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

I read and article in the paper and they had interviewed a few people that had it done and i also know aperson that worked at my credit union that had it done also

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

well i am still waitng on an approval only thing I can say is have all of your paperwork together

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

It was very interesting my husband went with me to the appointment and it was very educational

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I want be around to she my children get grown and have children and to get off my high bloodpressure meds

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I went with recommendation of my surgeon

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 really do not have any fears right noe

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 mother is against the surgey and so is m,y best friend but it is not their desion and not their body it is mine

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

everybody is happy for me I will be out 3-6 weeks

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

It was great my first thought was is this shit worth all this pain

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

no just not being able to sleep i was waking up like an new born every 2 hours

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

excited wish i could have went to surgery the next day

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

i just took it easy the first few days and i went walking around the store to make myself tired so i can sleep

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

i di not have to

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 fried foods no sweets i ate tuna chicken salad devil eggs all i really can say that it gets better everyday

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

just going for little walks in the stores

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

flintstone gummies clacium citrate chewables biotin

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?

hair loss dealing with that now

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

clear liquid diet

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

none

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

yes but not bad looking

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

none

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

no but i notice alot of the men folks are looking even harder