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

through a friend at work. Allright here is the mircle cure, boy was I wrong

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

work with ur family Dr. gets letters written, chart all ur attemps to lose wieght

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

The place was packerd. I felt like it was a cattle line being led to slaughter. The doctor was matter of fact saying I wouldnt be approved because I didnt wiegh enough. Left very depressed, but then Dr secretary called and wantd to know why I hadnt sent rest of paper work. Explaind what Dr said, she suggested she turn in what she had to insurance to see what they said,and it was approved. Wow, so I did all the other things I needed.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

a year of research and numerous failed attempts to do it myself.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I knew I didnt want open, I wantd lap. and the insurance only approves Bipass

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?

Know inside that u are doing the right thing, not just for u but for ur loved ones.

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?

At first not very supportive, but after researching and constant talking they came around. very supportive now

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

employer was very supportive, was out of work 5 wks

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

was in hospital for 3 days. bring books and light funn items and lots of family and friends..Staff was very supportive, I had no complaints. Do what they tell u and walk as soon as u can

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

no problems

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 tiered, no energy. Not alot of pain, just very confused about what my body needed.cryed alot..talked alot to my husband

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

walk slowly, u get dizzy real fast, be realistic about the foods u can eat and dont jump ahead of ur diet schedule

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

in same town

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.

learned how to eat slow and mostly eat thing that will turn to mush in ur stomach. liquied stage was hardest, because there is not alot of things u can eat. everything tasted different almost like a metal taste, still is. I have problems eating solid foods still, must make sure it is not fibery, must turn to mush.

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

each week tried to walk alittle further and for more time

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

Find liquid vitamins and sublingual b12, because chewing any kind of pills suck

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?

nausia and vomiting if I eat something that doesnt agree of is to much fiber still to this day, just started losing hair in month 3, not to much. Found GNC nouishhair that helps, but u have to chew horse pills that taste like crap. hech I could do fear factor now.

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

incision pain, no stomach pain, and laughing so hard when I saw my first meal.

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

I have friends who have had surgery, very important when I get upset about what I cant eat

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

6 little scars, look like scratches. Very happy with them, but it does take for ever for the bruises to go away

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

3 mnths out , didnt lose wieght for 2 wks. Thought I would die, but stoped wieghing myself every day and changed my work out amount. got over plateau and jumped for joy

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

men flirt alot more and women seem mad at me. like they arent happy for me,joy kills I call them