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

the frist time i heard about was from the journal that one of the nurses was reading during lunch one day setting around a table of nurses and cna and the other staff i was given the best knowlege of new break thou and have a chance to talk with them of there input .

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

well i have midcare so thare not the fastiest when knowing .but i can say it doesnt hurt to have a back up or put some away things arnt free anymore and it can get spendy but in the end its worth the years of paying it off.

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

come early try to have ur paper work done and ready to go.i came up from whitefish to great falls mt thats about a 31/2 to 4 hour drive best to grabe a place to stay so u wont be so rushed and plan on staying for a while i went in at 8:30 in the morning and was done at 4:00 .

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

i was ready way back in 03 but had to put my affairs in order and talk with my family doctor and hearing my son alway say give me a few more years with u ur to young for me to lose u .

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

my surgon help me out with that after explaning the diffrent kinds and going into details we disided on the right one always ask question there good at giveing u the answers so have a good list for them.

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?

know matter what theres alway fear ,my thinking is what do i have to loss really ether i get the surgery done and add a few more years to see ur chuldren grown ,get married ,have children of there own or lose early in life because fear was the facter of liveing . if death come then dont be afraid its part of liveing.

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?

u know i have the greatest son ,who at time can be very trying he was there thou everything going to the doctor with me takeing the classes waiting for me durning the surgrey and after i can really say we argue like mom and child about me eating and makeing me walk and makeing me write everything down when all i want is to turn out the light and wait for everything to heal. family and freinds is a must u be happy even thou u well argue until ur face turn blue beacuse u know that what ur going to do anyway.

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

i was unemployed by then . if u have a job talk with them im sure thay will suport u knowing u well be healther,less out to get injured,not sick as much and less paper work in the end. just rember to take enough time to go thou the steps and afters and u well be just fine.

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

my stay was wonderful and the staff was awsome to know i wish i could name everyone but i would run out of room the doctors cute and shy but answered question . my stay was four days but i have a good pain leavel i was already setting up about an hour i was placed in my room and went on my first walk late at night around 12 midnight get up and move and it well help with ur recovery faster and mind the staff asked for help when setting up.

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

i never had complication with my surgery it was my breathing when ur in pain and ur trying to walk around i have a tendasy to hold my breath from the pain so my oxygen leavel keeped droping so i was put on oxygen thou my stay.as that told me in thou the noise out thou the mouth dont hold it.

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

well i did have anxiety i have sleep afnea so sleeping is hard for me anyway that when u talk to ur friends on the support groups and internet , go for a nice quit ride durning the night or day wait the most stuiped movies u know and laugh ur head off read a book it well help.

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

u well need a little help around the house and helping you with changeing the dressing (thou that are squmish) and help with meals get ur supplys early so u have them on hand first few days i only wanted liquides u be on that anyway i find drinking warm things go down easyer . to cold can shock the stomach and make it back up some rember very small drinks and tiny bits or u well feel it .

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

its about 31/2 to 4 hour drive from whitefish to great fall and liveing mt there mountains and curves as well pot holes bumps thous that are from mt know this , so bring pillows and something to cover ur self if u like and lay the car set back to were u feel confy and dont for get to drink water on ur trip home thats a must.

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.

okay well all love to eat im one thous to so listen up. bread is out (crakers will be okay when your in a year) soda pop out. decaff coffee and tes only .when i got home about a 1/2 c pushed it so take until u feel full.protin shacks get un flav as well flav u well be use this everyday now a food prosser or a blender a must , fresh fruit with shin peeled off works bettermake a shack useing skim milk and fresh fruit protin mix it is good tasting mix with ice chips mmmmm. no pes,or anything that has skins or no corn try cream corn squashes are good v 8 is ur vegable ready to drink .....no hot spices or sauces u well feel it in the end.

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

getting up every three hours and walking four time from one end of my trailer to the others .....keep moveing or u well go stiff in side . chat to friends .

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

well this is very important and start takeing them before ur surgery b12 sublingual dots .chew there not back . take 1 then centrum i like the sliver im in my 40s n close enough to 50 2 tabs chewbles and then catrate chewbles 1 tabs plan on takeing them for life. the sooner ur on them it will help with ur recovery also my dotor had me on unjury for three weeks before my surgery not all will do this or have there own diets follow them ......unjury is a protin drink mix and it had a good tast and helps with ur appite u can find unjury on the internet www.unjury.com

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?

if im haveing thous effect it would me i was drinking or eating to fast , if ur dumping ur eating an no no suger i havent had the hair loss yet or i cant really tell i have blonde corn silk baby fine. rember eat slow small bits set down watch tv or read a book its going to take u a long time to eat.

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

trying to move around depending what surgery u had i had the six cuts on the belly a camra and other tools and a drain even thou my cuts look really good and not big at all thay did have to work around a tight close place so u going to feel the aftermath from that also thay do pump air into ur stomach to make more room and everyone knows when haveing gas pain it dont feel good but u will do fine and it well pass few days later

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

im a member of the obesity help .com i also have friend in my town that has had the surgery few years ago and are my suport ansd back up and most of all i have family and god as my suport . please have a suport group and friend to talk tou there well be days when u going to need to say i made my self a milk shack with reg choc ice cream whole milk hersy choc syrup mmmmm. and ur going to pay in the end. thay been there and already have the good recipes . and the do and dont down by now.

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

well my scares are good just inch little cuts .

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

hmmm none i think off.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

yes before it was hard to be seen now that i have it done i get the worried looks and i will be there if u need me . i even had one say i now going to have to go healthy with u for now on ...oh if he wants to go there he,s going to see just how health its going to be . chose ur suport wisely and know that thay are going to be there because this suport isnt a one time thing thay become family.