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

after find in out i was diabetic and being in 5 medications for it, i research for 1 year, and i knew this was my only hope

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

be very patience , and get all the requirements for you approval, it took a year and two denial letters to get the approval ,don't give up.

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

i was so inform and determine and what surgery i want the i only want to see the face of the guy who will do it,plus i research all his history

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

diabetes and the feeling the you get when you think you life is over.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

lap band, because i'm scare of the mal nutricion in bypass and it sound like the safest option.

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 did have all those fears, but if i did not do it they will be my reality.

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 was supportive, my friend as well.

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

he knew from some time alredy i was very open with everybody, when people give me a negative opinion i told them, it wasn't in disscusion my desicion was made long time ago ,and nobody was going to change it.

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

very pleasant ,i couldn't have best care the nurses were awesome ,plus my husband was by my side, all the time

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

thank God no complications, you discomfort from the gas

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 too happy to feel anxiety, i have a new beginning

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

sore, not pain, and learning to hear my body, and walking and walking

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

no far, and my after care has been great...

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.

pizza, tortillas .breads. tacos ,tamales, pupusas and 5 month out i still cannot eat all this things but thas what i got me fat in the first place

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

medium active i walk 1 mile, but slow the first 2 weeks /3 and 4 was better still walking 3 miles a little faster/5 and 6 was much better

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

fish oil, biotin, b12 ,multivamin, calcium , vitamin D,

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?

hair loss,slimming

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

waking up from the anesthesia

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

my schedule is very diferent ,i'm at work when everybody is off , so my support group is OH

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

yes, i only wish they get lighter and sometimes they itch

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

OMG ,i loose weight and then plateu for weeks ,i just keep doing what i know i think my body is hard in let go

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

yes,i do get more atention ,some other people just said you look different