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

I have asked my doctor for the last 5 years to recommend me for bariatric surgery, with a negative response. "There are too many side effects and risks." Like the life I am living now is not a risk, a nightmare, a detriment to my health. I am going back to see him when I get the packet of data from Dr Kasper's office, and if the answer is "no" again. I will seek out another primary care physican. I have known 4 other women who have successfully had bariatric surgery, and finally made up my mind, nothing was going to stop me. I had to come out of a severe clinical depression with psychiatric help and the use of antidepressants to realize I wanted a different life. And I AM going to have it!

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

My Aetna HMO has approved the first visit with Dr Kasper, if I get the referral from my PCP. Then we will see what happens.

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

1st meeting will be 7-30-01

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I want to be a normal person again. To be able to walk without hurting, and at a normal pace with everyone else, not waddle. I don't want to be pretty, wear shorts or a bathing suit, I just want to look like a normal person. Go walk the malls, work in my yard, pull a double shift at work for extra money. Take my grandkids to the movies and know i can sit in the seats, but most of all, make love with my husband.