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

I went to a hope feast in 9/2009 here in chicago. Its a back to school fair that we always attend and I got information there though west suburban clinic.

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

I was in shock because I have the medicare card and I got approve fast. My advice is get all the test that the doctor gives you done quickly because insurance changes all the time and it then will be smooth sailing.

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

My first visit I was worried that he was going to tell me that i can not do because I am to big. But that was not the case he told me that i was good for the lapband. Ask all the question that you have in mind becuase if you dont you will alwasy be wondering and the time of the suregy you wont have any time to ask becuase everything goes so quickly

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I wanted a better and health life

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

That was not hare I alwasy thought of the lapband because there were less risk it was a 24 hour discharge and if the lapband did not agree with my bady it is reverseable.

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 only fear was waking up with a tube in my mouth. That wa just crazy. But dont worry. I worried for nothing nothing. You just stress your self out and it not worth you arein good hands.

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?

All my family was very supportive of this and they still are infact they are very proud of me for makeing this decison.

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

I am a stay at home mom so i had no problems in this area.

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

I learned a lot from my first seminar. I recommed people to go even if they are not to sure. The seminar answers alot of your question that you may have and plus you get to see all the people the lapband has helped.

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

It was a good stay I had to stay a little long due to a fever but i very well taken care off and all the staff were wonderful.

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

All I was a fever and I dealt with it fine.

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

At first I felt like if i was getting over the flu and I was tried.

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

Rest the first day of being home. Then walk around your house as much you can.

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

It was not far at all it is like a 10 mintue 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.

Sugar. patato chips, ice cream and SODA which has been hard. I still dont eat those thing because they are not healthy but I look at food in a whole differant way I eat healthy now

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

I started doing 30 min of activity now i do 1 hour and 30 min

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

2 finstone vitamins and tums with calium

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?

I has ahd a little hair loss but nothing major.

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

Nothing I dont reget nothing this is all worth it to me.

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

I have not been to a suppot group yet but i find that the support that I get from my family and obesityhelp.com is a great help.

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

They are vey small nothing to be ashamed of.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I have people tell me how good I look. My skin colo was tan I am a bit litigher. I also had a blackness to my neck due to being over weight and now it is clearing up.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes I do. People look at you with more respect.