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

The very first time I heard about WLS was when Carnie Wilson had it done. I was only 15 years old at the time and I saw the major transformation on her and started looking into the surgery and seeing how it had help so many others.

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

I didn't get insurance approval. I appealed twice and they denied it. I am self pay.

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

It went well. He was very informative and nice. I think people can get the most out of there meeting is to ask anything and everything they wanna know about the surgery. It's a life changing thing and you wanna make sure your prepared about it all.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

My health. High blood pressure, joint pain, headaches, diabetes, and chest pains. I am only 22 years old and thought if I am this way know it 5-10years Im not going to make it.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

By talking with my surgeon on what would be 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?

To think about if you don't have it done.

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?

They were all happy and excited. But on the other hand scared because its a major surgery.

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

My employer is my dad. He is fine with it and is actually paying for the surgery.

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

The hospital was great. I stayed in the hospital 2 nights and came home the 3rd day.

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

Nope none at all. The only thing that happened was I got a infection from the urinary catheter and it made me really sick.

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 so excited and didn't have time to be nervous.

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

Drink your fluids and rest.

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

2 hours

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.

After I was cleared to eat solids, I can eat mostly anything. Some of the things I cant eat are lettuce, no sugar added ice cream, and most dairy products.

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

not very good at all.

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

b complex multi vitamin and calcium lozenge.

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?

Really bad nausea from weeks 3-7. I didn't think it would ever go away. But one day I had it the next day I woke up and it was gone. I just did the best I could.

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

I wasn't in pain at all. There actaully wasn't a real bad part of it.

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

There really tiny. Yes I expected it.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

none

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

yes I do.