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

My girlfriend had it done and told me aabout it and I was scheduled less than a month later.

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 within 1 week and scheduled.

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

Ask questions!!!

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

I was admitted Friday am and asking to go home Fri PM was released Sat pm. Bring lose pajamas and shoes to WALK WALK WALK!!!!

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

GAS!!! Gas X xtra strength chewies

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 discouraged and could not believe I had put myself through it and now couldnt eat my children get upset still when food gets "stuck" but it will pay off I keep telling them.

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

REST AND WALK AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE!!!!

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

30 MINUTES

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.

SOUPS BECOME YOUR BEST FRIEND I NEVER KNEW THEY COULD TASTE SOO GOOD. Eggs I still avoid and any meat except fish and ground beef everything has gravy on it. Prior to 1st fill 1/25/04 was able to eat anything since then a little more picky LOL.

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

1st 2 weeks tired since then no change able to party all night still LOL

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

None

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?

None

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

Hitting plateaus!!!

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

None

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

3 small ones and 1 mid size one

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

So far I have had 2 plateaus one 12/30/04, 2/25/04. Right before my 1st fill and 1 1/2 months since my fill.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

No