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

Knew about this surgery for years but initially felt it was insane to do such a drastic thing and felt I could achieve weight loss through diet.

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

Doctors office took care of this very competently.

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

Informative as the doctor had prepared literature for me to read and had answers to all my questions and concerns. Read up on the surgery before going to the doctor and write down all your questions ahead of time so they will be addressed. My doctor was great in that he gave me his email address and any time I had a question I emailed him and he apways answered in a timely manner.

What made you finally decide to have the surgery?

I was frightened but the doctor made me feel less anxious about it after expressing my fears to him. I also decided that I was at the end of my rope and could not handle the gaining and losing any more.I guess I was feeling pretty desparate to be rid of this lifelong monkey on my back so to speak!

How did you decide which proceedure to have?

After the doctor discussed my eating habits and weight lose history. I also read alot about all the various procedures and questioned my doctor about all of them before making a decision. Of course he did not perform every one of the procedures but he also gave a valid expaination as to why he avoided some procedures and favored others.

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 was mostly fearful of dying while under the anesthesia. Since I was in fairly good health to begin with the doctor reassured me that I was at minimal risk. I also feared not being able to eat and feeling hungry all the time. I was starting to mourn the loss of my lifelong addiction to food. I couldn't imagine life without food being central.

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?

I only shared the fact that I was having the surgery with my immediate family(my husband, children, siblings) My sister was my main support. My husband was against it because he was afraid but said he'd be as supportive as possible which he was. He was fantastic after the surgery and did eveything to help me. He is happy to see me feeling and looking so much better now 41/2 months after surgery and down about 60lbs.

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

Online group was very important and helped a great deal as the people knew just what I was going through and always came up with the right things to say!

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

Not that terrible. It would have been better if I had not developed 2 spots along the scar where there was an infection. It looks as though it will fade with time and it is only about 4 inches long.It is verticalabove my bellybutton.

Please describe any plateau experiences you have had since surgery.

4th month loss has slowed and went about 2 weeks without losing, then I dropped about 3 lbs.

Do you notice people treating you any differently now?

Yes.Getting tons of compliments and some admiring looks from the opposite sex. I feel I am being treated more courteously by strangers as well such as sale persons in stores.