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

I found out via my primary doctor. I was alittle on the fence when I was first approached about the situation. I was scared of the surgery and the new life that you have to follow.

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

My insurance company was awesome. I was approved on the first attempt. I followed everything that my surgery required to complete which allowed my insurance company to approve me on the first attempt.

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

My first meeting with my surgeon was a little bit nervous because I thought he would say that he was unable to perform my surgery. Write down all your questions that you think of and ASK! The more information you have about the surgery the better you wil feel.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

My blood pressure was too high and I had to start being treated for it. I had never had an issue with it and I didn't want anything else to go wrong with my health.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I want to have the proceedure that was the most effective and would help me lose the most weight.

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 never thought about any fears until the day of surgery. As long as you have a supportive family like I have then you should be fine.

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?

My family and friends were proud of my decision and I had a few that were scared because of complications that they have saw other people face. Everyone has been extremely supportive since my surgery.

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

They were supportive of my decision. I told them that I needed to change my life. I was out of work for 3 and 1/2 weeks.

What was it like attending your first information seminar on weight loss surgery? Were you glad you attended? if so, why?

When I first attended the seminar I was nervous because I didn't know anyone but the information given was extremely helpful in making my decision to move forward.

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 3 days and the surgeon and nurses were very kind. You really only need to bring clothes to go home in on the day your discharged. And if there is anything that comforts you the most like a pillow.

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

I did not have any complications with my surgery.

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

I got my surgery date a week prior and was nervous but didn't seem to bother me because I foucsed on work since I was going to be missing time.

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

If you receive a drain (which is normally taken out the day your discharged) prepare yourself to be extremely sore. I was for two weeks thats why I waited so long to go back to work.

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

I only had to drive about forty minutes from home. It did not affect my aftercare.

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'm still learning what to eat and not eat. I had my surgery almost 4 weeks ago and I haven't been able to start eating yet.

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

For the first couple of weeks I didn't want to leave the bed. But then I returned to normal activity. I felt tired alot because of struggling with not eating and getting my protein but I'm working on it.

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

B12, multivitamin, calcium, and 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 would say felling nausea was worst but it only lasted with the pain medicine. I was given medicine to help. Another issue I have now since surgery is acid reflex which I never had before so you may want to ask about it with your surgeon.

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

Feeling like you can never eat again. I know it should be a good thing when you are overweight but it can be an emotional roller coaster.

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

There is a support group once a month at my local hospital which I will be attending and they give out helpful things, the only bad thing is they only meet once a month. It's important to reach out to people that have gone or are going through the same thing you are.

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

I have 6 scars and I did expect them.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

I do not yet, hopefully in the months to come they will.