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

Well a friend told me about it and I was like hmmm I need more information.

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

Well I didn't have insurance. I am a self pay. and the price is a bit steep but worth it. I ended up paying after all was said and done $26,500.

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

Well when i first met him he was funny and very insightful about all that I was to be going through. Especially since he had the surgery himself. And to get the most of the meeting is bring on the questions. The more you know the more you will be able to help yourself help them to help yourself.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

The fact I know that without it I will die sooner than I want to.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I conversed with the doctor about which would be best for me.

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?

Of course there is fear of complications or dying but i look at it this way i am damned if i do and damned if i don't on those accounts. I am already going through complications and I could already die. But the good of the surgery outways the bad.

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 for it and very supportive. I wouldn't have communicated anything different.

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

Currently not working due to the fact is they see the weight and are like UH NO!

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

well the stay was alright everyone was very helpful. I was only in a couple of days. and what to bring well lets see, toothbrush, toothpaste, hair brush, night gowns and robes, slippers, and confidence in the surgeon.

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?

anxious, scared, and READY. I coped knowing im doing the right thing so i will be around longer.

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

well i got home and slept for like two days straight and of course there was a lot of hardship cause i felt like a burden for a while. Cause there was a lot of things I couldn't do that I wanted to because of pain.

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

30 min. and it hasn't affected 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.

well its just like in the books. NO BREADS OR SUGARS OR Basically anything fatty starchy sugary.

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

right after i tried to stay active but i easily tired out. now being almost 4 weeks out my activity level is pretty good I don't tire out as easily.

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

I take what the doctor gave me. special vitamins.

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?

every once in a while it will feel like i swallowed a lump but otherwise nothing to major.

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

the fact of seeing others eat things you use to be able to eat and now you can't eat them.

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

basically I utilize the program they had set out for me.

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

scars are very minimal. No i expected them to be huge but nope they are very very tiny.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

no plateaus yet

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

so so