swanie76

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Obesity & Me

Describe your behavioral and emotional battle with weight control before learning about bariatric surgery.

It was hard to find what worked for me.I came from an obese family so they did not find anything wrong with my wait.Even when I did.I still has alot of self esteem I would not let anyone make me feel worst than I made myself feel

What was (is) the worst thing about being overweight?

Shopping all the stuff i really like was not in my size.I always wore loose clothes to hide my rolls of fat

If you have had weight loss surgery already, what things do you most enjoy doing now that you weren't able to do before?

taking more than one flights of steps and sometimes out do people tha is not overweight

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

My primary care doctor,I really did not have much of an opinion just thought it might be too drastic for me at that time they wasnt doing much laposcopic like now

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

The first time i tried (2002)my doctor did not find out what it took for my insurance.She just gave me referrals and thought that was it.after going to all the other specialist i was denied.

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

I did alot of reading online and watching shows about the surgery and create a list of concerns to go over with my doctor.I reccomend that list and let your close family/friends add to it to.they may think of things to ask that you would not

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I mostly take showing but i wanted to relax and take a nice bubble bath.the tub wrap around me and i had a problem with getting up

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I trusted my surgeon to make that decission.I did want the fastest healing 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 just told myself that if i needed heart,liver or kidney tranplant to save my life i would not think twice about doing it.This was also to save and better my life.If you think about it that way it will be easier.I was nervous ofcaorse but ready

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 husbadn was very supportive he was nervous about the surgery but trust that my doctor knew what he needed to do an sucessful job. My friends was very supportive my mother seem to been the negative on but i think it was more of an jealousy type thing

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

I told my manager that i was going through the process before i was even approved by my insurance.She just felt that i did not need it and i should try something else.I told her like i tell everyone else i have tried something else.I was out for three weeks

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

Good I had one nurse that i wish could have stay 24 hours.The other were ok but there was a couple of moments that I was unsatisfied

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

no

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 tired alot but i was warn of that by my doctor.I still did not expect it to be that bad though.I was extremely tired

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

The good thing was i wasnt sore but for a few days

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

15 minute drive

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 am only 11 weeks post op so i am still learning

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

Could not do much of anything the first couple of weeks taking a shower made me tired.

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

six small cuts
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