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

I heard about the surgery through a couple of my friends that had the surgery and were very pleased with the results. I immediately started asking questions and doing research. Talking to my Dr. and getting as much input as possible and getting more excited about it the more I learned.

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

my experience with my insurance copamny was painless. I called them when I started thinking about the surgery to see if this was a possibility and was told if it was medically needed it would be. I was approved in 48 hours for the surgery. My advice is to ask first.

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

I was well prepared for my first visit by doing my research , I went in with a list of questions to ask if they weren't answered, most of them wee answered.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

the positive things I heard from all the people that I spoke to who had already been through the surgery and seeing the results

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I felt more comfortable with the open procedure of the RNY I thought that the surgeons could see what they were doing a little better

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?

have confidence in your surgeon and feel comfortable with your choice

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 very supportive before and after surgery

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

I have been open about my surgery to everyone and they were supportive

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

I was in the hospital 4 days. I was pleased with the nursing staff and my Dr. The most important thing I brought was my husband. He was there most of the time and waited on me hand and foot and made me as comfortable as he could

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

I have not have any complications at all and I am the first to tell people that I was lucky, but I think it is mostly because I followed my Drs. orders

In the weeks after you got your surgery date, how did you feel? How did you cope with any anxiety you might have felt?

anxious and thinking that the day would not come quick enough, I tried to keep as busy as possible

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

I was tired but it was what I expected. I had three c-sections and I had in my mind that this would be just about the same and it was

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

65 miles

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.

I ate pureed foods then soft foods. I have not had any problems eating anything. i found that the hardest thing to get used to was eating slowly, I still tend to eat to fast if I don't think about it.

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

I am not very good with the activity thing but I do take the stairs instead of the elevator and I park further out. I am just now on an exercise program

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

vit. c, b 12, calcium, iron and a multivitiman I also try do do a protien shake or bar a day

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 haven't had any

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

the surgery itself and taking the time off from work

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

there is a support group two times a month and it helps to hear what everyone else is going through and what's normal and what's not

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

my scar is healing nicely it is about 8 inches long, it is what I expected

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I am at a plateau right now with the weight loss but I am still taking off inches

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

people are complimenting me all the time on how good I look