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

I went to a seminar that i was really impressed with and i have a friend that had a by pass and looks great

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

I had no problem at all I have UPMC for LIFE

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

i'm going to my first visit on Oct 5th

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

when i went to seminar i seen where i was a canidate for laser surgery and with the lap band

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

when i went to the seminar

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 have no fears if i don't stop i'll end up dying

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?

their very supportive

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

i don't work on ssd

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

only was there 2 days.

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

I had no problems at all. I would do it all over again. I feel wonderful

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

some soreness in the abdomen but only lasted about 2 weeks.

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

same as above

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

about 3 miles.

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 noticed that meat was hard for me to tolerate and still now some meat is like ham, turkey, if you eat slow its better. I was a fast eater and now I slowed down alot. I had surgery for a year now feel great and can do alot more things than before.

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

I walk 3 miles 3 x a week and excerise on the machine. I didn't start excerise until 6 months after. Its was the best thing to do.

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

2 flinstone vitimans daily ( the chewable kind) and chewable 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?

When i ate to fast I would vomit. But stil after a year I can't eat too much which is wonderful

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

THE GASSSSSSSSSSSSS

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

I dont go because I babysit

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

Can hardly see it.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

it goes up and down but you'll see it will start again It still happens to me even now.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

no they dont just comment on how great i look