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

From my PCP, Dr. Allen, III. My first impression was that I thought it was something that I wanted to pursue and started to research to find out all I could about it. The gastric bypass was the only type of surgery that was offered then. However, my insurance turned me down to cover the surgery.

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

This was the first year that BCBS Federal had added the lap band surgery, prior to that they covered the GB, and it was really easy to get approval.

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

My first visit with my surgeon was really good. He checked me over and everything and was good about answering all my questions. The best that I can say is write your questions down and ask, ask, ask.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

increasing weight and comorbidities

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I researched the lap band and thought that would be the safest procedure for me and if There were difficulties it could be reversed, unlike the GB.

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?

There is always the fear of having surgery that something might go wrong and you could die, but I thought it was worth the risk, and I had faith in my surgeon.

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 family was not keen on me having it because they were afraid that I might have complications and all, but afterward they all were at the hospital with me and are now very supportive.

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

My work place was very supportive and gave me all the time off I needed. I was out for about 3 weeks.

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

I stayed overnight in the hospital. My stay was really uneventful except for the reaction to the anethesia where my head started shaking, but I got some meds and it stopped. Bring your support system, shoes, and robe to walk in as soon as possible.

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

No surgery complications at all that I know of.

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 a little anxious, wondering if I was making the right decision, I felt scared sometimes, and nervous, and excited at the same time.

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

I was really sore, but the more I walked the better I felt. I would advise people to take care of the surgery site as instructed and try to get all your nutrients in and relax and take advantage of quiet time at home.

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

I was about an hour or so from the hospital I had my surgery in. It did not effect my aftercare at all. I had not post surgery emergencies.

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 could have chicken, or beef broths, sugar free gelatin, water, crystal light, protein shakes. Then I was on regular liquids, such as creamed soups, and sugar free puddings, with the protein shakes, water and crystal light. then on to more solid foods like oatmeal, grits, thinned mashed potatoes. moist meats, water, protein shakes, crystal light.

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

Very low activity. just light house work, no heavy lifting

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

adult multivitamin

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?

No nausea, no vomiting, no dumping, no hair loss as yet

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

Just the gas pains afterward, and that was not bad not that I think about it.

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

none

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

Scars are minimal, I may have to have one or two sites injected to make the scaring go away, but that is all

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

none

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

NO