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

Online

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

I had no problem with approval.

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

Three months before my surgery. Have a list of questions ready and don't be afraid to ask anything you want.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

Looking at all of the great results I just knew this was for me.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I wanted something that had been being done for a while.

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 just worried that I would die during the surgery. I would have been worried no matter what surgery I was having done. This was the first surgery I had ever had done and that is what made me scared but it really was no problem at all once I did have 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 were all worried about complications because I have 4 children. However I explained to them that I would die if I did not have the surgery and this was the best chance for me to have a long life. After the surgery everyone was very supportive.

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

All of my co-workers were very supportive. I took 6 weeks off of work.

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 for 3 days. I brought everything from robes to pajamas to toiletries and I can tell you that I brought too much.

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

No complications at all.

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

It was hard for the first 3 months. I was a little depressed because your food issues do not go away with the surgery so there was alot of dealing with that. It also really takes 3 months for you system to recover.

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

I felt pretty good. I was not hungery however the smell of food made me want to eat so bad. It is hard for the first few weeks and months after surgery because you still feel fat. It is important to be patient.

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

I flew from Hawaii to San Fransico

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.

The best suggestion I have is to follow your the diet that your doctor gives you.

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

I was a little tired for the first few weeks.

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

I take all of the suppliments that my doctor tells me to take. Multi-vitamin, calcium, etc.

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 lost a lot of hair. It started about 3 months post-op and continued until about 9 months post-op. It is now growing back. I have very little nausea.

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

There was nothing bad. This was the best thing I ever have done and if I had to go back I would have done it sooner.

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

I was online alot. I also had a few co-workers that had the proceedure done and they were alot of help.

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

A few very small scars.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

There were a few plateaus and you just have to be patient, they will pass.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes!