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

My PCM suggested WLS. She didn't like all the medications I was taking. At first, I didn't think I would be a canadiate. Always thought I was "healthy enough", as long as I continued on all my medications. After doing some initial research, I found that it was my weight that was causing most of my medical issues.

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

I was approved after my first try.

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

My 1st meeting was in a seminar-type setting. One of the surgeons nurses was a past-patient also. Try to do some research on your own before attending any meeting or appointment. Chances are, if you have a question, someone else as already asked it before. Very imformatitive.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

The hope of getting my life back.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

Insurance approval for gastric bypass only

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?

Likely to die from complications of being overweight before surgery. If the surgeon doesn't feel safe, he won't do it. Follow ALL doctors pre-op orders!

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 wish there would have been more said about how much family support is important. My family very much supported my decision. Everyday life changes.

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

Unemployed at the time of surgery.

What was it like attending your first information seminar on weight loss surgery? Were you glad you attended? if so, why?

Very imformatitive. Yes, it should be required. Important to have your partner/spouse attend also.

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

No problems. I stayed overnight. Had the scan the next morning and was released after that.

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

No complications.

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 made several calls to my surgeon and his staff. They always made me feel like it was all normal.

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

Anxious. Afraid of doing something wrong. Important to follow the diet and all post-op orders from your surgeon.

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

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.

The type of foods didn't change much, it was the amount of intake. I was unable to have dairy then, and still now.

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

Felt motivated to get up and walk. Helped in losing weight faster.

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

Opti-source vitamins. B12 injections (which i required prior to surgery) Vitamin D 50,000iu weekly.

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?

Name it, it happened to me. But all passed. Talking to staff and sharing with my Angel.

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

Pre-op

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

I haven't attended in a long time. The last group I attended, there was a post-op patient eating MM's and telling everyone that she doesn't follow the diet and still losing. Frustrating for me to see the new post-ops react to her.

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

Several small scars. No biggie.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

Always on a plateau. Just work through it.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Oh yeah! All about how a person looks. It's wrong.