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

News, unsure if it would work for me

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

no problems whatever

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

OK

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I wanted to get off meds (diabetic and high blood pressure)

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I didn't lile the labband procedure. It took too long and I was 59 Yrs old

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 no fears

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 problems with family regarding my decision

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

No problems with employer. Very supportive

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

The nurse was inexperienced in this type of surgery, telling me I had to drink all the juice at each half hour resulting in me throwing up after the 3rd half hour. I was there two nights.

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 was so ecatistical i lost a few pounds. I was concerned my weight would cause complications of surgery

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

I eat nothing but soup

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

in town (15 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.

I first eat only liquids or soups. then graduated to puree foods, I then graduated to solid foods (slowly)

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

slow the first couple of weeks then back to normal

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

B12, 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?

No side effects

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

coming home and taking care of the wound.

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

unable to find one that would help

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

unimportant

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

several. lost the first 30 pounds the first 30 days then 15 the next 30. eventually 70 lbs

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

people seem to like me more