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

My friend had the surgery and did wonderful.

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

I was denied at first but then appealed and was approved.

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

Dr. E has been awesome since the beginning. I think the best thing is to have all your questions written out so that you are prepared when you meet with him and don't forget anything.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I had enough!

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I didn't think that the band would benefit me. I felt that I would have more success with the bypass.

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?

being put under and not waking 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?

they were very supportive.

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

I was only out of work for 3 weeks, I went right back. My supv was supportive of my decision.

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

It was uneventful. I followed all directions to the letter and was out within three days

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

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?

I felt good. I was anxious to start losing weight

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

Trying to remember to eat. There were several times that I would actually not be hungry and just plain forget to eat. (1st time in my life)

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

20 minutes.

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.

Beef. I stayed away from it and still do for the most part. It has been just 2 weeks shy of a year and I don't eat anything with sugar. That is by choice I'm not sure if it will have an effect, but I don't want to know. Because I'm afraid that if I can eat it , I will and that would defeat the purpose. I don't miss anything though.

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

As time went by, I was losing and gaining more and more energy.

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

B12, B, Biotin, iron, C, multi vitaimin

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?

some hair loss but am taking Biotin and my hair has grown faster than ever. it started a few months after and lasted for 4-5 mons.

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

drinking the isopure - yuck.

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

I have a therapist I see 2x monthly who had the surgery I don't do the support groups only because of time, they are far away and I have 3 boys all who play sports.

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

I have little scars from the microscopic surgery. I keloid so they are raised.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

In the last 3 mos. I have hit a plateau. I had a job I hated and found I was grazing - however I still grazed on healthy things so I didn't gain, I just lost 2 lbs in 3 mos.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Absolutely, I'm not the fat one in the crowd anymore.