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

I RESEARCHED IT AFTER AL ROCKER CAME OUT OF THE CLOSET, AT FIRST I WAS SCARED BUT DEATH FROM OVERWEIGHT SCARED ME MORE.

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

I WAS VERY LUCKY I WAS APPROVED BEFORE I EVEN WENT FOR MY FIRST VISIT TO THE SURGEON. I MADE THE APPOINTMENT,CALLED THE INSURANCE COMPANY THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED 5 YEARS OF MEDICAL RECORDS A REFERAL FROM MY PRIMARY CARE DOCTOR AND I WROTE THEM A LETTER AND SENT PICTURES TO THEM OF MY SELF AND TOLD THEM WHY I NEEDED THIS SURGERY AND I OVERNITED THE PACKET TO THEM WITH UPS. MY PACKET WENT TO THE BOARD FOR APPROVAL, I GOT MY APPROVAL WITHIN 24 HOURS OF MAILING IT. SINCE THEN MY INSURANCE HAS APPROVE THREE PEOPLE.

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

THE FIRST VISIT WAS GOOD,I LIKED MY SURGEON RIGHT AWAY. TO GET THE MOST PLEASE WRITE A LIST OF ALL THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU NEED TO ASK.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

MOST INPORTANTLY I WANTED TO LIVE , I NEW I WAS 48 YEARS OLD I WEIGHTED 374 POUNDS. I AM JUST LUCKY I DIDN'T HAVE A MASSIVE HEART ATTACK.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

THAT WAS EASY I HAVE SMALL SCARES AND NOT BIG SCARES.

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 WROTE LETTERS TO MY HUSBAND AND CHILDREN BEFORE SURGERY, YOU NEVER KNOW WHATS GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN YOU HAVE SURGERY. I TOLD THEM ALL I LOVED THEM AND THEN I PRAYED ALOT.

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 HAS BEEN FANTASTIC AND THEY ALL HAVE BEEN SUPPORTIVE AFTER MY SURGERY. I'M SO GLAD THEY ARE ON MY SIDE.

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

MY EMPLOYER AND SUPERVISOR WERE VERY SUPPORTIVE AND THEY ARE STILL THAT WAY.

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

INTENSIVE CARE WAS GREAT THE NURSES THER ALL HAD THE SURGERY. THE NURSE THER TOLD ME THAT ABOUT 40% OF THE HOSPITAL HAS HAD THIS SURGERY. I DIDN'T LIKE THE REGULAR ROOMS THE NURSES THER WERE CRAPPY. I WAS ONLY IN THE HOSPITAL FOR 2 DAYS. BRING LOTION, FAN,ROBE, MAGAZINES,BRUSH, WIPES, NIGHTGOWNS, AND LOT'S OF SUPPORT

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

I WAS VERY LUCKY I HAD 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?

AFTER I GOT MY DATE I WAS ON CLOUD NINE. I TRIED NOT TO THINK ABOUT THE SURGERY RIGHT UP UNTIL I HAD IT.

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

FIRST FEW WEEKS WERE OK. I WAS TIRED ALOT AND I SLEEP ALOT. I COULD'T DO AWHOLE LOT, SO I JUST WALKED AROUND THE HOUSE UP AND DOWN STAIRS AND WALKED ON MY TREADMILL. YOU SHOULD EXPECT ALOT OF UPS AND DOWNS EMOTIONALY.

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

10 MINUTESFROM 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.

IT'S ONLY BEEN THREE MONTHS BUT I CAN'T EAT BREAD. I DON'T EAT SUGAR. I HAVE TO EAT SLOW OR I GET SICK.I CAN EAT ALMOST ANYTHING BUT BREADS OR SWEETS THEY MAKE ME ILL.

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

I JUST WALKED ALOT FOR 6 WEEKS AFTER THAT I JOINED CURVES AND I GO THERE THREE TIMES A WEEK AND I WALK THREE TIMES A DAY AT WORK.

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

I TAKE CENTRUM TWICE A DAY. I TAKE CALCRTE ONCE A DAY.I TAKE B12 EVERYDAY.I TAKE BIOTIN FOR MY HAIR AND NAILS

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 HATE DUMPING AND I DON'T LIKE THE HAIR LOSS.

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

THE WAIT FOR THE SURGERY DATE.

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

I ATTEND METTINGS TWICE MONTHLY AT THE HOSPITAL. THIS IS VERY HELPFUL.

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

MY SCARES ARE SMALL AND NO I EXPECTED THEM TO BE WORSE.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I HAVE HAD ONE SO FAR AND THIS IS NOT PLESANT BUT IT LEAVES AND THEN YOU START TOOSE AGAIN.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

NOT REALLY