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

Heard about it a few years ago but was way too scared to consider having it.

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

Tricare was wonderful didn't have any problems.

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

Wonderful, he was real and let me know up front this wasn't something to come into lightly.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I was tired of looking like Ms. Piggy!

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

After doing extensive research RNY was best for me

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?

Close to the surgery I was afraid. I though that man I could die. But I took the risk to be healthy and enjoy life with my children.

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?

Those that I told supported me!

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

I work from home so I didn't have to go through that.

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

My stay was wonderful. The staff was great and I was in the hospital for 3 days.

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

No I haven't had any complications...Thank you GOD!!!

In the weeks after you got your surgery date, how did you feel? How did you cope with any anxiety you might have felt?

At first because I was in so much pain I was like what the hell did I do to myself. But after the pain went away I was fine.

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

Just take it easy. Don't try to push yourself. Give yourself time to heal. You will need it.

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

2 hours It didn't affect my aftercare when I have appointments I drive to them.

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.

Drinking out of that medicine cup drove me crazy for awhile. I felt like I wasn't getting enough water. I haven't had a problem tolerating anything except for hamburger meat but I don't eat red meat like that so I am not missing it. Turkey, chicken and seafood work the best for me.

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

I wasn't able to do anything for about the first 4 weeks but after that I started walking.

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

I take 4 optisource multivitamins a day for post op gastric bypass patients. They taste great.

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?

Thank God again I haven't had any side effects.

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

The pain afterwards and having that drain taken out. Even though it only lasted a few seconds to get it out it still hurt.

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

I am so busy so I haven't been to any support groups. My family is my number one support group. Plus the folks on Obesityhelp.com

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

I have a few scars I had lapriscopic RNY they are small but I am okay with them. They aren't bad.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I haven't had any as of yet and hopefully I don't have any.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Nope. My family and real friends love me regardless of how much I weigh or weighed.