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

My cousins have the Gastric Bypass and my daughter has the Band.

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

Didn' try, I paid for it myself.

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

My first impression of him was he was young and cute. Entirerly too young to be doing this operation. The visit was high pace. So many people are getting WLS now and he is considered one of the best in the area so the office was full.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

Once I made up my mind I never waivered. I refuse to look back.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

My daughter has the band and told me to go for the sleeve.

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 guess I was so ready to have the operation I wasn't too scared. The closer it got to the date I did consider things going badly and talked to my husband and mom about my decision.

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 family was so ready for me to have the operation. They had seen people who had had WLS and how much their lives had changed.

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

My supervisor had the Bypass many years ago so she understood what I was going through. I was out of work 3 days.

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

My hospital stay was WONDERFUL. They called me back around 12:30 p.m. and I don't remember anything until they brought me back to my room. The staff was right there to give me pain killers, nausea medicine etc. I was in and out until around 7:00 p.m. After that I got up and went to the bathroom all by myself and I felt great considering I just had surgery.

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

Not a one!!!

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 took it one day at a time and I stay on OH. Just reading what all the sleeved individuals had to say kept me motivated and determined.

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

I don't think I am the norm. I had little to know life change. I went back to work 3 days later and I was cleaning up immediately afterwards. I would tell anyone to expect that!

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

My doctors office is 1 hour away and the hospital was only 35 mins away. Well worth the drive.

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 really didn't want anything to eat the first couple of days after. I was very thirsty. I was craving milk. Milk is high in calcuim and protein so I went with it. Eggs gave me intergestion so I will leave them alone for now. Wendy's chilli was fine. At first I could barely drink, I could feel the liquid going down my system but now 2 weeks out I can drink full sips with no problem.

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

The same as before......although now I want to do more. I want to move more.

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

1500 calcium, multi vitamin with iron, B-complex and Fiber choice.

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 have been constipated for over a week. That is the only problem I have had so far.

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

Being constipated for now.

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

I really didn't need one. My husband was there for me right after the operation after that I could manage on my own.

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

They are still healing right now so it is hard to say.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Well I have lost 18 lbs and the scale isn't moving right now. I am 2 week post op and I think it is because I am constipated.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

No, not really. I didn't tell alot of people and right now you can barely tell a difference.