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

I heard about it on TV and I was really scared about all the complications and mortality issue until I went to the seminar provided by my surgeon.

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

I did not get approved for the lap band, but once we changed the request to Gastric Bypass, I was approved in 4 days.

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

The first visit was very pleasant with the nurses and Dr. Strickland. I had a lot of questions that had not been answered in the seminar.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I weighed the pros and cons of having the surgery and the pros very much won out.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I do not have a lot of will power, so I chose the gastric bypass.

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 had a lot of fear about complications, but I felt like this was the right thing for me. To anyone with the fears now, I would sit back and think about what would be best for you. Being overweight or making a lifestyle change?

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?

I had full support of family and friends. Of course, I had a few people tell me that I could die and all the complications that they have heard of. The people who were not supportive are not educated in the procedure and they just beleive what they hear on TV or other media. So far, everyone around me has been very supportive.

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

N/A

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

I was in the hospital for two nights. I could have stayed one more night, but I was ready to go home and everything was going fine. The most important things to bring are confortable clothes to go home in, a robe that buttons up the front, bedroom shoes or those socks that have the anti-slip things on the bottom.

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

no complications

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

It just seemed like it took forever for the date to finally arrive. I didn't really have any anxiety about the upcoming surgery until the night before. I talked to my friends and family that were supposrtive.

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

I have done exceptionally well the first few weeks. I have had little or no pain and I have not had any nausea or vomiting. I have followed the diet that I was given for post op and I think that has helped with no nausea or vomiting.

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

it takes about 20 minutes for me to get to the doctor and hospital.

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 finally got to solids 4 weeks post op. The only thing that has been off limits, is anything hearty or spicy.

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

I started off walking only, now I walk 3 times a week and do strength training for my arms, twice a week.

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

Flinstone's with Iron

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?

I think the worst thing for me is the hair loss. I haven't had a lot of trouble with nausea or vomiting.

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

Being on liquids only when I came home.

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

I go to a suppost group meeting once a month and I have a lot of friends on this site who I talk to often. I think the support of others who are going through the same thing that you are makes it a lot better.

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

I have six small insicions since I was done laproscopically. They are smaller than I first thought.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Reaching under 200 was a big goal for me and I'm very excited about continuing weight loss.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

A lot of people comment on how much smaller and happier I seem now that I had the surgery.