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

19 years ago, I had verticle gastroplasty the bariatric surgery of the day which turned out not to be very affective.

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

i have Aetna and United and have medical necessity and both policie shave exclusions so i9 had to pay for the whole thing.

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

Have your questions ready. He is very calm and laid back.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

Mnay health co-morbidities.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

After research and consultation with the surgeon. Actually spoke to 5 bariatric surgeons.

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?

Very scared but looked at the odds. 1.5% of death for a revision pt but that is overall. I had a very experienced surgeon at a center of excellence.

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?

All very supoortive. I made a decision to be open.

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

my immediate supervisor was supportive, I did not disclose to anyone else in corporate.

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

I attended several. I am a nurse practitioner and did not really learn much. I felt forced into attending these before I could actually speak to a surgeon.

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

3 days, I received very good care. my husband atayed with me. I was on a unit that had several bariatric pts. and had a private room.

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

one episode of a temp, they did a stat chest x-ray and a cbc.

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

Spoke to the surgeon. go to obesity help online.

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

Pain, adjustment. don't watch food network shows.

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

100 miles

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.

I am at week 3 on full liguids. So far no problems. sometimes I have no appetite. I have to work at sipping water to get enough in.

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

walked each day.

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

liquid vitamins 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?

None so far .

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

the post op period, pain.

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

Calls from the hospital. WLS suppoort gruops monthly and online forum

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

laparscopic small scars.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

only 3 weeks out, too early.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

not yet