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

I saw it in the TV and thought that probably I will never have the money or the insurance to be able to afford something like that. If I said that I was considering that my family was going to thing that it was just for looks.

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

I did not have any problem getting the approval. Just follow your insurance intructions and your doctors intruction and will not have any problems.

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

It was scary I was not sure what to ask and wich surgury should I get. I talk to the Doctor he was very easy to talk explain to him why I wanted to do this and what procedures I had look into and he recomended the one that I got and gave me the reasons why that was going to be the better choice for me.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I wanted to have a better quality of life.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Disscuss with the surgeon and he explained wich one was my best choice for the results that I was looking for.

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 really did not have many fear I am a strong beliver that nothing happen by chance, been overweight had already given me many complications and probably was going to cut my life short. I will say to anybody that is thinking about this to read and talk and find out as much information about the procedure you are thinking on having and if lossing weight is going to improve your quality of life do not fear it is not the easeast way to loose weight if you have try everything else do what is the best for you.

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?

I did not said much to my family. It took me years to do it and when I finally was able I was away from my family. I felt they were not going to understand my descision so I did on my own. The person that was with me did not agree but he felt that since it is my body it was my decision. He still by my side sometimes he tells me that my war now is on the other side that I need to gain weight but he has been supportive throught all this time.Since 2007

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

Did not have any issues with my employer I had enought sick time to cover my time off. I was off for 2 weeks.

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

It was a little dissapointing at the time I went because there were a lot of people and did not have any opportunity for individual questions and help.

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

I stay in the hospital for 4 days 2 of the days in intensive care, not sure why but the blood doc did said they had to infuse iron during surgury due to anemia. most important very comfy pj there is not much that I remenber wanting or needing I spend most of the time walking or sleeping.

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

no

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 really was more worry about not been able to eat like 3 days before the surgury how I was going to do that and what I really wanted to eat before those day knowing that after that no more eating =)

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

It was very difficult, your mind still think that you can eat but your body do not allow it. I felt sick when I eat and felt sick when I did not eat. I crave food and the moment I try it it was awfull. the first 3 months I thought that I was going to die. but then I learn to eat and enjoy most everithing I know what my body rejects so I stay away from those foods and eat slowly so my body can tell me when I'm full.

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

less than 5 miles from home.

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.

At first I was eating mostly liquids, soups then mashed veggies and a lot of proteins shakes.slowly I have try everithing that I used to eat and I have been able to eat most of the foods that I like but things like chinesse food or shrimp that I use to love can't do it anymore brocolly was another thing that I use to love and is out of my diet completly, many foods that are from my country (Puerto Rico) are also very diffucult to eat.

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

It was very limited I felt very tired I was anemic and eating almost nothing so basically I went to work and came home to sleep.

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

multy vitamins I have found the ones that I can take most easly are the children gummys so I buy those and double the amounts since they are for children and the absorpcion is not good.

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?

the nause and vomiting has been the worse. I have learn to eat the other problem have been not absorbing iron and been having to have infusion weekly for over a year plus two blood tranfusions still working with that my blood doc do not belive that it will resolve due to the type of surgury that I had done.

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

remenbering to eat slow and very little amounts so you do not vomit.

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

none

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

is minimal I had laparscopic surgury and they are very small scars

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I was able to loose all 115 pounds and I had stay in that range.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

no, many people that knew me before can't recognize me now until I tell them who I am, and they are just amaze at my change but very quickly see in me that I am still the same person just a lot smaller. and my partner know I think he gets more jelous more often and sometimes I thing he like me better when I was a little heavier.