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

My primary physician recommended it.

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

Insurance was the worst. They did not cover the cost of my surgery.

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

It was great. Go in with an open mind and lots of questions.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I had enough.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

After discussing it with my doctor

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 was scared to death. I joke about it, but I did ask to my surgeon to promise me he would not let me die. He did not let me down.

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?

Great

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

Great. I was out about 2 weeks.

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

I was there three days because I was not able to keep anything down.

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

None

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 felt really good.

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

Just take it slow.

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

1 mile

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.

Eating in the beginning is not real exciting. Three months later, meat is still difficult to eat. My favorite thing to eat is chili and sugar free ice cream. Remember to eat slow.

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

Low

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

Protein, Multi vitamin, and 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?

Vomiting and it still occurs if I eat to fast.

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

Nothing really

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

Monthly support group

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

I have six small scars

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Nothing really

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

No