informative. Listen. Listen..Listion

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

Health

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Lap-band,I was told by t/surgeon is way less evassive & t/longrun results are the same as all others.He should know.He's been doing gastric by-pass since 1981.

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?

W/any surgery there is that chance.But being fat is also a way to die.You have to ask yourself do you want a chance to survive?Or do you want to do nothing?

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?

Husband has watched me suffer emotionally & phys.for yrs.he was behind me all the way.

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

Retired.

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

Alright.Front staff very good.Where I was , didn't need anything special from home.Had surgery Tues.Morn.Left hosp.Wed.afternoon.

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

My liver was kinda messed up.Too much fat & adhesions.Doc.said he had to do quite a bite of scraping.Was pretty sore,but it has only been 7days & I'm pretty much well on my way.

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 guess if I could give any advise in this area.DON'T EAT TO HANDLE THE STRESS. I gained 13lbs.while waiting for my surgery.Doc.says gaining weight fast like that swells your liver.He said mine was swallon twice what it should have been.

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

I've only been home a week . I'm hardly sore at all now.Just do what you're told.

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

350mi.Will only have to go less than half that for after care,because the surg.travels closer once a month.

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.

Only a week out..Right now it's pour off the spooon meals for 2-3 wks.4 oz.each meal 3 times a day.& drink ...Drink...Drink !! I'm doing exactly what I was told to do & knock on wood I haven't even felt ill or gassy(both of which they say are common)

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

Walking right now.No bendind or swimming yet.Doc says to wait on that.

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

Viactiv(cal.chew)& a chewable Vit.

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?

That I didn't know about it sooner.

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

Not helpful at this point.No one is lap-band.I and a gastric by-pass frind are going to start our own.(after training from our surg.nurse.)The nurse wants to come to our area & train us.We think(Western Surgical)is great.They go out our their way to help you.

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

Yes,what I expected for t/most part.The port scar is a bit larger,but thats probably because my liver was in not so good shape.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

too early.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

too early.