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

MY MOM HAD IT DONE WITH GOOD SUCCESS. BUT MY HUBAND SAID NO WAY HE WOULD LET ME THAN HE MEET A MAN WHO HAD IT THE SHORT WAY AND AFTER KNEE SURGERY MY DR. TOLD HIM I HAD TO GET OFF THE WEIGHT OR I WOULD NOT BE WALKING HE AGREED

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

I WENT TO MY GP THE NURSE SAID WHY ARE YOU HERE I SAID I LOST 70 GAINED BACK 50 FOR NO REASON I FELT SO GOOD SMALLER SHE(THE NURSE)SAID GOOD LUCK YOUR ALMOST 35 AND THE WEIGHT IS NOT GOING TO COME OFF BUT THAN THE DR SAID I WAS A GOOD CANIDATE FOR SURGEY. (THE NURSE ) SAID GOOD LUCK GETTING YOUR INS. TO PAY BUT I WAS LUCKY AND I GOT THE OK.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I WANTED A NEW LIFE

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

MY KIDS AND HUSBAND AND SOMEDAY GRANDKIDS

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?

WHEN I HAD IT WAS NOT AS POPULAR AS IT IS NOW BUT I WAS TOLD THE RISKS BUT THEY WERE WORTH IT

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 WHERE PRETTY SUPPORTIVE I HAD EATING BUDDIES THAT I FOUND WE REALLY DID NOT HAVE MUCH IN COMMON but eatting my sister had it done but i have two brother who would not have it after seeing the lowbloodsugar problems but I WOULD DO IT ALL AGAIN CAUSE I FEEL AND LOOK BETTER THAN EVER....

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

I WAS ONLY OFF FOR 11 DAYS THAN I WENT BACK TO LIGHT DUTY BUT THEY WERE FINE I WAS A MANAGER OF A STORE IT WAS FUNNY WE HAD MANAGER MEETINGS ONE A MONTH AND AFTER ABOUT 8 MONTH I GOT A PHONE CALL FROM THE BOSSES WIFE AND SHE SAID KELLY THOSE SHIRTS (UNF.)ARE HANGING ON YOU ILL SEND YOU A NEW ONE I WENT FROM 3X TO MED. IT WAS GREAT.

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

I WAS THERE 7 DAYS IT WAS FINE ONE THING I WISH I HAD BROUGHT IS MAXI PADS BECAUSE IT WASNT MY TIME BUT IT CAME EARLY FROM THE SRESS

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

I LEAKED AND IT WAS REPAIRED THE NEXT DAY IT WAS THE EASY WAY LIPO WHATEVER AND NO PROBLEMS

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

FELT GOOD A LITTLE SORE I CAN TAKE A LOT OF PAIN SO IT JUST FELT LIKE A PUNCH IN THE GUT.

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

I FELT GOOD BUT YOU DO FIND OUT WHAT KIND OF EATER YOU ARE AND I WAS A STRESS EATER AND I DID NOT HANDLE STRESS WELL WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO EAT.

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

1 HOUR

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.

4YRS.OUT A LOT BOTHERED ME AT FIRST BUT NOW I HAVE TO STAY AWAY FROM HIGH SUGAR FOOD RICE,TO MUCH BREAD ANDSTEWED TOMATOES .

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

NOT MUCH OUT SIDE MY FAMILY BUT NOW IM ONLINE I HOPE FOR MORE

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

NO ITS MUCH SMALLER THREE HOLES ABOUT THE SIZE OF A PEA.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

AT ABOUT 2YR. I DID BUT AFTER 100 IT SLOWED DOWN BUT A MONTH AGO I GOT RULE OF THE POUCHE FOR DUMMIES AND WATERLOADING HELPED ME LOSS 9 MORE P.S. ALL TOGETHER IVE LOST 124.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

YES ITS AMAZING ONE GUY SAID HEY YOU LOOK PRETTY GOOD IF YOU LOSS A LITTLE MORE I MIGHT ASK YOU OUT. AND I SAID I WAS PRETTY AT 300+ and my husband NEW IT SO THANKS BUT NO THANKS.....HA.