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

I was young and excited happy for the people who got it. It took me years to decide to go for it.

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

I was constiantly cancled and denied due to the actual people inside the office not my insurance.It was a never ending nightmare. I didnt find out I was having surgery til 5 days before and i had to rush an endoscopy.

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

I was in a group it was general but i felt comforatble.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I wanted to be skinnier.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I chose bypass because of my bmi and open because just get in there and get it done.

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?

None until after surgery.

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?

I kept it a secret for a yr and a half from dad and brother my mom knew and so didnt alot of others they were all against me and still are but i expected that i dont need them anyways you need to be tough to get this surgery.

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

They didnt agree with it one was afraid of me dying but now after surgery they are extremly helpful and great except one but he was a jerk anyways.

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

I was there 4 days 3 nights. It was a nightmare medication was taken away when ordered to be doubled my iv was out of me for over 2 hours they didnt care nurses unknolledgable about my needs just telling me to gulp liquids beds that were broke. Bring padding for your but lol i know that sounds funny but you and your but will thank me.

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

Im sick im just sticking in there hopefully my body will correct its self. My biggest thanks was i went into an extremly heavy long lasting period which helped my body recover.

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

I had 5 days to deal buy protein gut my bedroom and redo it i had no money because i get paid biweekly. I went into anxiety attacks everyday i couldnt focus i wasnt prepared for surgery.

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

I was fine emotionally no depression no hunger and trust me my family did not make it easy every meal and snack they brought into the house was fast food including my fav chinnesse eating it infront of me asking if i want food they were horrible but i didnt fase me i wasnt hungry they still do this to me all you gotta say is are you hungry no do i need it no. thats it . thats why i got fat.

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

10 mins i had no aftercare i came home started doind laundry up and down 2 flights of stairs the same day and took my doggy for a mile walk.

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.

Omg do your tastebuds change stuff i enjoyed i HATE includiong my chinnesse and soda:( i cant take dairy except cheddarcheese melted no chicken no fish no baby foood no veggies i can take beef no bread items wheat flour no spagetti sauces no oil fats no fake sugar i like cheese melted lol thats about it

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

I returned to work a day out of hospital and worked 45 hrs thats week 50 he second n im now going into the third i have 12 hours in so far thats just yesterday. But i do get week.

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

optisource

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 sleep great better than ever no hair loss im always vomiting

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

the hospital or maybe that i hate to eat

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

None im a tough chick i handle on my own but i dont recommend it

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

Hell no 10 inches breast bone to belly button wtf did he do and i have a third nipple at the end of it lol. But its mostly heeled and white i most likely wont scare

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

um i lost my weight at once and plateaud and then gained 8lbs from iv in the hospital and then lost it i havent weighed myself yet today so well see i weigh myself every day which i know i shouldnt but it doesnt bother me

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

um not really i still get the you look good from everyone who knows me there happy i lost weight if you mean hit on im always hit on thats nothing new i just wish they were hitting on me for a date not sex when will that change?