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

I had done research and my sister had done about 5 years ago, but I made the decission in JUly and went for it!

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 trouble once everything was turned in.

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

i went with a list of questions that were and were not answered for websites and other testimonials.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I was tired of being fat and got depressed!!

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Lap Band seems to me to be the safest and I want to change my life style as well.

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?

NONE

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 happy and just wanted me to behappy and to make sure this is what I wanted.

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

I did not tell them anything. I don't think they would have supported it.

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

it was out patient surgery. I checked in at 7 a.m. and was at home by 2 pm.

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?

I just hated only being able to drink liquids. Now I know it is SO IMPORTANT TO LEARN how to chew and eat slow.

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

Be a little sore and you will not be a to have a bowel movement.

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

It was in town

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.

Breads, rice are a NO NO. Meat I can take to a certain degree. But I can do popcorn well. STRANGE!!!!!!!

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

Normal- just a little slower for a week.

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

Multi- vitamin (when I think about it)

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?

no bowl movement- it lasted about a week and a half

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

Trying to releive myself of this "fat" mind set

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

through Dr. ray's office

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

there are 5 little scars.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Not there yet

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes, I feel better and act differently, but boy do I get some looks.