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

My neighbour told me she was having a MGB I was sceptical of the results after hearing of failures

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

Here in Ontario, Canada the Government covers the RNY

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

I meet the Surgeon June 22, 2012

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

My poor self image combined with the positve results I have seen and researched

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I'm actually hoping the RNY gives me "dumping"

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 have been pushing the fears away and thinking positive. I know they are there and I have made a living will, actually made funeral arrangements and spoke with all my friends and family. I have also wrote letters to everyone close to me. I see it as I can die if I don't have this surgery and I can die having it so I may as well have it and live a longer, happier lifeI

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?

I was open and honest with everyone, I have never hid it and everyone is very supportive. I haven't had surgery yet so we will see.

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

I don't work but everyone where my husband works is very happy and supportive of me

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

It was scarey flying there and a 101 things going through my head. When I go there and saw people larger then me I thought I shouldn't be there that I'm taking the place of someone else that needs it more then me. I also learned that I was very educated on the steps. I was happy I went

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

I'm waiting surgery

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

I'm waiting 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?

Waiting

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

Waiting

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

I traveled 436 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.

waiting

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

waiting

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

waiting

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?

waiting

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

The time frame between appointments

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

I have my local doctors, friends, family and local support group

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

waiting

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

waiting

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

waiting