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

Watched every tv program, read every article, and thought about it every hour for two years. I was hooked from the beginning. Not scared.

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

Must follow through on getting info to insurance to support surgery. Contact state nurse for your insurance company and have them send you all requirementrs and doctors approved in area for surgery. I found that surgeon office did not send required info that pre qualifying general doctor supplied to them about monthly visits. Also, make sure you ask for reconsideration if turned down. My primary dr. and husband sent letters.

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

Encouraging but nurse later told me dates and new dates, very discouraging.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I decided a year before. Just needed insurance to pay.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

banded

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 more fearful of follow up, fear of failing was inthe back of my mind but the dream and want of being myself again was more powerful

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

Perfect, treated like royalty. Do yourself a favor just sleep and walk and sleep. The best thing for you.

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?

I was very upset that the nurse was not in tune with how I felt wanting the surgery, waiting a year to get approved.

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

I felt great, a little tired. had to go to a Mother-Son Mass and breakfast just two days out and kept going

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

a few 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.

bread, bread, bread, meat even chewing alot. Not hungry most of time. Made mistake dring after eating. Not wanting any pop and surprised by that. Hard to remember how slow I should eat and pay attention to the "FILL" of the stomach.

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

Went everyplace I usually did.

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?

A couple times I vomitted. Ate too fast and too much.

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

Doctor's staff

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

Over 4 months out I just found online support groups. Their support and helpful suggestions make it easier.

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

Not much, the sagging skin is the problem.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Lost only a very little weight the third month.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

My friends always tell me I look better even with only a little loss