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

MY FAMILY PHYSICIAN AND I THOUGHT IF IT COULD HELP Y NOT TRY.

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

I DIDNT HAVE ANY INSURANCE

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

IT WAS GREAT. HE WAS VERY INCOURAGING.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I THOUGHT ABOUT IT RIGHT AWAY.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

it the only one my doctor was performing

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 have alot of fears about not eating and dying.

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?

they were very supportive

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

very supportive

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

IT WAS OKAY.5 DAYS BECAUSE I DEVELOPED A FEVER.COMFY PAJAMAS, SOMETHING TO READ.well i had a revision and hosp. stay this time was 3 days also had a hernia repair, gall bladder removed, and appendix removed

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

YES I HAD A HERNIA.IT WENT WELL HAD IT REPAIRED.after revision i got an infection and had to have wound opened and packed.

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

VERY TIRED, WORN OUT,SLEPT ALOT.after revision very painful couldnt sleep.horrible

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

HORRIBLE COULDNT SLEEP ON MY STOMACH, VERY NAUSEAS,

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

I LIVE IN CHICAGOP SO ABOUT 30 MINUTES

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.

NOTHING TO DO WITH DAIRY,MEATS,VEGGIES,

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

VERY TIRED, SLEPT ALOT

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

MULTI VITAMINS AND ONE A DAY.chewable calcium

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?

NAUSIA FOR ABOUT 8 WEEKS,SLEEP DISTURBANCE 10 WEEKS.after revision i was very ill for about 4 weeks. wound opened and very restless.

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

THE YUCKY DRINK BEFORE

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

NONE.after revision just to see a dietitian

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

NO NOT REALLY.IT STARTS AT THE BOTTOM OF MY BREASTBONE UNTIL MY BELLY BUTTON.after revision not as long as original wls scar.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

HERNIAS, gall bladder and appendectomy.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

NO,