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

heard about it on a tv show, was very interested in learning more about it

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

I am still waiting for approval

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

It was very pleasent & informative. To get the most out of your meeting make sure to voice any questions or concerns you may have

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

Tired of nothing working & feeling like crap

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

After looking into it I felt it was the best one for my needs

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 have the normal fears that come with having any type of surgery but I am confident in the ability of the surgeons & hospital & know I will be well taken care of

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 husband is very supportive, other family members are suportive but voice there concerns more loudly lol

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

I am a stay art home wife & mother so that is not an issue for me

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

The rooms were clean & nice. I was there 2 days, one night. My most important things to me was my hair brush, deoderant & mouthwash

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

No, thank God everything went smoothly

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 very excited. If I started to feel anxiety I just reread my bariatric book the phyisians asst gave me

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

I'm still in my first few days home but I still feel alot of pain & discomfort just take it slow & easy & fallow what the surgerons tell you do in your after care

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

I live in Killeen Tx & I had my surgery in Temple Tx about a 30 minute drive from my house

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.

first 2wks just brooth & jello, food off limits red meat, beef, am alowed poultry, fish & now 3months started some fruits & vegitables

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

growing steadly

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

2 multivitamens, 3 calcium tums, 1 previcid, 2 urso diol daily & b-12 once wkly

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 have experianced most side effects, nausea , vomiting & that feeling of food sitting on my chest bothered me the most, they stil come & go & I just take it day by day

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

the healing afterward & getting used to not eating whetever I want when I want

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

I have not been able to get to a support group yet

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

some of my scars look like someone tried to bite mefrom where they cut me & where the staples were; I don't think you can expect anything so I just take it as it comes

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I have yet to experiance any plateaus

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

I haven't noticed anyone treating me different but I've noteced I'm starting to feel alittle better about myself