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

I went to the hospital one day and said enough is enough. I wanted to consider liposuction, and then the doctor told me about WLS.

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

It sucked. I tried both my insurance providers, they said "we're sorry its in a clause or exception" or something, and well I was just so frustrated I said, F it.. i'll just pay for it myself. Those idiots.

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

Don't go in there asking general questions you can get from this OH website! Please don't. Go in there talking about YOURSELF, Your Lifestyle, Your UNIQUE medication, recovery period etc. Just remember that everyone is different but the procedure is still the same.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I tried everything else. And i'm serious. Dieting, Working out.. been there, done that. Didn't work.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

My doctor advised me -- and I learned more about it online.

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?

Of course there were fears! But listen, no pain no gain. And for me, it was just going to get worst... from now on, post surgery, its only going to get better!

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 mom took it pretty well, but the "explaining" was done creatively on my end. It started with the "mom, i went to the hospital, if i dont do anything about it.. i'll die". Hehehe.. wicked, I know, but it WORKS.

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

VERY SUPPORTIVE they even offered to pay half - but put me on a contract/bond with the company. I said, thank you but its OK i can settle this on my own.... :)

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

I actually enjoyed my stay at the hospital. I brought my traveling essentials, the clothes I would feel comfortable in, toiletries and of course stacks of reading material -- for me aviation magazines! I brought the laptop as well alas, never turned it on. Haha

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

Nope, none whatsoever! Praise the lord... Thanks.

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 was fine all the way till they wheeled me into the operating theater. Then, I started having second thoughts... but it was too late! The anesthetics kicked in and I was out! Hehe

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

Not having the nurses at your beck and call thats for sure! But I'm a spoiled child so my mom is around most of the time or if not my girlfriend was around as well... they would help me with all the complex stuff like wearing my socks and making my protein shakes, cooking dinner etc.. hehe.. I love them.

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

5 minutes. The hospital is just down the road from my house! How cool is THAT!

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.

Right now i'm still on semi solids so can't comment much, sorry. Its just chicken and fish soup for me. Breakfast, egg. Nuff said.

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

A little bit of walking, but a lot of resting and watching TV to recover.

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

Multivitamins and my doc injected B12 for me.

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?

The feeling of going to throw up... I just lay calm and let it pass. Don't overeat people!

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

Not know the final cost of surgery! No seriously. Ask for a REAL estimate amount if they can't give you the real amount.... they will start to markup items here and there so be VERY careful.

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

I log on to obesityhelp.com every day to get my daily dosage of support! But yeah, my hospital's severe obesity center has a programme where we meet up with other patients and just chat, this happens every other week or so.

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

Its like falling off a bicycle and getting scrapped -- thats it.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

None so far.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Higher expectations (on losing weight), but not treating me differently..