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

through differrent people i had met that had the surgery. i have been interested for many years

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

my insurance has been no problem so far

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

dr. keith was great. i am very comfortable dealing with him on my situation. i would recommend him to anyone.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

all the information on line and at dr. keiths seminar convinced me

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

i wanted the most effective possible

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 diabetes, high blood pressure, andcongestive heart failure so i really didnt have too much to lose. all of these have either gone away or got alot better since 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?

they all supported my decision and have helped m,e in every way since. they are all very proud of the outcome because all knew i could not live a long healthy life the way i was.

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

i am retired

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

my hospital stay was great. i was there for 4 days. i would bring the essential grooming and hygene items of course but i would also bring something to hold my interest such as a good book.

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

none at all

In the weeks after you got your surgery date, how did you feel? How did you cope with any anxiety you might have felt?

very anxious. i just kept saying to myself that i was about to embark on a lifechanging journey and looked foreward to it.

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

at first i felt a little depression over not being able to enjoy food. that passes after you get accustomed to the diet.

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

70 miles it did not really affect my 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.

at first i could just have liquids for about a month, then i started eating foods that were soft and easy to digest, then i worked in a few well cooked vegetables, i am starting my fourth month now and i still have problems digesting meats but i just try very small amounts ATa time because the nausea is the worse sick you could have

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

i started out walking 1/2 amile twice daily then i worked up to a mile twice daily, now i am up to 2 miles twice daily at a very fast stride.

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

i take two multivitamins, 2 iron pills,and have 3 high protein shakes daily. also i take 4 flax oil pills daily.

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?

i mostly have trouble with nausea is all. i tery to watch what makes me sick and i make sure i eat very slowly and chew my food well.

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

the nausea is the worse for me.

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

i only went to one support meeting because of the distance, but i talk to a lot of people on the net whose had the surgery

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

no problem. they are very small and healed fast

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

i have had pauses in my weight loss for up to two weeks but i just get more and more physical with my exercise and that gets it going again.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

yes people cant beleive how im slimming down