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

advertisements on tv

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

try over and over until approved

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

make a list of questions before you go so you will get answers, do research also before you go so you will be an informed patient

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

so tired of being overweight

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

ins would not pay for lap band

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?

no fear

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?

very supportive

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

did not tell work, but took vacation.

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

hospital was good. bring comfortable robe and slippers for walks

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?

excited to start my thin life

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

very tired, and worn out.

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

20 miles

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

very tired, but did do my walking

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

multivitamin, b 12 and biotin

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?

dumping was horrible. I made sure I only did that once!!

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

pain after procedure

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

only online

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

small and unnoticable

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

In a plateau now, stuck at 140 lbs

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

I feel as though I am treated better