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

I wanted it for so long because it works. I have friends that have had it and they are so healthy. I was impressed with all the information that is available.

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

My first approval was long so patience is the key..Nothing happens overnight when dealing with the insurance companies. It took 13 months for me beginning to end. This second time around its going pretty fast.

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

Write questions down so when you meet him/her you wont be so nervous. It helped me a lot to have that list. Remember that they are totally there for YOU so ask away.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

Diabetes

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

The surgeon pushed the lap-band on me to the point that I had it..to say that I regret it is putting it mildly. Be totally secure in what YOU want to have..

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?

Your life is happening for a reason and the outcome is the same. The fear is normal and even now I still have it. But I will not let it keep me from having life altering surgery.

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 am a loner, don't really have friends. Tried the support group but really don't fit in even though I have an outgoing personality.

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

I was out a week and they were fine with it.

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

Yes because they had people that had different types of surgeries to let us have a feel of what we were going to be going thru.

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

I was in day surgery the first time and i brought a pillow, the second surgery I am not sure what I will be taking

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

Nope

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 like it was a new chapter to my book of life. I was to excited to be anxious.

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

Being sore and limited movement

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

25 miles the first time the second will be over 300

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.

Bread, cake, pasta of any kind, tomatoes, grapes, raw apples because they balled up and blocked the port.

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

very low. I was sore for along time.

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

b complex 50, protein, and citrical petites.

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?

they are still ongoing.my band slipped

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

the negative nurse that i had..because of her i chose to drive the 300 miles to have the procedure done elsewhere.

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

5 little lines and yes

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

I am stuck on my current weight no matter what I do

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Not really