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

I want this WLS, it will give me my freedom back.

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

Being my husband is Military, My insurance is Tricare-Prime.But i didnt have to deal with them being my WLS is being done in a Military hospital.

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

My surgeon is so down to earth i felt like i was talking to my best friend. Also i would like to add he personally called me when we had to re-book my WLS date

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

When my sister and mother told me i had thier support 100%. That they didn't like how sad i looked all the time.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I let my surgeon decide on that for me.What ever he thought was best

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 have the fear of dying on the table.My biggest fear is never being able to love and hold my children.

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 cared what my family thought about the surgery, But i was having the surgery with or without thier support and i think they knew that and they ended up given 100%.

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

I dont work outside the house

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

It was ok. Ihad no problem. But the worst part was being in the hospital when 9-11 happened, i just wanted to get out and be with my family. I brought a night gown ,tooth brush and tooth paste, Some books. My hospital had everything i needed.

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 had it rough the first 5 weeks- I felt as if i going crazy and crying all the time. Had head hunger real bad.

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

I didnt care what people expected- this was my time to heal and get use to my new tool.My Husband was great- he did everything for me even took a month off of work for me. He is the best!!!

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

Less than a 1/2 mile.

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.

In the begining- it was hard , i was kinda afraid to eat. When i came home from the hospital i was told to eat things like cream of soups, scrambled eggs, mashed tators, over cooked noodles(yuck) S/F jellos, pudding, cottage cheese ect. as time went by i treated myself as if i had a infants belly and only introduce one new food at a time so i could pin point any food reactions. I dump once in awhile. I had surgery to be healthier so i try to make good food choices. Everything in moderation

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

Near zero

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

2 multi vitamins , liquid B-12 twice a week, calcium citrate 3 times a day

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?

heck i couldnt sleep befor surgery and i dont sleep now. I shed my hair about every 3 months, no big deal. Dumping- well i never khnow when that is going to happen , my pouch seems to change the rules on all the time. My pouch plays by its own set of rules.

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

For me it was the recovery time. I was ready to take on the world in my head but my body still need time to heal and that annoyed me.

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

for the first 16 months post op i went to a live support group 2 times a month- Now i just use on-line groups. But once i get done with this move i plan on finding one to attend 1 month.

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

My scar is great- thin and at 19 months op you can barily see it, Having a Tan helps hide it. My Doc did a great job.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

none really i had like 4day stalls every now and then.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes and it sucks. Im still the same person.