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

I learned about it when my husbands cousin did the surgery and she looked awesome and felt great

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

I didn't have to have insurance approval I had sleep apnea and that helped me to get this surgery

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

this was a great meeting , the doctor said I could educate people because I read everything I could to learn about this surgery I took my husband with me and he asked questions and I basically answered them with the doctor.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

me having diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea , and cholesterol problems. I decided I wanted to live

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I really just told the doctor I was not comfortable with having a ring around my stomach and having a tube to be filled all the time.

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 really did not have any fears I left it all up to the lord. and the good doctors at kaiser .

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 was my support team , they really were there for me and supported me in my decision.

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

I don't work so I did not have to do this

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

my stay was pleasant , great nurses. I was only in the hospital for one night I went home the next day. the most improtant thing to bring to the hospital is your chapstick your lips will get really dry.

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

none what so ever

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 was so excited because my surgery date was bumped up 2 weeks from the date is was suppose to be so I was over joyed

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

you really need to know you will get exhausted easily this is normal and no you cannot eat or drink alot . just listen to the doctors and follow exactly what they tell you to do . you will be fine. get alot of rest and listen to your body , but do alot of walking too. get up every hour on the hour and do laps in your house

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

I was about an hour away from my hospital and so it is not a burden.

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.

this is a good one , I could not tollerate anything that is greasy, has alot of sugar stay away from that anything over 3 grams and it will feel like your going to die. also take little bites and chew , chew , chew. remember 30 times a bite, and cut your meat into the size of a pencil eraser. again everyone is different so I would have to say try a little of everything but don't over do and listen to your stomach it will let you know

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

I have too much energy now ! yippeee I am loving it I have a two year old grandson and he dosn't even wear me out it is a blessing . I get very antsie if I don't do something .you will now what i mean you will see the energy and just want to go all the time

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

I take 2 multi vitamins ( flinstone chewebles multi ) this should have iron in it. 2 sublingual b-12 ( make sure these are sublingual) 3 calcium pills chewable , cinnamon flavor they are from the bariatric sight. these are great flavor.

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?

the only thing that really was heart breaking for me was the hair loss it would come out by the handfulls but it has been a year and it is coming back thicker and stronger . I sleep great now and for the nausea well that goes hand in hand with the eating .

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

Nothing I would do it all over again , it has been a blessing and I have a new life I went from a size 22 to a size 2 you tell me if that is a bad thing ? heck no !

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

I go to a support group meeting once a month and they are a great group of people who some are new and then there are those who are years out from there surgery

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

I have little scars 5 of them I had this laproscopic so they are going away and if that is all I don't care

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I really didn't face alot of this maybe once but a few weeks went by and then it came off quickly.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

yes , some people think I have changed and then there are people who don't even recognize me , my own son didn't know who I was .