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

people who had the surgery and the internet

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

Doctors office took care of everything

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

First meeting was generic. It was an open seminar. The first personal visit was the key

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

time for a change

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

internet research and the doctors advice

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?

not being sure of the recovery and the limitations

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?

very positive

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

n/a

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 overnight. Everything was perfect. Nothing to bring, maybe a book

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

No complications

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

No anxiety. Felt good for the most part. Crushing pills was a pain, but not a big deal

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

The first few weeks are amazing. The weight falls off!! Eating soft foods does get old, but is not a problem

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

40 miles. No problem with aftercare

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 3 months the only thing I do not seem to be able to eat is beef.

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

more than it had been before the surgery

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

Multivitamin, B12, Calcium, Vitamin D, Protein powder

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

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

The waiting and the 6 months for insurance certification

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

none, by my choice

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

no scar, 6 little holes

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

none yet

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

People ask the amount of loss every time they see me.