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

A CO-WORKER INTRODUCED ME TO A LADY THAT WEIGHED 400 LBS AND HAD LOST OVER 200 LBS. SHE LOOKED GREAT AND FELT GREAT. I WANTED TO FEEL THAT GREAT.I

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

MY FIRST CONSULTATION WAS IN NOV. I WAS DENIED FOR WLS THE INSURANCE COMPANY NEEDED MORE INFORMATION. SO I WAS SCHEDULED FOR MY PHYSC EVALS AND THE NUTRITION CLASS WHICH THE INSURANCE COMPANY NEEDED ALONG WITH MY APPEAL. THE EARLY PART OF FEB. I RECIEVED A LETTER STATING THEY HAD THE NECESSARY PAPER WORK AND IT COULD TAKE UP TO 30 DAYS BEFORE I WOULD HEAR FROM THEM. BY THE END OF FEB. I RECIEVED A LETTER STATING I WAS APPROVED THERE HAD BEEN A MIXED UP WITH THE PERSON REVIEWING MY CLAIM.

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

THE FIRST VISIT WAS AT A SUPPORT GROUP MEETING I ATTENDED THEM STARTING IN AUGUST AND MY CONSULTATION WASN'T UNTIL NOV. DR. KRAMER COVERED A LOT OF THE QUESTIONS EVERY WEEK IN THE SUPPORT GROUP MEETINGS. WRITE DOWN WHAT EVER QUESTIONS YOU HAVE TO ASK AND ANY CONCERNS ABOUT THE SURGERY.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

THE EVER INCREASING GAINING OF WEIGHT EVERY YEAR. THE NO ENERGY FEELING. THE FACT THAT IF I DIDN'T HAVE THE SURGERY I WAS SLOWLY DYING. MY HEALTH I WAS TIRED ALL THE TIME AND I WAS SICK AND TIRED OF BEING SICK AND TIRED. I WOULD SIT AND MAKE PLANS OF CLEANING MY HOUSE AND THAT WAS BASICALLY WHAT HAPPEN ME SITTING. MY QUALITY OF LIFE WAS GOING NO WHERE. I COULDN'T EVEN WALK IN THE MALL WITHOUT SITTING MORE THAN I WAS SHOPPING.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I HAD AN IDEA WHAT PROCEDURE I THOUGHT WOULD BE BEST BUT I ASKED THE OPINION OF MY SURGEON THEN WEIGHED THE ODDS.

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 A STRONG FAITH AND RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD I ASKED HIS WILL BE DONE IN THIS SITUATION. IF IT WAS IN HIS WILL THE DOORS WOULD OPEN SO THAT I COULD HAVE THE SURGERY IF NOT I WAS TRUSTING IN HIM TO SHOW ME ANOTHER WAY TO LOSE THE WEIGHT.

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?

MY HUSBAND HAS BEEN SUPPORTED OF MY DECISION HE IS SLIM AND NEVER HAD A WEIGHT PROBLEM BUT HE HAS WATCHED ME GO FROM 150 LBS TO 280 LBS AND HAS LOVED ME IN WHAT EVER WEIGHT I HAVE BEEN. MY CHILDREN HAS SOME CONCERNS BUT WAS GLAD I HAD MADE A DECISION TO DO SOMETHING. MY MOTHER AT FIRST WAS A LITTLE WORRIED THEN SHE SAW THE STORY ON AL ROKER AND SHE WAS OK WITH IT . SOME OF MY FRIENDS WERE OK WITH THE SURGERY AND SOME WERE NOT. MOST EVERYONE HAS BEEN SUPPORTIVE ESPECIALLY AFTER SURGERY.

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

MY SUPERVISOR SHOWED CONCERN AND HELPED ME IN WHAT EVER WAY TO FILL OUT MY PAPER WORK FOR FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE. I WAS OUT OF WORK FOR 1 MONTH. MY SUPERVISOR CALLED TO CHECK ON ME. AND SENT CORRESPONDECE TO MAKE SURE I WAS DOING FINE.

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

I WAS IN THE HOPSPITAL FOR 3 DAYS, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO BRING IS SLIP GRIP BEDROOM SLIPPERS, CHAP STICK, AND A POSTIVE ATTITUDE.

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 WAS EXCITED YET SCARED. I READ A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE'S WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY STORIES.

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

I WAS SORE THE STAPLES LIMIT THE WAY YOU GET A ROUND. SLEEPING IN YOUR BED IS SOMETHING YOU WILL CHERISH JUST NOT NOW. THE RECLINER WAS MY FRIEND. YOU SHOULD DRINK AS MUCH WATER AND PROTEIN DRINKS AS YOU CAN.

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

I WAS 10 MINUTES FROM THE HOSPITAL.

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.

FRIED FOODS ARE OFF LIMITS, ONE WEEK I ATE A PIECE OF STEAK THE NEXT WEEK IT MADE ME SICK. I TOLERATE CHICKEN AND FISH BETTER THAN BEEF. I AM STILL EXPERIENCING NEW THINGS SINCE IT HAS ONLY BEEN 6 WEEKS .

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

I MOVED SLOWLY I WOULD EXERCISE SOME TIMES IT WOULD ONLY BE 5 MINUTES ON THE TREADMILL. I STARTED WALKING OUTSIDE IN MY YARD AND I WOULD SIT WHEN I GOT TIRED. I ALSO WALKED INSIDE MY HOUSE ROOM BY ROOM JUST TO KEEP MOVING.

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

I TAKE A 1 A DAY VITAMIN TWICE A DAY. I ALSO TAKE JUICE PLUS PRODUCT 2 FRUIT SUPPLEMENTS ONCE A DAY AND 2 VEGETABLE SUPPLEMENTS ONCE A DAY. VITAMIN B-12 ONCE A DAY AND I CHEW 3 CALCIUM SUPPLEMENTS A DAY.

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?

IT TOOK ALMOST 3 WEEKS BEFORE I SLEPT ALL NIGHT SLEEPING IN THE RECLINER WASN'T AS COMFORTABLE THE LONGER I WAS POST-OP. I'M STILL EARLY OUT SO SOME OF THE SIDE EFFECTS I HAVEN'T EXPERIENCED YET.

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

TRYING TO GET OUT OF THE BARIATRIC BEDS.

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

A SUPPORT GROUP MEETING EVERY MONDAY. EVERY SUNDAY YOU CAN CHAT WITH OTHER WLS PATIENTS ON LINE OR YOU CAN GO TO THE SUPPORT GROUP AND LEAVE A MESSAGE SOME ONE WILL GET BACK TO YOU . IF ILOO HAVE ANY QUESTION I CAN ALSO CALL DR. KRAMER'S OFFICE AND ASK QUESTIONS. DR. KRAMER GRADUAL RELEASES YOU I SAW HIM 1 WEEK AFTER SURGERY THEN 3 WEEKS NEXT IT WILL BE 6 WEEKS.

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

LOOKS LIKE RAILROAD TRACKS.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I'M TRYING NOT TO WEIGH EVERY DAY BUT ONCE A WEEK MY SCALES SEEMS TO BE AT A STAND STILL BUT I CAN TELL I'M LOSING INCHES .

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

MOSTLY CALLING ME SKINNY EVEN THOUGH I KNOW I'M NOT YET. EVERY ONE SEEMS TO BE SUPPORTIVE THAT I WANTED A SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE.