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

friends had it in 1993 thought it was a great idea

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

wait --just wait it out --believe that if you want this you will get it -- have patience and jump thru the hoops of insurance companies

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

pay attention take notes bring a supportive family member or friend

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

couldn't fit on an amusement park ride during our anniversary vacation

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

insurance decided for us

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?

none -- felit completely comfortable

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 were all supportive this is a husband/wife team effort

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

told them everything took vacation time 2 weeks Open RNY

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

2 and a half days male nurses were great!! you wouldn't have known it was Thanksgiving!! they were very supportive and very very nice to me :) bring yourself

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?

was too busy working to think of it had to change my date due to health issues

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

keep walking!! get out of the house!! i was back to work in 2 weeks -- Open RNY

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

1/2 hour

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.

chicken -- can't tolerate it milk -- can't tolerate it can eat mostly everything else -- 2 months post op

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

HIGH!!!!

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

Prenatal - twice a day B-12 - once a day Prevacid - twice a day Stool Softener - twice 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?

nausea!! right after surgery -- first day only -- good meds at the hospital

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

waiting after my husband had his to get mine done

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

OH message board -- emails VERY Important

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

4 inches -- very thin line -- pink

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

none that i know of -- clothes keep getting larger

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

yes -- more friendly some are ignorant about the surgery and try to tell me what to eat and not eat -- they think i can only have salad now -- little do they know i can't have salad for a year lol