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

SOME OF MY CO WORKERS WERE HAVING IT. LET'S GO FOR IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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

BE SURE TO HAVE ALL PAST DIET HISTORIES DOCUMENTED. GET PHYSICIAN REPORTS. ANY THING TO DO WITH PRIOR WEIGHT LOSS OR COUNSELING ABOUT WEIGHT LOSS, HAVE IT READY ON FIRST CONSULT TO SURGEON. HAVE LETTER FINISHED STATING WHY YOU NEED THE GBS.

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

BY PREPARED!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HAVE YOUR INFO READY. HAVE YOUR QUESTIONS READY. BE EARLY. ASK ALL YOUR QUESTIONS DURING CONSULT. BE INFORMED. VISIT THIS WEB SITE TO BE FULLY INFORMED. DON'T WASTE THE MAN/WOMAN'S TIME BY NOT BEING PREPARED.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

ENOUGH WAS ENOUGH. HANNAH NEEDS HER NANA AND HER NANA NEEDS HER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I DIDN'T DECIDE WHICH PROCEDURE - I DECIDED ON MY SURGEON AND HIS CREDENTIALS - HE DOES THE DECIDING ON WHAT TO DO ONCE HE'S IN THERE. REMEMBER BE INFORMED.

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 HAD MANY FEARS BUT I CONVINCED MYSELF, IT'S LIKE THIS .....DIE ON THE TABLE TRYING TO GET BETTER OR DIE ANY WAY DUE TO HEALTH ISSUES.

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?

NO VERY WELL. BUT IT'S MY DECISION, RIGHT??

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

NOT WELL. ENOUGH SAID.

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

My stay at the hospital was excellent. I went to Prattville Health. Even though it is a smaller hospital, they treat you like a queen compared to the other six hospitals in my area. I was at the hospital for 5 days total. Things most important to bring: toothbrush, toothpaste, comfortable clothes to go home in, your own pillow as you can never get comforable with theirs, deodorant, wet wipes for when you have potty breaks (toilet paper any where other than home is usually terrible), comfortable footies (your feet will get cold), and plenty of change for your spouse (whoever stays with you).

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

The only complications that I had from surgery was when they got in there my liver was extremely enlarged even though I had followed the pre surgery diet (they think from other medical problems I have), so I had 9 holes instead of 6 holes for a lap. Deal with them just like any thing else - 1 thing at a time.

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 was so excited and so nervous. I coped by reading everything on this web site that I could get my hands on. Be prepared. The better prepared that you are the easier it is.

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

The trip from my house to the hospital is 1 1/2 hours. No biggy with the aftercare.

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.

First week post op - clear liquids only - i.e. water, chicken broth, sugar free jello, slimfast protein drinks.

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

Activity 1 week post op - walking only to move carbon dioxide around. walking becomes your best friend this week.

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

Vista Chewable Multi-Vitamins, 3 Sugar Free Tums, 70-80 grams of protein supplement.

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?

sleep disturbance my only problem - due to gas moving I have to keep moving to keep pain at bay. First week post op so far.

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

the first day after surgery when I could not have any thing to drink.

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

We have monthly meetings with our surgeon, his office staff, and other post op and pre op patients. Plus I check this web site daily for support. I also have several friends who are several months post op who support me.

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

I have nine tiny holes. yes this is what i expected.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I am 6 months post op and haven't experienced any yet.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

yes. many want to know how i am losing this weight. when I tell them some ask questions some just look at me with disgust.