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

I was all for it. I found out through a friend.

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

I got turned down for my revision, but the doctor did a peer to peer review with the insurance and then it was approved.

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

I live 3 hours away and crammed by psych, dietary, weight loss mandatory meeting, and surgeon's visit into a day. I ran short of time with about 2 minutes with the surgeon. Allow plenty of time.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I was ready immediately for the revision.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

A friend referred me, I thought it was the best for my lifestyle.

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?

My worst feat was the incision scar, my surgeon did his best to make it small and straight. You have to take it upon yourself to have good hygiene also. I feared dying, I left a note to everyone of my family members. The risks are very low.

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?

I only told my daughter, husband, and 3 friends. I did not want to be a burder to anyone at the holidays. I feel alone in this procedure.

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

I didn't start working because I knew this was coming.

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

5 long days. I feel that I had a few good nurses and patient care techs. The rest were not attentive to my needs. Bring your cell phone- call the ones you love.

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

Headache, urgency & frequency of urination. Dealt with 2 days.Some Nausea.

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

Nausea, gassy, tearful at times. Anxiety- make up your mind to change how you feel.

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

feelings of the unknown. Aches, pains, gas, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, itchy scars.

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

3 hours, it affects me because I can't just jump in the car to have my doctor check out problems.

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.

Boiled egg made me vomit and tasted nasty while it was occurring. Some vitamins give me terrible cramps. My diet and appetite change daily.

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

I do fairly well. I went to the mall and a science center on the weekend I was released from the hospital. If I take the phenergan for nausea I am out cold.

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

Multi, Vit A & D, iron, protonix, zinc, calcium citrate

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?

nausea, vomit, gas, diarrhea, constipation, slight hair loss, drowsy @ times

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

Not knowing if I am eating right or wrong and the fear of the unknown about my healing inside.

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

I have a contract with my surgeon. He is letting me go longer between visits because I am a revision and I live 3 hours away.

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

Mostly straight, not healed yet. Smaller than I expected.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I gained weight after Christmas.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Not yet.