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

AS A CHILD WHEN IT FIRST CAME OUT A FRIEND OF MY FAMILY HAD THE PROCEDURE. IT WAS SCARY BACK THEN.

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

THAT WAS A ONE SHOT EFFORT FOR ME. THEY APPROVED ME RIGHT OFF THE BAT, I ATTRIBUTE THAT TO ME DOING A LOT OF THINGS AHEAD OF TIME AS FAR AS MY MEDICAL RECORDS AND DOCUMENTATION.

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

FAIRLY SIMPLE. I MADE A LIST OF QUESTIONS THAT RANGED FROM CONCERNS TO BASIC BACKGROUND INFO ON THE SURGEON AND THE PRACTICE IT SELF.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

PRE CONDITIONS THAT MAY HAVE HAD ME ON MEDICATIONS.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

AFTER PLENTY OF RESEARCH, ABOUT TEN YEARS TOTALLY TO DECIDE TO PROCEED WITH SURGERY.

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?

A LOT AT FIRST BUT THAT IS WHEN PRAYER CAME IN.

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?

THEY WERE AFRAID AT FIRST BUT SOON GOT OVER IT AFTER HEARING MY REASONS AS TO WHY I WANTED SURGERY.

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

THEY DIDN'T KNOW AND STILL DON'T.

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

MY HOSPITAL STAY WAS OVER NIGHT BUT IT WAS A GOOD STAY. THE NURSES WERE VERY ATTENTIVE AND THAT WAS GREAT.

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?

ANXIOUS AND EXCITED BUT A LITTLE NERVOUS. I ALWAYS PRAYED TO THE LORD THAT WHATEVER HAPPENED I KNEW IT WAS HIS WILL. PRAYER GOT ME THROUGH.

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

I NEEDED SOME HELP WITH LITTLE THINGS BUT NOT MUCH. I STAYED HOME BY MYSELF AFTER THE FIRST NIGHT AND I WAS FINE. REST AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE AND LET YOUR FAMILY HELP YOU OUT.

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

TO THE NEXT LITTLE CITY ABOUT 16 MILES FROM MY HOME SO NOT VERY FAR.

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.

I ONLY ATE WHAT THE NUTRITIONIST TOLD ME TO. NOTHING MORE. LIQUIDS THE FIRST TWO WEEKS THEN SOFT PUREED FOODS.

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

I WAS TIRED AFTER SURGERY, BUT AS TIME WENT ON MY ENERGY LEVEL ROSE.

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

2 TUMS FOR CALCIUM AND A CHEWABLE MULTIVITAMIN.

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 AFTER SURGERY.

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

HAVING TO GO THROUGH WITH IT IN ORDER TO TREAT YOUR WEIGHT PROBLEM, BUT IT IS A LIFE SAVER AND CHANGER.

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

FAMILY AND FRIENDS HAVE BEEN THE BIGGEST SUPPORT FOR ME. IT HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL AN IN STRESSFUL TIMES I HAVE SOMEONE I CAN TALK TO THAT KNOWS ME PERSONALLY.

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

MY SCARS AREN'T BAD AT ALL. OF COURSE I DIDN'T WANT ANY SCAR BUT THAT WAS IMPOSSIBLE.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I HAVE BEEN AT THIS CURRENT PLATEAU FOR ABOUT FOUR MONTHS NOW OR LONGER. NOTHING IS HELPING AND I HAVE TRIED EVERYTHING.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

YES, I GET MORE SECOND GLANCES FROM PEOPLE WHO KNOW ME BUT HAVEN'T SEEN ME SINCE BEFORE SURGERY. AND ALSO MORE LOOKS FROM THE OPPOSIT SEX.