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

INTERNET

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

APPROVED ON FIRST TRY

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

VERY INFORMATIVE

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

HAD TO KEEP ADMITTED TO HOSPITAL FOR HEART FAILURE

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

MY DOCTOR

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

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?

ONLY TOLD 3 PEOPLE

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

VERY PLEASANT MADE SURE I WAS VERY COMFORTABLE ONLY STAYED 2 DAYS

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?

VERY EXCITED AND RELIVED

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

REALLY NO PAIN AT ALL

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

MULTIVITAMIN B12 AND TUMS W/ CALCIUM

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?

HAIR LOSS STILL NOT REALLY COPING

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

HAIR LOSS

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

MY HUSBAND

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

NOT BAD

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

BEEN ON PLAUTEAU FOR 6 MONTHS

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

YES