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

Television and internet. I was weary at first and actually waited over a year before my inital interest to watch out for any recalls of the band, bad results, ect.

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

I had to be a self pay patient because I did not meet THEIR requirements.

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

It was pretty short and to the point, asking more questions and keep the surgeon in the room would probably be the best advice.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

Divorce

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Well I was not eligible for GP and had limited funds so the sleeve was not an option bc I could not afford an impatient hospital sleeve plus I liked the safety options of the gastric band.

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?

No fears.

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?

Positive and mixed.

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

Im a homemaker but my recovery was quick and easy.

What was it like attending your first information seminar on weight loss surgery? Were you glad you attended? if so, why?

Yes I was glad I attended but kind of had my mind up beforehand. They mostly addressed the GP and not the band so not very informative.

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

I was a same day surgery patient, I was probably there from 7am to 5pm. Loose fitting clothes aka sweats no jeans or buttons for when you leave.

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

nope

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

No anxiety just wanted to get it done, more excitement than anything.

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

About two days of incision pain, one week of bloating. I had gastric band so I was up and at em' and walked out of the hospital and went and got my prescriptions with a friend who picked me up.

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

3 miles

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.

2 weeks clear liquid 2 weeks puree 2 weeks soft foods slowly introduce new foods no raw vegetables for I think 2 months No bread rice or pasta for 6 months

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

did not vary from before surgery

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

2 adult dose multi vitamins 1 calcium citrate with vitamin D protein shakes

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?

sleep disturbance for the first week due to pain at wound site but not horrible pain it would just wake me sometimes depending on what position I wound up in.

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

No pizza!

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

None, I dont feel as though I need one yet.

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

I barely have one, my surgeon went through my belly button, there is about a 2 cm scar on the left side but you cant even see it, I went home in liquid stitches, I thought it would be worse but it was much better than anticipated.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

None yet

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Not really