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

someone i talk to on here had it done and told me to check into it.since then i have done alot of research on it.i have an app.with the dr.in may and im hoping to have the surgery done.i dont have any support from my family and i am very scared but im going to have it done and hope for the best.

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

I HAVE MEDICAID HAD TO SWITCH TO COMMUNITY BLUE APPROVE I WEEK AFTER FIRST CONSULT.

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

WELL,I WAS WITH HIS ASSISTINT MORE THEN HIM AT FIRST VISIT.BUT DR.CARUANA IS A VERY GOOD DR.YEAH FOR DR.C.LOL

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

TIRED OF HAVEING SO MANY HEALTH PROBLEMS AND TIRED OF BEING,OBESE,OBESES,OBESE.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

DR.C FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND ONLY DOES OPEN.

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 SCARED TO DEATH OF DYING.DIDNT THINK I WOULD HAVE ANY COMPLICATIONS THOUGH.

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?

THEY WERE ALL SO AGAINST IT.NOW THEY ARE ALL SO SUPPORTED.FOUND OUT THAT THEY WERE AGAINST BECAUSE THEY WERE AFRAID FOR ME.

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

IM DISABLED.......

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

MY STAY WAS OK. 6 DAYS. SLIPPERS,BRUSH,DEO.

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

YES I DID, SURGERY MADE MY REFLUX WORSE. I REALLY DIDNT THINK THAT I WAS GOING TO MAKE IT.I WAS LAID UO FOR THE FIRST 3 DAYS WITH A PUKE BUCKET NEXT TO ME.

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 FEELINGS,SCARED,NERVOUS,EXCITED. TALKED ON THIS SITE.

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

WELL IM ONLY HOME FOR 9 DAYS BUT THEY WERE NOT VERY GOOD NINE DAYS, BECUASE OF MY REFLUX AND SLEEP APNEA.

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

15 MINUTES.

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.

WELL I CAN EAT JELLO,BROTH,JUICE,PUDDING,ALL DELUTED.CANT TOLERATE YET,COTTAGE CHEESE,YOGURT,FUGESYCLE.

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

IM STILL A NEW POST SO ONE MINUTE ILL HAVE SO MUCH ENERGY IN ME,THEN THE NEXT I FEEL SO TIRED,DRAINED,WEAK.

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

FLINTSTONES MULTI-VITAMINS

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?

NAUSIA WAS IN THE HOSPITAL,ALONG WITH DUMPING. NO HAIR LOSS YET.(NEW POST)HAVENT HAD A GOOD NITE SLEEP YET.

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

THE COMPLICATIONS AFTERWARDS,,,,,,,

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

WE HAVE MONTHLY MEETINGS AND I REALLY ENJOY THEM.YOU CAN LEARN ALOT.

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

ITS LONG AND HEALING NICE.YES IT IS.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

NOT YET AND HOPE NOT TO.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

TOO SOON TO NOTICE.