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

I started a diet with my pcp and he was telling all of the different thing there was out there. He started me on addipix and that worked for a while but then after about 1 1/2-2years it started to make me eat more. So I went back to the Dr. and told him what was going on and I said what about the surgery and he said we have tried everything else so he refered me to the weight loss clinic and that is how it all started.

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 very easy to go through. I didn't have no problems at all. The clinic sent it in on a monday and they had my approval by that wednesday.

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

Dr.Currie was very nice and very informative. He made me feel at ease. Told me what would happen during the surgery and answered all of my questions that I had. He also tried to tell my mom that I would be ok and that the surgery would be ok. All that I would not be haveing it if I wasn't a good canadate for it. But that didn't help her. She seen all of the bad stories about the surgery.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I wanted to be healthier and be alive to be around when my children have children.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I read up on it and I talked to my pcp.and he said that this would be the best one.

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?

My feelings are the good out weights the bad for my part. I think of it this way if I don't have it I my not live as long.And if I have it I will feel better and be able to do things that I haven't been able to do before.

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 husband and children are a for it. My mom and sisters are not . They have seen all of the negitive stories about it. Yes I would not have told my mom,and sisters about it. I haven't had my surgery yet but will tellyou later.

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

Thay were very understanding and very supportive. I told them that I was going in for surgery and they asked how long I would be out and I said I am not sure. And they said that that would not be a problem.

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

My stay in the hospital was very nice. My nurses were great to me. They elped me to get up the first time after surgery. I had my surgery at 1:30pm and they had me out of bed that night around 9:00pm. They had me set on a chair and walk around my room a little. I would give my nurse a 10 out of 10

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

no I did not have any complications. About three days home from hospital my one sight got infected. Dr. Currie gave me an antibiotic and then when we had our support group meeting the following monday he checked it and told me to come in and he would open it and drain it. It is doing fine now.

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 went from being scared to wanting to get it over with.My husband helped to keep me on the straight and narrow.

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

I hurt on my left side. It felt like someone had pounched. It was hard moving around. I had to have help when I went to the bathroom and to get a shower. Taking a shower takes a lot out of you. So make sure some one is with you. Rest and take it easy let your family help you and wait on you. You will need it. I had pain in my left side for about 5 weeks. So don't try to lay in you side until it is no longer hurting.

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

About 15minutes from my home.

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 can not drink milk. It does not agree with me. So far other then that I am handling everything else . I am on the soft food diet right now for another 13days. I have been on reg. food for about 1 week. It is going pretty good. I have not had no problems. I have more energy then I had before the surgery. I am thankful that I had the surgery. If anyone is thinking about haveing the surgery you will never regret it. Trust me.

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

The first 2 weeks I walked around in the house and went steps. My third week I have been out walking around. There is a church close to where I live and I go and walk around the parking lot each day and am tring to work up to doing it twice a day.

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

I take a multi vitamin,Calcium and b-12 pill. I now take a iron pill, fish oil,and magnessiam pill.

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 side effects yet am only 3weeks out.

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

The pain on my left side. It lasted about 5 weeks.

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

I go to a support group every other week at the hospital in the evening.

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

I have five small scars and they are not bad. Yes it was what I expected my Dr. told me what they would look like.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

None yet. I am five weeks out. I was 11 weeks out and I had my first plateau. It was a little upseting but I knew it would happen sooner or later. But I am over the hump and am lossing again.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

No