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

My Mom read a article telling about a local doctor who does gastric bypass surgery and was going to talk up at the hospital. So I went and I was so impressed with what he had to say and just his domineer that I made an appointment the following day.

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

I really didn't have a lot of troubles getting insurance to approve my surgery, because I had so much health problems and the staff at the surgeons office was a great help! I was excepted on the first try! Thanks to the doctor and his staff! The best advise I could give you is to document everything. Pain in your body, skin break down and general health problems you might have due to your weight. That is what I have found. It's easier to go ahead to and tell your doctor when ever you find any thing out of the ordinary with your local doctor. That is how I got the breast lift and TT done.

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

My first visit was very productive. I was impressed with the doctor and what he had to tell me. To get the most out of your meeting with the doctor make sure you read up about the type of surgery you are wanting to have and then take notes of questions or concerns you have and ask the doctor when you have your appointment. That is the biggest thing I could stress to everyone. Ask questions, lots of them until you understand everything there is about the type of surgery you are going to have.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I finally decided to have the surgery because I was sick of being sick and tired all the time. And of having my joints hurting all the time.

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

I read up on the different types of proceedures there was out there and decided that the gastric bypass was the safest and the success rate was better as well.

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 did have my fears about having complications and even dying but I decided that if I didn't lose weight I would most likely die from being so over weight. So there really was no choice in the matter. And I think I would tell people that if you are at least 100 lbs. over weight that you are doing damage to your health and the risks are minimal and the success rate is really high.

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 family and friends were not to happy about my decission about having gastric bypass surgery. They thought it was another quick and dangerious was to try to lose weight. But after telling them the details and how successful the proceedure is they supported me. My family and friends were very supportive after surgery. They helped me out a lot through the hard times.