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

I found out abut bariatric surgery from my mother, she had the bypass surgery when i was only 2 yrs old in 85 or 86, she has done wonderful. I didnt even know that she had surgery till I started talking about it. I was shocked that she kept having bariatric surgery from my step father and myself. When I first heard about bariartic surgery i was stoked i was like i will fianly be able to do something about my weight. I would still have no idea what i have gotten myself into after the fact that everything was said and done.

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

I was 17 turning 18 for most of my insurance talk was done by my mother. All the questions that i had to answer of course i had to talk to the people. It was scary talking to the insurance people because i didnt know who i was talking to, it could of been some skinny person who probally thought that this type of surgery was a huge waste of time. But i found out that the insurance people were really nice. it was a long three months waiting to have the surgery. one week i was approved the next week i wasnt it felt like a constant battle, in the end we ended up paying 10% ok so i was happy again

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

My first visit with my doc was the most scariest thing that i have ever done. Fisher is the kind of person who can throw you facial expressions and you so now what he is thinking, He is always upfront with you basically about everything. He can yell at times for you doing bad, but he says that he doesnt yell so i wont blow is cover or anything haha. I like him. people should ask questions, find out everything and anything you poss. can if you dont know something dont be afraid to ask. thats what your doc. is there for. no questions are stupid questions.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

the time when i got on the scale and i weighed over 300#

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

like most people i didnt want to be have my stomach rearraged or cut in half, God gave me my stomach whole i tend to keep it whole.

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 18 I thought that I was invincible I wasnt thinking about fears or complications. Now that I have been slapped with a reality check having a slippage with the band. I would tell people to be careful with what decsions they choose to make with food and other things, take your time. and you will know if this surgery is right for you, not you mother, not you father ,or any of your friends you and only you!

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 was all for me having the lapband and my family is still supporting me very strongly which i am greatful for I love my family! my friends on the other hand I can count all my REAL friends on one hand the others i have lost contact with, They didnt want me to have this surgery for the fear that i might look better then them, i was hanging out with a bucnh of losers and it was all about them

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

I work at my parents comapny so i got the time off that i needed which was good. my parents are very supportive of my decsion and are happy if i am happy, i still the my parents for support they havent given up on me.

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

MY first stay in the hospital was very sucky. I couldnt get comfortable my roommate was very loud. I didnt like anything about the room that i was in. The nurses wouldnt leave me alone and when i needed them they were no where to be found I was there for an overnight stay to be observed and in the morning i could go home. I thought that i was gonna have enough energy to get dressed after surgery but i really didnt but i did bring under clothes and stuff like that. I tooth brush would be nice and if you have long hair a brush and a hair tie. My second time in the hospital was so much better, the second surgery was to correct my slippage, I wanted to go home so bad cuz my family was at home and it was easter weekend. I threated to go home i was feeling that good, but since i threated to go home i have to have an escort walk around the hallways with me, im like you can leave me alone im not gonna walk away i promise! My easter weekend i enjoyed watching sponge bob square pants on the tv i was slept through the night it was great although i still wanted to go home.

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

I didnt have any complications from the 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?

in the weeks after my surgery it felt like i was always tired i didnt want to do anything, but i got up and walked the block with one of my friends, i couldnt eat anything and that was very depressing i was on liquids for 4 weeks that suck bad i hated it i think that i lasted about 2 and half weeks. everything was changing so fast i didnt know what to do. but like our doc says one day at a time!

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

expect everything to change! The food was different I could hardly eat anything, unlike what i used to be able to eat. I had to watch everyone else eat fast and of course watch them eat a whole heck of a lot more them me. Note to everyone out there eat alone and take your time. sit at a table and do nothing but concentrate on your food and what you pass though your lips, it will sometimes come back to haunt you if your not careful

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

I had to travel up the road and around the corner. thats how close that i was to the hospital and the docs office. Everything was located in LAs veags NV

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.

NO SODA my favorite was Dr Pepper I had to live to learn to not go and drink this stuff, I dont eat read meat, its just a choice that i made long before the surgery, bread i tend to stay away from it swells inside the stomach had takes up space. Rice i dont eat cuz it takes up space, anything that i eat has to be cut up small or i forget to chew and the food will get stuck. No gum it causes gas and could get stuck if you sallowed it.

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

I didnt have very much actvity going on i couldnt drive, life as a teenager with no car watch out, I was so bored. I hated being at home, i wanted to get out and do something, I had my surgery the middle of summer so no swimming no lifting anything like i said i was bored. i watched a lot of tv durning my few weeks of recovery

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

flintstones tablets and iron supplements IRON is nasty make sure to eat green leafy veggies

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?

hair loss, still losing hair by the way, no iron, being sleepy all the time really sucks cause it seems to me thats all i want to do it sleep

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

pyscological affects of everything, doc said things were going to change, sometimes i think he just forgets to mentions how bad

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

I have support groups twice a month for lap band patients, i go once a month cuz the other night i have school, Its really hard being one of docs youngest patients and not having anybody else around my age going though with that i am going though, All my friends who have had this surgery are 30 and up and they seem to always ask me how old i am again just making fun though, its all fun and games, I like the bandsters that i hang out with.

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

i have 5 tiny tiny scars they are almost clearing up but you can still see them and its a reminder of where i was and where i am today. I am so glad that i dont have one long scar :)

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I am on a plateau right now, i havent lost any weight in 3 months and its hard, i am beginning to believe that my body is happy with where its at, but i know that i have so much more weight to lose. it does become really depressing at times but i am thankful that we do have the support group that we do have twice a month.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

GUYS thats all i have to say haha, guys seem to notice me now, like just the other day i was in the store i was seeing if the melons were ripe and this guy comes up and starts helping me pick one out and telling me how to find a ripe melon, and then he says will i just came over here to help you cuz i thought that you were cute, uh ok total shocker, dont get me wrong i like all the attention but sometimes it is overwhelming and school and gettin a job is easier too