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

I really dont remember how I heard about it. I have a couple friend who had RNY and never wanted to go through that. It just was not for me. Then I heard of the lap band and thought how cool. And its reversible.

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

My insurance approved me the 1st try. I was so Lucky.

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

Really good. He took time for questions and every thing.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I felt I had to do something or I was going to die.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Did not want my insides cut.

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?

The fear is normal. I think with any surgery you get nervous you might not wake up.

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 told everyone about it. They were all very suppotive and had nothing bad to say. Of coarse they asked me questions about the risks and stuff.

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

I am a stay at home mom. But I was ok to take care of my boys alone in 1 week.

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

It was ok. My stomach was very upset the first day. It even hurt. But my Dr. has a really great nurse and I called her and she had them give me meds that helped it a lot.

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

I had none.

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

Very excited and blessed that my insurance was paying. The anxiety would get bad at night so I would try and put it out of my mind.

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

I had shoulder pain and pain around my port area. I think this is all normal though. I think the longer people can stay home and rest the better.

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

It was only about a 10 minute 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.

At first I had to be on a liquid diet and that moved to a mushie diet for a couple weeks. Then I went to normal foor. I have not found anything that I cant have yet. As long as I chew good im ok.

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

Same as before. I have always had a lot of energy. I just could not use it as much before.

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

Multi vitamin, Biotin, 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?

I only had nausea the next day and meds took care of it. The only side affect I can complain about is the occasional shoulder pain and a lot of hair loss. I had heard it does not happen much to people with the band but for me it has been pretty bad. I just hope it stops soon.

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

I really didnt have any bad parts. Just the hair loss thing really annoys me.

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

I go to a support group meeting once a month. It is nice to talk to people who have gone through the same thing.

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

It is not bad at all. But after you are so big a scar does not mean that much to youi. But it healed really nice.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Some times I will go for a week or more with out losing weight. Then the next week I will lose a couple pounds.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

No. But today a guy checked me out and I got so excited I actually started to cry a little. I am married and it would never be a problem but it does feel good to feel attractive.