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

i found out through research online, and then looked up info in my community about, and my spouse was in the military at the time, and they supported it a great deal and had surgeons who specialized in it.

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

i did not have any problems with insurance, it was just a waiting game for the papers to be processed

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

my first visit was at a public information meeting held by the dr.'s practice

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

i had made up my mind that it was time to live life, without being limited to wear i could sit or fit in places

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

the dr and i discussed what was best for me

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 did not really have any fears of dying, however my family all had their own fears. i felt as though if it were my time for god to call me up to heaven, then it was time. this surgery was a step for me to live a longer more happy and healthy life

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 spouse supported whole heartedily! my family had their concerns, they tried to keep their concerns to them selfs, but now after surgery are vocal about them, and are very proud of how well i have done and they tell me how much better i look

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

my employer at the time was very supportive. i was moving as it was before my surgery, so i had left my job, and then had my surgery, and now am working elsewhere

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

stay in the hospital was good, 2 days

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

no complications from surgery

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 just anxious once i got the date, for the new me to be revealed

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

i didn't have to use any pain medicine. i has my pain medicine taken off because i was allergic the morning after surgery, and did not take any after, not even liquid tylenol. basically, you need to make sure to get up and walk like your told, it really does help, deep breaths for your lungs!

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

1 hour, didn't affect aftercare

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.

1st week, liquid, chicken broth is your est friend! end of week 1, tried boiled egg, did ok with it just hated the taste. 1 month was on soft proteins really well. i am lactose intolerant, diary products send me to the restroom or vomiting will occur. so far, so good with meats. i have found that i rather choose to eat meat than anything else, unlike before my surgery.

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

activty level days after surgery, limited but would walk a short distance atleast 5 times daily, weeks just increased the distance

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

started with flinstone vitamins, increased to regular multi-vitamins, i myself have to take a very strong dose of thiamine (b1) because i have a thiamine defiency

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?

i am still losing hair on a dialy basis. the only time i have nausea or vomiting is if i over eat a bite or so, or eat it too fast. with time you learn to pace your self and learns your own limits

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

the nausea and vomiting with eating too much or too fast, you feel like the food is stuck in your chest and you just are miserable until it passes

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

i feel it is probably very helpful, althought i live 1 hour away from where the office is that i had my surgey done at, so that effects me going to the support groups there.

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

they are very small, i thought they'd be worse. (i had laproscopic done)

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

it feels like a slow process sometimes for the wieght loss, but i keep telling myseld i didn't put it on overnight...so it won't fall off overnight!

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

yes, i do! i don't feel i get the stares that i used to get, especially in resturants