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

I had a friend that had it but she didn't tell me much so I researched it on line all alone . Then I read every artical I could find and studied every book I could find for about 9 months I studied and searched and searched record after record tv show after tv show. I saw the negitive side as well as the positive side and I think the positive outweighed the negitive by far.

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

I just went to my doctor on the base and he started everything in motion it took about 2 monts for all to clear....

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

I must of ask him a dozen questions the first one of course was what is your mortality rate. I told him I was dibetic, high blood pressure, and that I have asthma, He was a good doctor and I felt very relaxed talking with him. I just wanted him to know who I was before I let him do any surgery .Your surgeon needs to know every medical problem you have first. I typed out all my surgeries, my meds and my allergies ahead and took them with me so they would know for sure all about me.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I just heard those words one more time only this time they were for real My doctor said if you don't lose weight your kness are going to give and you will be in a wheel chair. I said this is it I must do something now I am not going to be pened to a wheelchair....

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I went to classes and the rny made sense to 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 was of course okay because I have always had God and knew he would take care of me , Closer to my surgery I began to get concerned about what if I did not make it but I just told the devil to let up and ask God to take care of him for me...

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?

Everyone was for this surgery and they are still supportive now after the surgery.

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

Everyone at the school is excited for me . They really want me to come back so I can help them,.

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

My stay in the hospital was great the nurses said I was a great patient. I of course got up and walked right away. I was even giving the nurses a count of my urine output so they didn't need to run in every time I had to go to the rest room. I stayed 3 full days. The most important things was to be treated like a real person..

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

No I just developed a real small infection where the drain tube was.We treated them with antibotics.

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 kept very busy , I volunteer at school and I love children so I poured myself into helping them. It did not give me much time to think about me.

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

I had a lot of soup so be prepared for that. I really didn't expect drinking 64 ounces of water but I do and I can...

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

we drove 2 hr. and 15 min. away. It did not affect my after care at all.

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.

So far I ate stage one did not even through up once but I eat 2 ounces at a time and yes I do measure. I am now on stage two and have no problems with that either.

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

Well the first week I was doing laundry. This is the second week and I went to the gym and I try to walk a mile every day.

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

2 flintstones vit. a day 3 calcium chews a day and 1 b12 a day.

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 had nothing..... I am blessed

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

I did not have a worst part...

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

I have one that is online for I live to far away to go to topeka all the time but I do go when I can.... I do have my husband, sisters. mother-in-law and mother.

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

It is small I have 6 scars I was laperscopic.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I went through a ten day plateau. It took some getting used too but I just kept changeing things around. Finally I went on Carb soulations and ate some pistishios and lots of water and walked more and more each day I lost four pound that way and am still losing you just have to adjust to your new body and what it wants from you mine was less fats more proteins...

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Not really I had a good repore with every one I know . The only difference is They keep telling me how good my face looks don't they see the rest of my body?