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

i saw a commercial on tv and i thought it was the answer to all my problems.

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

my insurance was an ordeal...it took 3 times for me to get approved and they made a lot of mistakes and took their sweet time!!!

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

great, he went over all the info about surgery that i already knew! Research!Research!Research!I took in a list of questions for my surgeon so that i wouldn't forget to ask him anything!

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

It was my only way to live a normal life and to have children!! I have tried every other diet known to man and none of them worked for me!

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

my dr. and surgeon decided, it was the only 1 they did.

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 was scared that i would die trying to save my life! because that's exactly what i did, by having surgery i have prolonged and/or even saved my life! I would tell them to way the pro's and con's, i was going to die at an early age if i didn't have WLS and i would never be able to have children, but having WLS i have prolonged my life a great deal and am giving myself the chance to have children!

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 ok with it but concerned.no, since WLS they have 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?

i am a housewife, so i didnt have to worry about this!

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

it was ok, but i was ready to come home. i have WLS on a Wed. and went home on that Fri. my husband!!!

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

not yet, and i hope it stays that way!

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 actually fely relieved!! I had really bad migraine headaches and after i got a date they went away!

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

i was very sore and my husband had to help me get in and out of bed and on and off of the couch! it was hard to get in all the protein and fluid that they want you to get in everyday but i felt like crap if i didn't get it all!!!

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

1 1/2 hrs.

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.

after i got home i could eat strained creamed soups, broth, 1/2 and 1/2 h2o and juice and water. then on day 4 i could add thinned mashed potatoes and l.f. cottege cheese, canned meat and soft scramblesd eggs. now,weeks 5-7 i can eat baked potatoe, soft cooked veggies, saltine crackers, peanut butter, turkey & chicken breast and soft ham.

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

not much, just walking around the house as much as possible!

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

2 flinstones chewables /day, 1500 mg calcium citrate, B-12, prevacid chewable and i have to crush all of my other meds.

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 have only had nausea and vomiting....and they both were very unpleasent!!! but the vomiting was the worst!

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

watching other people eat all you favorite foods in front of you!!! LOL I think that the wost part of WLS was the pain for me, but then again i am a baby!!!

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

at the bariatric clinic were i go they mandate that we attend monthly support groups for at least a yr post-op! i have only been to 1 and it was ok.

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

i have 5 tiny incisions and another hole where my drain was. they are all very small and have healed nicely and they are better than i expected!

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

i stopped at 310lbs. 3 weeks after WLS for about 1 1/1 weeks! i was very upset!!!!

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

they are just telling me that i look thinner!