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

I learned about the surgery 6 years ago and I didn't think could do it because of the work and commitment it would take. I started looking into it more 2 years after that when another person I knew had the surgery. I started the process 3 times before I really knew I was ready

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

The more I asked other people about what I had to do to get the surgery I found that I needed everything documented from my doctor for the last 5 years of every diet I had tried and every time my doctor talked to me about losing weight and since I didn't have that I went to my insurance company with 10 years of my history of weight and health problems showing that I should have it even though I could not show all my different weight loss tries. My insurance accepted that.

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

The first visit with my surgeon was great he made me feel very comfortable and talked to me like he understands how I felt and answered every question I had.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I looked into this surgery for 4 years, asking people, looking on line and going to support groups with people that had the surgery so I knew a lot of the things I would be going through and that way I knew I was ready

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I went back and forth on which surgery I wanted and then I talked to my surgeon and together we decided which one was best for me with my medication and my health history.

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?

my family at first didn't like the idea because they didn't understand the surgery so I had some go with me to a meeting about the surgery and talk to the doctor. So far they have been so-so about helping me they are good about getting food that I can have but they still have sweets in the house telling me I will have to learn that it is going to be around and they still have to eat.

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

it was very good because I could see people like me and then they had people that had the surgery with before and after pictures and then we got to talk to them and the surgeon and ask questions

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

it was very good most of the nurses had the surgery themselves or worked on the floor for years so they knew how to help us

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 excited and I did have some anxiety so I came to this site and read about others and how well they did

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

I was sore from the surgery and had to force myself to drink enough water because I was not hungry

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

3 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.

no real sugar only sugar substitute

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

slow at first but by the 3rd week I started increasing my activity a little more each day as I started to feel better and stronger

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

the liquid protein diet