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

I spoke to my family doctor about it and I felt that I wasn't sick enough to get it done til he told me that is why you get it to keep you from getting too sick...

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 problems with my insurance approval..I did everything I was supposed to do and it was submitted and no problems...

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

I went to meet Dr.Koren and my first impression was "he knows what he is talking about" and my husband liked him too...

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

Cause my whole family is heavy and they all have problems and as I get older I don't want to end up with what they have...

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I had no choice...BUT that's OK with me...

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 just prayed to let me make it the whole morning of my 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?

At first my family was happy but now that I got it done my family is mad at me....

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

My employer is a big jerk about it he keeps telling me that I was getting plastic surgery....I am out of work for one month...He refused to fill out my disability papers...

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 to days...There was a nurse there her name was Lynnette she was excellent...she tried to make you as comfortable as possible...The most important thing to bring is warm booty slippers....

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

No,The worst part was the pain in the left side under your breast...

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 excited...I was ready....I worked all the way up til the day before my surgery...

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

The first week home you are not goning to want to do anything but stay in your PJ's....The second week is easier you don't have the staples in and you can move alot more...

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

I traveled about 1 1/2 miles it wasn't far from my home...

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.

I came home on a liquid diet cause I didn't pass gas but the day after I passed gas I went to mushy foods....I am still chopping my foods up so they go down easier for me...Of course it has only been two weeks for me..

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

My actvity level was low at first but it is increasing day by day....

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

The doctor took me off all the pills I was taking and now I take a chewable vitamin,biotin,fiber chewable,B-12

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?

At first it was hard for me to sleep cause I am a side sleeper and I couldn't get on my side...It lasted til I got the staples out (one week)

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

THE PAIN........

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

My family was real good they helped me....My daughter was there for me everytime I needed her....

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

I got six little scars on my stomache....Not what I expected....

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

none yet

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes,my whole family is mad at me...But oh well it was my choice not theirs.....